HELP:Electrical Ballast Replacement

[Lowefx]

I have a 48" Current Outer Orbit with 2x150w metal halide dual ended bulbs, and 2x130 power compact's. The unit has been very good for the past few years and I'm going to stick to the MH look of my tank. So I want to replace the MH ballast because they are the originals. Question is, what is a good replacement ballast, and how do I wire them up? Part two is that I just replace the 150w with 250w instead. The tank is a 120gallon 48Lx24Wx24H.
I also will be replacing the power compacts with T5's from a retro 4 bulb fixture. Should I replace that ballast too? If so, with what?
Please post pictures and links to items you are describing.
Thank you for your help in advance!

 

[JP Reef]

If your MH ballasts are still working I wouldn't replace them. You can't put a 250W ballast on a 150W bulb, and a 250W bulb won't fit the socket in your 150W light.

A PC ballast won't run a T5 bulb, so you would need a T5 ballast.

If you need to replace MH ballasts then you most likely would need to cut the connector off the end of the light cable and match it to your ballast unless you get lucky and you find a ballast that is compatible.

 

[Lowefx]

I understand the 150w and 250w ballasts and bulbs are not interchangeable. I was asking for a recommendation for my tank. What do you recommend using for my tank? And where can I find replacement parts? Thank you

 

[JP Reef]

For that depth I would look at 175W or 250W. Hamilton Technology makes a 250W that runs off the M80 ballast for radium bulbs. That is a very popular setup.

 

[Lowefx]

Great input JP Reef, do you happen to have a fav link or site I can look at, rather than aimlessly searching google.

 

[JP Reef]

http://hamiltontechnology.com/

 

[Lowefx]

So will i need 2x150w ballasts? Or can I run 1 ballasts for both bulbs?

 

[Lowefx]

I've started the break down of my 2 fixtures. Still trying to figure out reasonable replacements for the MH Ballast. Also noticed some corrosion and rust. Not sure if I should sand blast them or seal it with paint. I know I need the make sure the grounds are good, which I will check as I put it all back together. Here's some pics.

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[Lowefx]

Ok, I have my ballast for the T5s, and started to wire up, but I need some technical help.
I notice the old ballast has only a positive and negative wire, no ground as a how here

But my new ballast shows 3 connectors, including a ground, as shown here. Do I need to hook it up or not?

Also the connections for the bulbs look like they are in series, but the diogram on the ballast shows otherwise.



Please help a non-electric savy person

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[daks]

Ok, I have my ballast for the T5s, and started to wire up, but I need some technical help.
I notice the old ballast has only a positive and negative wire, no ground as a how here
View attachment 351683
But my new ballast shows 3 connectors, including a ground, as shown here. Do I need to hook it up or not?
View attachment 351684
Also the connections for the bulbs look like they are in series, but the diogram on the ballast shows otherwise.
View attachment 351685
View attachment 351686

Please help a non-electric savy person

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Hook up the ground.

One pin of those bulbs are in series.

A lot of T5 and T8 fixtures use the yellow wires as a "common" and you'll see red and blue at the other ends sockets, the red and blue are the ones that will go to the pins 1 and 2 etc. But use a ohmeter/multimeter to test the sockets if your are not sure.

 

[Lowefx]

I'm going to use the diagram on the t5 ballast. The U-OUT=300V scares me because I don't know what it means.

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[daks]

Highest voltage the ballast will output.

Just use proper wirenuts if you have to do any splices and you'll be fine.

 

[gus6464]

The tombstone on the pic is shunted. HEP requires a non-shunted tombstones. Just remove all the wiring from the endcaps and follow what the ballast diagram says.

 

[Lowefx]

Highest voltage the ballast will output.

Just use proper wirenuts if you have to do any splices and you'll be fine.

What type of wire nuts do you recommend? I'll need some for my MH ballast too. Wire is all 18 gauge.

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[Lowefx]

Update, I had to rewire the t5 from old ballasts to the new ones. It's still a work in progress and I plan on cleaning the wireing with zip ties and loom. I also hand made the mounts for the t5 sockets, out of tin. Slow progress but it's coming along.


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