Metal halide's won't stay lit

[JJGeisler]

Last August I replaced my 250W Iwasaki MH bulbs with fresh ones. Every since I installed the new bulbs I keep finding my lights out. Some times one bulb, some times the other bulb, some times both. At first I thought it might be stray signals tripping my timers but checked every thing out and it all checks OK. I had surgery a few weeks ago and it kept me home for a week. During that time I was able to observe the bulb start and stop cycle. The bulbs would light normal burn for a while (45 - 120 minutes) then go out. ballast is still on so when the bulbs cool off they re-start, burn for a while then go out. Bulbs are off more than on.

Anyone ever run into this befor?
JJ

[DarthOcellaris]

my first instinct is to say your ballast's are bad. Are you sure the bulbs are the right wattage for the ballasts? What about the circuit the bulbs are on? Is there maybe too much current being drawn and the ballasts dont receive enough juice?

[Wiskey]

That's a new one on me,..

Do you have bad connections anywhere? Is it possible that the bulbs aren't making good contact in the socket? Can you bend the center pin out a bit (with it unplugged of course) and try again?

Whiskey