Ballasts bad?

[Miah2bzy]

I have a 2x250 metal halide fixture I planned on using. It was functioning great when I first bought it. It’s been in a storage tub in the utility room for a few years.
I opened the ballast cover to clean out the dust and get it ready for my 65. I saw that the ballasts are all rusted.
In your opinion, is this still usable as a main display light?

 

[SynDen]

Not entirely uncommon really. I would just plug a light into it and turn it on and see if it works. If not, its fairly easy to replace the those parts in it. Just gotta order replacements and most manufacturers will have them listed on their sites

 

[Miah2bzy]

Not entirely uncommon really. I would just plug a light into it and turn it on and see if it works. If not, its fairly easy to replace the those parts in it. Just gotta order replacements and most manufacturers will have them listed on their sites

Got it. Good to know as it still fires just fire on both halides.

 

[jda123]

Many old ballasts have surface rust. When you really have to worry is when the ballasts swell like crazy, but they usually quit well before then.

If they fire the bulb, then they are OK to use.

HUAQUAN HQI ballasts are not easy to find new, or as replacements. You can find used MH ballasts if you look hard enough. Any of the AquaMedic HQI ballasts use these parts. There are a lot around this town. I have some that have been running for 15, or so, years with no issues.