Metal Halide Burn in time?

[TexasDude]

ok. my girlfriend just bought a Ushio 250w 20k DE bulb and since it has been installed, it will flicker from blue to a pinkish color. it makes a fizzling sound and flickers like its going to go out or something. we cleaned it with alcohol after it was installed and didnt touch it with fingers then either. just wondering if this is how it acts when it burns in or if its a defect or something.

 

[bimmerzs]

Sounds like a function of the ballast you are using with this bulb.

Cheers,

 

[ntl555]

Never had that issue. My bulbs are typically changing spectrum colors when i first turn it on, but after ten minutes the bulb warm up it stays normal.. After that, that's when the clock starts to click for the bulb replacement several months later.

 

[silveradobobby]

Sounds like the bulb is not seated agaist the contacts very well or the contacts are carboned over from the last bulb

 

[SumThinhWong]

I would look at the contacts seats. If they are clean then it may be the ballast. What type of ballast are you running.

 

[TexasDude]

idk. it came with the fixture. its a current fixture. it stopped doin it though. think it just had to run for a bit. thx though!