help with VHO and Icecap setup

[Troy]

Have a dual VHO setup that I purchased a while ago. At the time of purchase I tested it and it worked fine. Just got around to installing the setup in my canopy. Now when I plug in the icecap ballast the light turns on for 1-2 seconds and then turns off. When I put the system together I found one loose wire that was short and plugged into one of the endcaps. The only open position it could be pluggged into in the whole setup was on the matching position on the other endcap so that's where I plugged it into assuming it had just fallen out. I know this is tricky without pictures, but does anyone have any ideas or willing to stop by and help me figure it out?

[thegrimreefer]

Check all of your connections, and re-seat the bulbs?

[David Grigor]

Flashing means there is still a bad connection. Sometime the one bulb that doesn't flash is the culprit but not always.

I'd take all the wire out again, cut the ends off and re strip them to be nice straight and uniform then do it again. Also, when they flash like that, don't start and stop real frequently as you can blow the ballast up trying to trouble shoot. Ohm meter is also a good tool to check for continuity....

[spsick]

could be a bad bulb too, once again it would be the one that doesnt flash.

[Troy]

Don't know if this changes recommendations at all, but it's not flashing on and off, just immediately on, 1-2 seconds later turns off. Stays off. Will do the same thing again if I unplug and plug it back in. both bulbs turn on and then off at the same time.

[David Grigor]

Still need to do the continuity check. A weak/arc could make contact for a few seconds then shutdown. If passed the continuity check with an olm meter then may need to send it in to be checked out.

[morty]

If you do a continuity check with an ohmmeter, don't forget to also check for shorts. IOW, verify that each bulb pin contactor in the end caps connects to one (and only one) wire at the harness plug...

(What you've described is exactly what Icecap ballasts do when there's an open wire somewhere or a short. I'm talking from experience :smile: )

[Hydroman]

I had that happen to me and discovered I had wired it wrong.

Icecap 430 (http://209.204.76.225/430-2.htm)

Icecap 660 (http://209.204.76.225/660-2.htm)