Metal halide lighting discussion

[TheRealChrisBrown]

Those are gone now. They might be coming to Longmont Colorado. Dual HQI PFO ballast could not be passed up for $107.

Lol

 

[whyamisofly]

I didn't plan on using a Reefbrite ballast, but they ship with a "proprietary" plug from their pendant to their ballast. I guess I could chop off the connection and rewire it for a PFO ballast. I just really don't like the look and continue to think of breaking down because of it.

 

[jda123]

I am just in Longmont if you want to take a look at some MH setups... I have 14k Phoenix and 20k Radium running.

 

[whyamisofly]

I am just in Longmont if you want to take a look at some MH setups... I have 14k Phoenix and 20k Radium running.

I stopped by Andrew today and it's definitely my ballast. Makes me regret selling my pfo ballasts after acquiring my reefbrite.

 

[neil82]

I didn't plan on using a Reefbrite ballast, but they ship with a "proprietary" plug from their pendant to their ballast. I guess I could chop off the connection and rewire it for a PFO ballast. I just really don't like the look and continue to think of breaking down because of it.

Ah man, that's a bummer. If you want to keep the fixture and ballast you have, I think you would want to try a different 250w SE bulb made to run on M58. I believe Ushio and Hamilton have a bulb that would fit the bill. Otherwise, I guess you could rework the wiring like you mentioned in order to run M80 ballast for your radium bulb. Hamilton sells M80 ballasts for $150 new. I found a guy on R2R that has a pair of used Hamilton M80s for sale. The shipping would be expensive due to the weight. I'll send you a link to that sale thread if you're interested.

 

[whyamisofly]

Ah man, that's a bummer. If you want to keep the fixture and ballast you have, I think you would want to try a different 250w SE bulb made to run on M58. I believe Ushio and Hamilton have a bulb that would fit the bill. Otherwise, I guess you could rework the wiring like you mentioned in order to run M80 ballast for your radium bulb. Hamilton sells M80 ballasts for $150 new. I found a guy on R2R that has a pair of used Hamilton M80s for sale. The shipping would be expensive due to the weight. I'll send you a link to that sale thread if you're interested.

Please do, thanks.

 

[neil82]

Please do, thanks.

PM sent

 

[geekengineer]

So when you guys talk about 14K phoenix DE bulbs are they this brand/type? I think this is what @jda123 was recommending to me to use. Is there a better place to get them also?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Phoenix-El...=item3fb4ef140e:g:jB0AAOSwVRBcGtRm:rk:40:pf:0

 

[jda123]

That is them. Lots of places sell them.

 

[geekengineer]

OK Thanks. So no particular special place to get them then.

 

[whyamisofly]

Anyone have a 250w Hamilton M80 ballast that I may borrow?

 

[jda123]

I am AquaMedic and PFO. No Hamilton. You can borrow them if you want.

 

[whyamisofly]

I guess if they are m80 and will give me an idea of the "look" I have no brand loyalty.

 

[geekengineer]

So maybe a dumb question, but if you have a dual end MH lamp it needs a M80 ANSI rated ballast right? or do DEs overlap with other ANSI numbers like M102 etc.

 

[neil82]

I have questions too. What's the difference between magnetic HQI and M80, if anything? Or difference between magnetic HQI and electronic HQI?

 

[jda123]

There is no electronic HQI. HQI come in a few different sizes, but 250w, 150w and 70w are common in the hobby. 250w and real HQI ballasts are ANSI m80 spec. 150w are ANSI m81.

Electronic ballasts with HQI or Super Lumes setting are kind of a bastardization that works. They will fire the bulbs since they are pulse start, but they drive them to anywhere between 270-275w. Real m80 ballasts are over 300w.

Only DE bulbs and 20k Radium in 250w need HQI ballasts to run at spec. Other people use these ballasts on normal 250w bulbs to get more output out of them, but it overdrives them.

 

[neil82]

That clarifies a lot for me. Thank you.

 

[geekengineer]

Yeah thanks..

 

[neil82]

I see that with Google search of M102 it is showing 150w MH ballasts. I'm guessing those are for a different type of bulb. Maybe for industrial application or warehouse lighting? I really don't know. I found a product spec sheet for Sylvania MH bulbs and the bulb types and corresponding ANSI codes seemed almost endless. The ANSI codes I am familiar with for this hobby are M57 M58 M59 M80 M81. Maybe there are more. I'm reading that M135/155 is spec for 400w Radium 20K? I'm in over my head.

 

[kchristensen8064]

I see that with Google search of M102 it is showing 150w MH ballasts. I'm guessing those are for a different type of bulb. Maybe for industrial application or warehouse lighting? I really don't know. I found a product spec sheet for Sylvania MH bulbs and the bulb types and corresponding ANSI codes seemed almost endless. The ANSI codes I am familiar with for this hobby are M57 M58 M59 M80 M81. Maybe there are more. I'm reading that M135/155 is spec for 400w Radium 20K? I'm in over my head.

I'm with you on this. Trying to make sure that you match up the right bulb to ballasts is a little mind numbing. LOL I'm still a ways out on my MH setup, but this thread has been incredibly helpful so far in figuring out what type of setup to go with, or piece together. I was thinking about going with 3 of the 250w Reef Bright pendants with the LED's but just noticed last night that they've been discontinued... So back to the drawing board.