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Repairing HMI Fixtures & Ballasts
If you've ever run into trouble with HMI fixtures and ballasts, you know that it can be a puzzle figuring out what's wrong. This is one of the most typical problems we've encountered, and the troubleshooting tips we've found most helpful:

Problem: HMI starts to flicker intermittently
Trouble-Shooting Tips:

1. Don’t replace lamp right away. This type of problem is related to low or intermittent voltage. Unless you know your lamp has been around for a long time, leave it alone. Most HMI lamps are damaged during handling either by a finger print (which can shorten the life), or a broken porcelain when removing the lamp from a tight lamp socket.

2. Try a new outlet or circuit.

3. Feel for unusually high heat coming from each connection in the system. Loose connections cause arcing, which causes heat. Tighten all connections.

4. Change header cable. It's amazing how many cables become damaged. They can break inside the cable without any visible evidence as to a cut or slice in the cable.

5. Check the header cable connector pins for evidence of blue or black color which can indicate arcing.

6. Check the lamp socket. You want a fairly tight fit where the lamp pins contact the lamp socket. If there's evidence of arcing and heat build up, tighten contacts so that the lamp has a secure fit.