Overdriving MH??

[TheCoralReef731]

If I wanted to overdrive a MH bulb with my 250 HQI ballast, what type of single ended bulbs should I use. Should they be 250 watt or 400 watt?

 

[bubbletip2]

All ballasts are rated for the wattage of the bulb. they are not interchangeable. Go with a single 250W bulb. If I can recommend an inexpensive but high par bullb with great color, check out the EVC 10K and 14K bulbs. Great deal for $50 and Sanjay himslef uses the EVC 10K.

 

[mhurley]

Putting a 400 watt bulb on a 250 watt ballast wont even light the bulb. Reverse that scenario and you'll likely blow up the bulb.

 

[hansnfrans]

Overdriving a MH bulb is achieved by running a SE bulb on an HQI ballast, rather than going with a DE. If you have a 250w HQI ballast, then just use a 250w SE bulb with that ballast.

 

[RobTop]

I ran a 250w bulb on a 175 ballast for 3 weeks with out issues as I waited for new bulbs. I can't speak to the par rating, but it lite up and didn't blow up. though I was freakin out the whole time

 

[mhurley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8164476#post8164476 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hansnfrans
Overdriving a MH bulb is achieved by running a SE bulb on an HQI ballast, rather than going with a DE. If you have a 250w HQI ballast, then just use a 250w SE bulb with that ballast.

If that's the case, then I overdrove my 400 watt bulbs for 3 years. Prior to my Icecap 220V ballasts, I had 400 watt PFO HQI's and ran SE bulbs in them.

 

[ostrow]

That's what you were doing Mike.

I run Reeflux 250W 12Ks on my PFO HQI magnetic ballasts and love them.

 

[TheCoralReef731]

Does it shorten the bulb life significantly?

 

[menard]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8165844#post8165844 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TheCoralReef731
Does it shorten the bulb life significantly?

SE on HQI ballast. Yes!!, after 6 mo.used,goes downhill from there.
DE on HQI ballast awesome and you'll get 12 mo. life out of the bulb. The par is phenominal.

 

[ostrow]

Menard I think it's more like 9mos.

 

[menard]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8166093#post8166093 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ostrow
Menard I think it's more like 9mos.

That depends on who's the manufacturer. Are U talking SE or DE ?

 

[TheCoralReef731]

I am planning on running SE on my HQI ballast. What brand would last the longest and give me the most PAR?

 

[desjardiniidj]

got HQI?

got HQI?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8167418#post8167418 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TheCoralReef731
I am planning on running SE on my HQI ballast. What brand would last the longest and give me the most PAR?

I have 3 PFO HQI 400 watt ballasts and have ran a variety of SE bulbs. If you want power and growth, I'd try the XM 10k. If you want more blue, I like the Radium 20k's. I haven't found a 14k I like. I'm sure the par drops off sooner, but I seem to get about 9 months out of bulbs before needing to change them. Good luck!

 

[ostrow]

9mos on SE bulbs of quality. Ushio, Reeflux, AB. Not sure about the less expensive brands like XM, Hamilton, EVC. Actually, I assume those are less expensive. Never looked into them seriously.

 

[desjardiniidj]

9 months with XM and Radium. A Hamilton bulb has no place in my house. Haven't tried an EVC....yet.

 

[TheCoralReef731]

I have used XM 20ks in the past and haven't had much luck with them. I might try a different brand. They all seem the same, in a way.

 

[desjardiniidj]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8170797#post8170797 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TheCoralReef731
I have used XM 20ks in the past and haven't had much luck with them. I might try a different brand. They all seem the same, in a way.

For 20k, I don't use anything but Radiums. XM 20k's aren't powerful enough and I think they look purple, not blue.