Old Metal Halide Ballast

[ethanriley]

Ok I need help with this one. Many of you know I don't have enough light over my SPS tank, however I have a dual ballast metal halide setup that is at least fifteen years old. It has the bulbs with the fat ends (hope that is an apt description) the ballast work and the lights illuminate but the bulbs are older than dirt. I want to take them and put them over my thirty does anyone know where I might get the bulbs from? Please keep in mind I am electrically illiterate so please be gentle with descriptions and directions. I will see if Krish an snap me picture as well. Anyone know where to look for the wattage it isn't marked on the bulbs. thanks

 

[liveforphysics]

Look for it to say something like m-59, or similar somewhere. just type out the entire text of any tech lable on the bulbs and ballast. This should be enough info to set you up.

By fat base, I think you mean mogul.

 

[ethanriley]

Luke,

you actually made me use my head a little LOL. I looked on the bottom of the ballast box and found the following information :

Manufatured Custom Sea Life Inc. California:shock:
2 x 175 watt Metal Halide Ballast
120 volts 1.8 amps/lamp
216 watts/lamp

On the socket fixture it says:

4-KV Pulse Rated
Triboro

Any recommendations on where to order the bulbs for it? Im not sure if they are mogul or not but that is all the information I found.

Thanks,

 

[ethanriley]

By the way I know this is overkill on a thirty long but the ballast is a dual ballast and it is what I have right now I guess I an rotate one off one on. :?: How high do you think I should put them off the surface? They are retro fit so I have to get little bro who is the genius capenter in the family to build me a custom hood?

 

[liveforphysics]

Height above the surface depends on the reflector. Dont run unreflected, its a big waste of energy, and might even catch a wooden canopy on fire (but unlikely at 175watt).

I dont think its too much light for a 30gal long at all. I think it will work out very nicely.

If the bulb base looks like a standard thread in light bulb, only its about 2-2.5times the size, its a mogul base. I would browse ebay for a deal on a pair of 175watt bulbs in your color temp of choice, and if they dont want to ship out of country, they can ship to me and I can mail them to you. There are some different types of starting methods, but if the bulbs say something like "magnetic ballast" or "magnetic pulse start" you should be fine.

 

[ethanriley]

Thanks Luke. After looking more carefully it is magnetic pulse start and I think they aren't moguls. Also thanks for the offer on shipping. Krish uses Premium Aquatics and he has gotten stuff for me before so I will look there first. All the best

 

[ethanriley]

No it is mogul I looked again. The reflectors I have are flat and squared against the custom hood that I have them in now. Do you think I should reshape the reflectors for use in the new hood or cutt the metal away and reglue?

 

[ethanriley]

This may seem like a further DUMB question, but can I use two different rated bulbs off of the same dual ballast. What I mean is same 175 watt bulbs but 10,000K on one and 6,500K on the other?

 

[liveforphysics]

Yes, i would definately try to reshape the reflectors. Ideally, the inside of a a mcdonnalds "M" is the best reflector.

They are difficult bend though, so just be logical about putting some curves into it and re-installing them in the new hood.

If the ballast has 2 seperate transformers, dont worry a bit about running 2 color temps of bulbs. If its all from 1 transformer winding (not sure its even possible) then it would be a very bad idea to mix bulbs types.

 

[ethanriley]

Thanks Luke,

I am assuming it is two seperate transformers as even though its all the same casing there appear to be two seperate ballasts and there are obviously two seperate switches. So I can run two seperate bulb colors. I think I will order four just in case I don't like the combo idea (two of each type). Any body else out there running two seperate color temps with their halides?

 

[mojoreef]

It will be two seperate ballasts, but I would not suggest running two different color bulbs in thier, it will look to weird. One side of the tank one color and the other side another. At the 175 watt level I would say stick with a good 10K or probibly even better the 65K.
On the reflectors you have I would just toss them, reflectors can make up to 75% of the amount of light going into the tank so going to a cheap one makes no sence. You can buy a reflector/mogul combo for about 25 bucks that will just screw into the canopy. Premium is a great place to buy from and they will have both.

Hope it helps


Mike