PAR 64 Misbehaving

[tomed101]

I have a very unusual problem (at least to me) with two PAR 64's. I'm in Australia, and seeings as we run on 240V, two 64's plug into a splitter box which connects them in serial (120V gets supplied to each). I have used this for several years with no problems, but today I plugged in a couple of pairs and noticed that one light, not one pair was running at about 5%, while the other in the pair was running at 100%.
My initial thought was that there was something wrong with the bulb, replaced it, same problem. Next thought, problem with the splitter, replaced it, same problem. Next thought was something wrong with the lamp base, replaced the entire lamp with one I know is working, same problem. Weird huh? Getting desperate now, tried another dimmer circuit which I knew was working, and the one lamp is still running at 5%.
I have replaced everything there is to replace, and can't for the life of me come up with any idea let alone an explanation. The only think I can come up with is Voodoo magic which doesn't seem very likely.
Any ideas?
Thanks
Tom

[Footer]

Did you rip apart the plug on the pigtail and check it? It could be something within that.

[tomed101]

Originally Posted by Footer4321

Did you rip apart the plug on the pigtail and check it? It could be something within that.

That was my first thought, but I replaced the entire thing with one that I know for sure works.

[soundlight]

Have you replaced the whole fixture yet? Just swap it out for a whole fixture that you know works, and if that works, you can narrow it down to an element of the parcan itself, even though you've already replaced most of those in the fixture in question.

[tomed101]

Originally Posted by soundlight

Have you replaced the whole fixture yet? Just swap it out for a whole fixture that you know works, and if that works, you can narrow it down to an element of the parcan itself, even though you've already replaced most of those in the fixture in question.

Yep tried that as well. I have replaced everything in the circuit, Lamp, the whole parcan, splitter, power source. I really am baffled on this one.

Tom

[jmabray]

Is it possible that the par that is having the issue is a 240v lamp?

[David Ashton]

I think you will find that the par 64 which is brightest is a 240 lamp and the dull one is a 120 lamp.The 240volt lamp got into your system somehow.

[soundlight]

I think that this may be the answer. I second all the others, check to see if the other one has a 240v lamp.

[Grog12]

Originally Posted by soundlight

I think that this may be the answer. I second all the others, check to see if the other one has a 240v lamp.

Everyone got to it before me...240v PAR's are finally making their way into Australia...and this sounds like the problem here.

[jmabray]

Originally Posted by allthingstheatre

I think you will find that the par 64 which is brightest is a 240 lamp and the dull one is a 120 lamp.The 240volt lamp got into your system somehow.

Ummmm, no.

If he is using feeding 240v into a voltage splitter/reducing device as he says he is and it comes out of that device at 120V, then the 240 V par lamp would be the dimmer of the two as it is only being fed with half the expected voltage. the 120v lamp would be its full brightness.