Halides just shutting off??????

I installed my new lights today and two times when i had them on after about 20 minutes they just shut off. I would only guess it must be a heat issue but why?

Type of lights and bulbs:

2 Aqualight pro light fixtures 48" (2-250W HQI's/ 2 96w actinics)

250 Watt 14000K Metal Halide Bulb

96W Dual Actinic 03/7100K Blue Power Compact Bulb


Here are a few pictures. Each fixture is touching the wood on the sides and they touch each other in the middle. I could eliminate this by lowering one a few inches and sliding each in more. Also I know it is probably bad but I had no option but to stack the ballasts. I felt them after the lights shut off but they were ice cold so i don't think that is the problem.









Ballasts are in the back behind the plumbing.

 

i dont know if its heat. i would think electrical. if power is cut, the slightest and shortest period of time, they go out. and with halides they dont just come on again. this would be my guess.

 

is any water getting on the ballest.... they are close to your sump...any splashing
also my directions on my ballest states do not stack them up..they need several inches between all for surfaces for air flow...including on the bottom so I have mine placed on little pieces of wood to get them off the floor.

 

Man this is going to cause me a headache! I don't have the water in the tank yet so I guess I better move the ballasts and get it right now! I have really run out of room. I might make a shelf behind the tank and see if that works????

 

It could be heat, but that can be fixed by placing a fan pointed to them. All ballasts have circuit protection and shut off. Could be that some water found its way to the plugs, as schackmel mentioned. Make sure that all the connections are tight. Luna

 

I might move the ballasts on top of the canopy and try to hide them with something. That will eliminate the issue of water. I have a fan that i will install pointing at the lights to see if that helps for now.

Oh the joys of packing 50 pounds of crap in a 10 pound bag!

 

LOL.....................you should see mine....................lol
I have my ballasts stacked with a fan pointed at them, but they dont get hot at all. Are these fixtures new or used? Sounds like there a bad connection somewhere. Luna

 

Just a suggestion: Get a Volt Meter and Check the voltage coming out of the socket that the fixture is plugged into and check the recommended voltage of the fixture itself. The problem could also mean that there is too much equipment running on one socket

 

Fixtures were new but the guy I bought them from belongs to my local reef club. I saw the lights running on his tank for over an hour so I know they work. I really think the problem is that all the vents on the sides of the fixtures are covered.

 

I thought about that so i shut off everything but the lights and it still happened. I will have to call someone to get a volt meter.