260 watts for CF normally hot?

[JimR]

Received my 48" 4x65 watt light yesterday. It has 2 @ 12000K and 2@ Arcinic.
I plugged it in for the day to test it, and noticed the metal outter covering got pretty hot. I temp'd the air coming out of the fan at 130 degree's F. Also, the acrylic bulb covering got pretty hot in different spots ( 150 F ). It sits on a stand that keeps it lifted about 3 inches, so I placed a thermometer under it. My normal indoor temp was 70 F and with the all lights running, I got to a high of 100 F.

I thought CP's ran much much cooler? I only assume this because I use CF bulb's all through out my house. But then again, thier only like 30 watts, not 260. So, should I worry, or is this normal?

 

[Agu]

It's normal..........

 

[Fast Fred]

Electronic ballast or magnetic ballast?

 

[JimR]

I have no idea which type of Ballast it uses.

What if I used a glass top on the tank and took the acrylic bulb protector off, would that make it run cooler? That would allow more air to surround the bulbs, instead of it all being kept sealed off.

 

[bkiba]

If you take the acrylic cover off the air might flow worse, since it won't be guided. Kind of like taking the cover off your computer reducing overall airflow.

130F is not that bad, don't get confused with the units, boiling (100C) is about 212F so you aren't really that hot. I have a coralife 65x4 W and a hamilton 4x96W PC fixtures and they both have some hot breeze running out of the fans and I haven't had any problems.

 

[JimR]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6531180#post6531180 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bkiba
If you take the acrylic cover off the air might flow worse, since it won't be guided. Kind of like taking the cover off your computer reducing overall airflow.

130F is not that bad, don't get confused with the units, boiling (100C) is about 212F so you aren't really that hot. I have a coralife 65x4 W and a hamilton 4x96W PC fixtures and they both have some hot breeze running out of the fans and I haven't had any problems.

Yes, but are your 2 fixures hot to the touch? Thats what really concerns me. 150 degree's F is pretty hot for acrylic. The metal housing was about 115 F.