If my ballast is having problems firing HPS

[TheFertilizer]

Will a new bulb help at all? It seems like every other time the ballast is to fire my hps that the it fails and I have no idea why. When it does I just unplug my ballast, unplug my fan, them plug the ballast back in and it starts up. I think it has something to do with the fan running at the same time, like the "power fluctuation" sensing but I don't know. I do know I never seem to have issues with my MH bulb like this.

If it were a problem with the ballast turning HPS bulbs on, would having a better quality bulb help anything?

P.s.
Apollo sucks

 

[Brewer]

had a problem like this, mine kept trying to fire it up every 30 seconds or so.....it was the bulb.
especially if it fires the MH up....I suspect bulb.

 

[EARTHWALKER]

I have to agree with Brewer here. Normally when a ballast has problems it will just play dead and not even try to fire anything up.

 

[TheFertilizer]

Does anyone know where to get protected arc-tube bulbs?

Otherwise I think I am going to check out these Ushio lamps.

The current one is whatever generic bulb Apollo shipped with it.