I got the 65k T15 bulb and vue ballast from the LL store a while ago and finally got around to hooking it up today but the bulb doesnt do anything. I let it sit for 5-10 minutes at a time before turning it off, does it take longer than that?

I have it setup with the plug from the wall going right into the ballast and the output from the ballast right into the mogul base.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

If you have a ohm meter check for the resistance on the bulb you will know for sure if its good If the bulb is good then check your wiring for loose conection

It shouldn't take that long to strike.. mine takes 2-3 seconds. You've probably checked the connections ten times, but be sure the cords are pushed all the way in to the eballast and the connect b/w ballast and bulb are secure. Also make sure the tab on the bottom of the mogul base is making contact with the bulb.. try bending it up a few mm to make sure.

My lamp would only work on certain outlets in my house.

My house was built in 1954, and the work room has original wiring. The lamp would fizzle for a second with one of my work room outlets, and it would take 2 times to strike with my other work room outlet.

My theater room has 3 year old wiring (pretty much means brand new good stuff), when the lamp is cold it will strike first time in the work room. If it is hot/warm it will strike second try in the theater room.

Checklist.

1. mogul tab bent up slightly to touch bulb
2. make sure outlet works with regular light bulb
3. try a different outlet
4. soldered connections are better than crimped, try soldering

does the lamp even flicker at all so far?

I've tried it in 2 different outlets so far, maybe i'll try some others. The bulb doesn't flicker or do anything although the ballast makes a little click noise when you first plug it in

Thanks

The click is a good sign.

But the bulb not flickering means wither the power isn't "good" enough, possibly because of a bad outlet. Or there is a bad connection between the ballast and bulb. Or the bulb is bad. Keep us posted!

Ok, I've tried it in every outlet I can find and still nothing, I've made sure the middle of the mogul base is bent upwards and I can see marks on it where the bulb hits it.

At this point I'm leaning towards a bad bulb, I might see if I can take it to a lighting store and get them to test it for me

Good idea, my next thought would be test it at a friends house or a HID lighting store.

I'm betting on the first bad VEU ballast. An OHM meter will not tell you anything about the lamp.

So how will you find out if all the gas has excaped from the lamp? You don't need to run the lamp to see if it will strike just strike it one. If it stricked then it should run.

I first would look at the lamp closely to see if the mercury is all sitting at one end. If it is then shake the lamp for a little to free up the mercury. Not too hard it is glass.

( bad idea?)

If you had a way to make 30,000volts you could see if the lamp will strike.

You could try to conect one end to a spark plug wire and the other to the ground and see if you can see a spark inside. This should make a spark in a lamp that still has gas inside. If you have not played with spark plugs alot you might want to skip this test. You could drop the lamp and break it too.

I have not tried this but if the lamp strikes like this( it will not run ) then the ballast is bad.

I am having the same issue. I get a spark from my buld but it never stays on. I have ordered and installed a new bulb and still can't get it to actually fire up.