10W HID wouldn't strike

[do it easy]

I did a New Year's day dive, and as I was descending, I realized that my OMS 10W HID didn't strike when I flipped the switch. I toggled the switch and still no light. I did my dive and the light was the least of my worries.

When I got home, I tried to figure out what went wrong. I tried striking and still no light. There was no water in the cannister. I then checked the battery connection in case I forgot to connect it. Still connected. I disconnected and then reconnected the battery and then the light struck when I tried the switch.

I figure it's either a bad battery connector or a failing switch. The connector looked like it was plugged in and seated properly, but I didn't push it and then test the light. I did try to strike the light several times, so I'm hoping that I just didn't seat the connector properly. Does anyone have any insight about this?

 

[detroit diver]

My guess would be a shorted or broken wire (probably near a strain point). I've had this exact problem and changing the wire fixed it.

Another manufacturer had issues with their 10W HID. It involved the ballast. But OMS's problem would not be related, I'm sure.

 

[JeffG]

Check the solder joints on the connectors.

 

[do it easy]

Thanks for the tips. I'll remove the head before I start testing so that I don't fry the bulb.

 

[Uncle Pug]

On my Halcyon 10w HID the failure to strike was caused by the bulb needing to be reseated.