Flicker with HMIs

Patryk_Rebisz

Patryk_Rebisz

Veteran
Today's scenario: using 5 HMIs (1.2s, 575s, 200s). Mix of mag and electronic ballasts. 1.2 starts visibly flickering from time to time (it's on mag ballast). Switched to electronic the ballasts keeps shutting itself down. Changing header - the same. Decreasing length of cable run from outlet - the same. Switching the heads - the same. So the issue must be with the outlet/power source. Still, out of curiosity, what would cause the light to flicker in those conditions?
 
I am far from an electricity expert, but last winter I had a problem with a short in the AC mains going into my house that was so bad it burned out our furnace motor. When the guy from the power company pulled open the electric service I was horrified to see large scorch marks and an ALUMINUM lead wire that was starting to melt. Prior to the big blow out we were having problems with the electrics for about a week prior. When any big load was put on the service (Furnace kicked on, the microwave oven was used) our incandescent lights would dim and our fluorescent lights would flicker. I now have a very serious lack of confidence in the state of our country's electric infrastructure.
 
Id have a major concern with the source getting a stable current. Must be peaking very high / low.
 
That was my thought too - I'd bet the lamps are both on high hours. Ballast faults are always the first thing to look for, but if swapping a ballast doesn't cure the problem, then the lamp is the most likely culprit.
 
Nah, new globes. Also on next shot in other rooms where other outlets were used all was fine. I'm just trying to discover what could be the reason here behind the flicker so i can spot the problem next time.
 
Hard to say without using a multimeter to check the line voltage (when the units are running) and how many amps you're pulling. The E ballasts shutting down is likely because they're not receiving enough voltage so they have to increase the current draw, if that current exceeds a certain level they cut out so they don't overheat. A simple low voltage condition like that might also cause flicker with your magnetic ballasts. But who knows, there could be a lot of noise on the line which could also trip the ballasts up.
 
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