Help needed with a faulty "Electronic Ballast"

[onesixright]

Hi,

I have al faulty "Electronic Ballast". It came out of a light fixture. It didn't "die", but the light was unstable flickering and not bright (i.e. purple-ish). I replaced this one with a new one and all works well. Leaves me a broken one on the desk

I was thinking this might be a good project to repair myself!  Only, after taking a hit (220V going through both arms, when I was young) playing with a starter, I learned a important lesson. So nowadays im (trying to be) carefull with all AC voltages, it has my full respect! :-) Happy to be still here (ya-da-ya-da )

My question: should I even try and where do I start? I'm tempted! But maybe its out of my league 

Obvioulsy I looked for the dead-give-away's like smell, blown caps, etc. As you can see on the picture (well, at least to my untrained eyes!) it looks all pretty normal.

To the pro's, do I give it a try, or do I go on a salvage parts quest?

Thanks a bunch,
Roger

[Xenon Photon]

I repaired some of those long time ago. I remember most of the problems were in the transistors. get the datasheet and find the pinout and test them with a multimeter. you may have to desolder them.

Remember to discharge the big cap and it is better if you wear gloves.

P.S, I'd recommend the salvage parts quest.

[onesixright]

Ah good point, gloves? I don't have any what should I look for?

I tried looking up the part but "Omnitronix FLF1T13F" shows up nothing.  On "1x13W T2" I'm getting a few hits but thats not the one. Like it doesn't exists, weird!

[Zero999]

Before trying anything, replace the big blue capacitor. High ESR/low capacitance are common failure modes of the main smoothing capacitor and would likely be the cause of the symptoms you've described.

[Gyro]

I assume you've checked the continuity of the white Kilxon part?  It looks like a thermal trip to me.

[Xenon Photon]

Ah good point, gloves? I don't have any what should I look for?

http://www.ebay.com/bhp/electrician-gloves
Or ask any local safety equipments store for "electricians' gloves". They are slandered safety procedure in factories.

I tried looking up the part but "Omnitronix FLF1T13F" shows up nothing.  On "1x13W T2" I'm getting a few hits but thats not the one. Like it doesn't exists, weird!

The transistor maybe  the ST part below the inductor in the middle. Although some of those packages maybe a driver IC.

Before trying anything, replace the big blue capacitor. High ESR/low capacitance are common failure modes of the main smoothing capacitor and would likely be the cause of the symptoms you've described.

Good point 

[owiecc]

http://www.ebay.com/bhp/electrician-gloves
Or ask any local safety equipments store for "electricians' gloves". They are slandered safety procedure in factories.

These type of gloves are for electricians, not electronic engineers. You need differential voltage probes, isolated multimeters, maybe an isolation trafo, but not gloves.

[onesixright]

Just to let you guys now, I replaced the cap (was indeed broken), works like a charm! 

Thanks for the tips!