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

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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!?!??!
 
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). 🙂
 
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.
 
they say made in Germany. ( i know ushio is a japanese word, i thought it was weird too)

but how can such a high quality bulb, (anything made in germany is good) have a widespread defect?

and they should stand by their name? whoever says their ushio only lasted a certain number of hours should contact the company and they might replace it.
 
UPDATE: I just got an email from Atlanta Light Bulbs this morning and they were informed by Ushio that the bulb in question is now backordered through April. I upped my order to two so I have a spare on hand. Given the tight supply it seemed like a good idea to me.

But now my project is on hold for a few months, back to my 20" CRT television until then 🙁 And now I don't have an excuse not to get started painting my house:bawling:
 
good, so the bulb is not discontinued.

hey all, i have an idea. let's all post appox. how long the bulbs last casue i want to see if it's true that they die prematurely. i doubt it, i think that guy was lying to get him to by an elctronic MH ballast.

i highly doubt the ushio made in germany has defects.
 
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