radium bulb/ballast help

[r20crazy]

does anyone close to me (torrance) have a 250w mogul setup that will run a radium bulb? picked one up yesterday and despite my checking on several sites and talking to several people who know that say it will work with my pfo ballast it won't fire. so I need to figure out if its a ballast compatability issue or a bad bulb. bulb was picked up brand new.

so what I need to do is screw my bulb into your setup and turn it on. if it fires its my ballast thats incompatable. thats it.

ballast in question is a magnetic PFO single 250w. only indication of specs I see is a sticker that says 'aqi-250mh-120v'. there is nothing that indicates if its a M-80, M-158, etc. [I was told its a m-80 but can't seem to confirm] if theres a way to find out [like taking the silver case off I'm not opposed to doing so

thanks

 

[JOSE CASAS]

Wow thats sucks! It is very rare but could happen that the lamp is bad. It could be your ballast and testing would be the way to go. I will be home later this evening lmk if you want to test i out Iam in Fulllerton.

 

[r20crazy]

yea. it is doubtful its the bulb, but as you said don't know till I test it on a setup that obviously fires them. I'll keep you in mind sir.

I know the ballast works, as its running my xm 20k bulb just fine, just not sure of the compatability, as from what I can find online there are at least 2 different 250w pfo ballast

 

[KrazyReef]

From what I was told the 250W 20k Radium Mogul can only work with electric ballasts.

 

[JOSE CASAS]

From what I was told the 250W 20k Radium Mogul can only work with electric ballasts.

Wrong it will fire on a m80 also which will overdrive the lamp.

 

[JOSE CASAS]

yea. it is doubtful its the bulb, but as you said don't know till I test it on a setup that obviously fires them. I'll keep you in mind sir.
I know the ballast works, as its running my xm 20k bulb just fine, just not sure of the compatability, as from what I can find online there are at least 2 different 250w pfo ballast

Sounds like you have a standard M58 ballast and if thats the case it will not fire that lamp.

 

[Firereef]

same experience with me I just to using pfo ballast but I upgrade the DE to SE 250w radium an this bulb not fire at all so the problem with the ballast is because is not HQI in my case some times the bulb come on but some times don't (my ballast was not HQI)
the only thing you can do is buy a HQI ballast or electronic in my case I bought a galaxy electronic ballast
good luck

 

[r20crazy]

thanks for the help people. I hope to get the bulb tested today, was just to busy yesterday to do so. I'm beginning to think you are right Jose....

 

[r20crazy]

bulb was fine, was ballast incompatability.