DS250 HELP!

Did you try the lamp in another DS250? If that lamp strikes in that fixture, then it is a ballast issue. Had the same problem with one of my PS575IEs.

Also, when you send it in if it is a ballast issue, make sure that you explain that the lamp struck in another fixture and is not striking in the fixture that you sent back. Had to argue that one, since they put a new lamp in it but it struck just fine.

Warning, learning ahead . Arc lamps work by building up a ton of voltage in capacitors and then sending a large rush of voltage to the lamp, 'striking' it. Then need to do this to bridge the gap in the lamp between the leads, hence the term arc. It literally is an arc of electricity that makes the light for arc lamps. So as arc lamps age, they burn away the ends, also known as the anode and cathode, or negative and positive in this case. So as the lamp ages, it takes more and more voltage to strike the lamp. If a ballast can't produce that voltage, the lamp in question won't strike or if the anode and cathode have completely burned away. Once the lamp is struck, the amount of voltage needed to maintain the arc drops dramatically, but the current steps up to produce more light.

A ballast provides and does all the functions above. Stepping up and charging voltage for a strike, and then boosting up the current to maintain the arc. So there are a couple points in which one can fail, either not enough voltage to struck or not enough current to maintain.

Good luck and hope it isn't a ballast issue.

Thanks for the info,I did speak to Elation service Sat. ! They talked it thru with me & came to the same concusion.Hopefully the new ballest will be here today & it will do the trick !
Thanks again
Gfuller2000