Icecap 400W DE MH pendant problem - light shuts off

[rayk]

I have an Icecap 400W DE MH pendant.   This is my 2nd buld with the same problem.  After about 3 months of use, the bulb will fire but then shuts off after about 5 minutes, or just about the time it is hitting the correct 'lighting' spectrum. 

1.  Anybody else have this problem?
2.  Anybody use 400W DE HQI bulbs other than Icecap, if so what brand?
3.  Anybody use any other 400W ballast, if so what brand?

I just tried two things suggested on other forums with no luck:
a.  Cleaned the bulb
b.  Removed the glass cover

Neither fixed the problem.

Thanks in advance,
- rayk

[slandis3]

I run 400w blueline ballast w/single ended bulbs

[rayk]

Yeah, I just got an email back from the vendor.  He said they don't have too many folks using 400W double-ended bulbs, but he hasn't heard of a problem.  I'm calling Icecap tomorrow, since the one bulb is only 2 months old. 

He has a Coralvue 10k bulb I might try as well, just to give me another data point. 

I also need to find out if my ballast will drive a regular, single-ended bulb. 

Thanks,
- rayk

[rayk]

Just an update, the Coravue 10k bulb has been working fine for almost a week now.  I'm still going to call IceCap and see if I can get new bulbs from them.  Not sure what else could be the problem, unless the ballast is overdriving the bulbs or something.

- rayk