Ushio S400DD arc just glows; doesn't fire up HELP!

superdaveumo · 11th January 2006, 06:46 PM

So my S400DD Ushio decided to become just a glowing arc the other night. Won't fire up completely. Just a blue arc that wavers. Not bright at all. I figured the bulb is done (faulty). If you don't think this, please bring on the comments!

Ok, so where can I get the Ushio S400DD (HPS Retrofit) aside from atlantic lightbulb and LL (both are out of stock until Feb)? Is anyone selling one here? I checked Ebay. Want to watch the game this weekend! Hmph. Help!?!??!

v1d9uy · 11th January 2006, 07:42 PM

out of stock till feb ? **** thats all i have to say

doublejack · 11th January 2006, 08:51 PM

This site might have them, but they are $55 each plush shipping.
http://www.bulbster.com/products/product747.html

And here's another that has them listed for $90 each
http://www.servicelighting.com/catal...m?prod=QQ50798

But how did you hear that Atlanta Light Bulbs is out of stock? I just ordered one yesterday from them and I hope I don't have to wait a month for it

TheBigMastodon · 11th January 2006, 10:07 PM

I was going to buy one tonight too!

superdaveumo · 11th January 2006, 11:30 PM

Atlantic Bulb called me and told me they wouldn't be available until into next month. LL has backordered until ??? on their site. I assume it's because Ushio won't have any more until Feb.

snortonnorton · 11th January 2006, 11:32 PM

i must of got the last one. cause i got it from atlanticbulb shipped last week.

sorry guys.. LOL

mbates14 · 13th January 2006, 03:42 AM

sounds like you are missing sufficient current to the bulb, and it cant sustain the halogen cycle.

milihpen · 13th January 2006, 03:49 AM

Jeese, I'm sure lucky: got mine...this Tuesday? Atlantalightbulbs sent me an email saying they were out of stock, and then two days later they shipped it...kind of strange.

I'm really hoping that Ushio doesn't discontinue this bulb in the next year or so: It seems to be the cheapest, best, and possibly only viable option for retrofitting an HPS ballast. I'm considering buying another bulb for stockpiling, just so that if they do discontinue it, I can get a little more use out of my ballast (which, of course, was only $30, but still).

v1d9uy · 13th January 2006, 03:54 AM

yes yer right .... we should all if possable buy a extra bulb ... while there still making them just incase ....

superdaveumo · 13th January 2006, 04:27 AM

I was talking with a local light bulb company and it seems the Ushio Retrofit has a history of problems. Mainly they die very prematurely. He was saying a customer of his went through 3 in a month! Now, I can say personally that mine has already died. I bought an HPS 400w 2100k 21 CRI bulb to get me to my next solution. Horrible bulb, but bright! Which gets me to my next point, it wasn't my ballast that went bad. Soooo..... Maybe I just got a bad bulb, but with the only source being Ushio and they have one manufacturing plant (in Japan), this seems like a good case of up the creek without a paddle if they do discontinue the bulb. It's got great properties.... but if they aren't available.....

My suggestion for people is to at least look at metal halide bulbs and ballasts. The ballasts aren't any more expensive than HPS ballasts. The bulbs might be a little more. But, at least they are readily available.

11th January 2006, 06:46 PM	#1
superdaveumo diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Colorado	Ushio S400DD arc just glows; doesn't fire up HELP! So my S400DD Ushio decided to become just a glowing arc the other night. Won't fire up completely. Just a blue arc that wavers. Not bright at all. I figured the bulb is done (faulty). If you don't think this, please bring on the comments! Ok, so where can I get the Ushio S400DD (HPS Retrofit) aside from atlantic lightbulb and LL (both are out of stock until Feb)? Is anyone selling one here? I checked Ebay. Want to watch the game this weekend! Hmph. Help!?!??!

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11th January 2006, 07:42 PM	#2
v1d9uy diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2005	out of stock till feb ? **** thats all i have to say

11th January 2006, 08:51 PM	#3
doublejack diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Motor City	This site might have them, but they are $55 each plush shipping. http://www.bulbster.com/products/product747.html And here's another that has them listed for $90 each http://www.servicelighting.com/catal...m?prod=QQ50798 But how did you hear that Atlanta Light Bulbs is out of stock? I just ordered one yesterday from them and I hope I don't have to wait a month for it

11th January 2006, 10:07 PM	#4
TheBigMastodon diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Upstate New York	I was going to buy one tonight too!

11th January 2006, 11:30 PM	#5
superdaveumo diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Colorado	Atlantic Bulb called me and told me they wouldn't be available until into next month. LL has backordered until ??? on their site. I assume it's because Ushio won't have any more until Feb.

11th January 2006, 11:32 PM	#6
snortonnorton diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: tallahassee	i must of got the last one. cause i got it from atlanticbulb shipped last week. sorry guys.. LOL

13th January 2006, 03:42 AM	#7
mbates14 diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: non	sounds like you are missing sufficient current to the bulb, and it cant sustain the halogen cycle.

13th January 2006, 03:49 AM	#8
milihpen diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: USA	Jeese, I'm sure lucky: got mine...this Tuesday? Atlantalightbulbs sent me an email saying they were out of stock, and then two days later they shipped it...kind of strange. I'm really hoping that Ushio doesn't discontinue this bulb in the next year or so: It seems to be the cheapest, best, and possibly only viable option for retrofitting an HPS ballast. I'm considering buying another bulb for stockpiling, just so that if they do discontinue it, I can get a little more use out of my ballast (which, of course, was only $30, but still).

13th January 2006, 03:54 AM	#9
v1d9uy diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2005	yes yer right .... we should all if possable buy a extra bulb ... while there still making them just incase ....

13th January 2006, 04:27 AM	#10
superdaveumo diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Colorado	I was talking with a local light bulb company and it seems the Ushio Retrofit has a history of problems. Mainly they die very prematurely. He was saying a customer of his went through 3 in a month! Now, I can say personally that mine has already died. I bought an HPS 400w 2100k 21 CRI bulb to get me to my next solution. Horrible bulb, but bright! Which gets me to my next point, it wasn't my ballast that went bad. Soooo..... Maybe I just got a bad bulb, but with the only source being Ushio and they have one manufacturing plant (in Japan), this seems like a good case of up the creek without a paddle if they do discontinue the bulb. It's got great properties.... but if they aren't available..... My suggestion for people is to at least look at metal halide bulbs and ballasts. The ballasts aren't any more expensive than HPS ballasts. The bulbs might be a little more. But, at least they are readily available.

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