HID Ballast?

[Warboc]

I purchased a Odyssea Metal Halide light unit from Aquatraders and I would like to try/test various brands of MH bulbs in it. The unit uses double ended 150W MH bulbs.

My question is this. I see most bubls listed on vendor websites as being designed for "HQI" ballasts. I looked at the ballasts for this light unit and they appear to be "HID" ballasts. I am not sure if my terminology is right or not but here are a couple of pictures of the ballasts.

I am simply wanting to know what bulbs I should try. At first thought, I was going to try Ushio bulbs but they specify for HQI ballasts. Upon looking at the ballasts, I am not certain. Anyways, thanks in advance for any feedback.

 

[Aquactinics]

HID stands for High Intensity Discharge. All MH are HID. The ballast you bought (M102 is the ANSI code) is only for 150W Medium base MH bulbs. The Ballast you need to get for 150W HQI MH bulbs is either a (M81) HQI Magnetic Ballast or 150W Electronic Ballast.

 

[Steve Ruddy]

The Ballast you need to get for 150W HQI MH bulbs is either a (M81) HQI Magnetic Ballast or 150W Electronic Ballast.

If you decide on an electronic I would go with an Aromat M15012CK- 3EUF I beleive these to be of the best quality available. They can be found for less than others and have a 5 year warranty.

 

[Warboc]

Wel at this point I am simply wondering what types of bulbs (specific brands) I can get to use with the current setup. Definitely not replacing the ballasts.

 

[senorpyro]

well, the m102's are only spec'd for single ended bulbs... i think there's an iwasaki 6500k that runs on those, but that's about it.

i've read a few unsubstantiated reports that some DE bulbs will fire on these, but there's little to back that up - though if you were going to try anyways, the XM's stand the best chance of firing off the wrong ballast IMO

 

[Warboc]

The unit came with a pair of DE bulbs which work fine - no specific brand name visible on the bulbs though.

In looking for medium base metal halide bulbs, all i am finding are single ended bubls.

 

[senorpyro]

medium base = single ended... there's a lack of information because they are completely different spec's, and are not meant to overlap.

the DE bulbs fire differently than the SE's, and need a LOT more voltage at startup if i'm remembering correctly, so the ballasts are spec'd differently for a reason.

sometimes a DE bulb will fire on an m102 ballast, and sometimes an SE will fire on an m81 ballast, but they aren't designed to, and you run a serious risk of fire, or at the very least excessive heat production on the ballast by running it differently than it was intended.

 

[senorpyro]

i just re-read your first post, and noticed you got the fixture from aquatraders - i'd definitely recommend calling them, and yelling at them for installing a ballast that is not properly spec'd for the system, and creating a safety hazard. ask for your money back, or for them to install a proper m81 ballast; at their expense.

now i'm beginning to understand why they're stuff is so cheap....

 

[elinder]

This really sucks! I've sent an e-mail to the aquatraders people but I'm not looking to get any kind of a response. The only thing I can hear is my wife *****ing when I tell her I've got to spend another 400 or 500 hundred dollers for new lights. I knew I should have done that in the first place. Oh well live and learn I guess.

 

[elinder]

Could I just rewire the ends for a SE bulb. That shouldn't be to hard.

 

[senorpyro]

if you were to get a medium base socket, and there were room to mount it, then yeah, should be fine.

be aware though, that there only look to be two regularly used medium base bulbs - the iwasaki 6500k and iwasaki 50000k (they claim it's comparable to 20000k) - and i have not clue how they stack u p par-wise.

 

[elinder]

thanks, I guess another 500.00 is the answer. I'll do it right this time.

 

[senorpyro]

what size tank and stuff are you looking at? if you wanted to use the existing fixture pretty much as is, you can pick up a 150watt icecap, or aro ballasts for $100 or so... or you can watch ebay and find an m81 for about $40 like i did a few months back

 

[elinder]

Ive got a 55 gal. If I do that could I also upgrade to a duel 175?

 

[senorpyro]

well, the 150 DE's put out at least as much light as the SE 175's do if you're using a decent reflector, so there isn't really any point in doing so.

i take it you're probably using the "ODYSSEA 48" 384W METAL HALIDE" - right?

if so, i'd harass the company and try and get them to fix it for you, but since the chances of that are pretty slim, i'd just replace the ballasts myself with either m81's or electronics.

 

[masterswimmer]

elinder, how long ago did you order and receive the lights? Did you charge them to a cc? If you did, then write a letter to the cc company and explain that your purchase was misrepresented and you want to return the lights and challenge the charge. Then Odyssea would be required to respond. If they don't respond within the time limits required by law, the charge will be removed from your balance.

Russ

 

[Warboc]

In looking into this further, I see at least one brand of DE bulbs that specifically supports a M102 ballast.

Iwasaki 20k & 50k DE bulbs.

More info here

 

[elinder]

elinder, how long ago did you order and receive the lights? Did you charge them to a cc? If you did, then write a letter to the cc company and explain that your purchase was misrepresented and you want to return the lights and challenge the charge. Then Odyssea would be required to respond. If they don't respond within the time limits required by law, the charge will be removed from your balance.

Russ

Yes, I paid thru paypal so I'll file a claim on this asap. Ill let ya know what happens.

 

[elinder]

Yes, I paid thru paypal so I'll file a claim on this asap. Ill let ya know what happens.

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[masterswimmer]

Damn, I'm sorry to hear that. Have you spoken to Aquatraders yet? I'd be curious to hear how they handle it.

Russ