Phoenix 14k 250W SE Mogul - Uneven Colors

[yellojello]

Hi,

I just purchased a pair of Phoenix 14k 250W SE Mogul bulbs, and they are uneven colors. One is blue hue while the other is a crisp white with little blue.

They are both plugged into a Coralvue Dual 250W E-ballast. I tried switching the power ports, and the results are the same for the bulb colors. I'm not sure which color is supposed to be the right color.

I made sure that both nipples on the bulbs were on top. Do I need to exchange one?

They have been running a little over a week now. I think they were already pre-burned in since there was some black on the glass near the screw base.

Both sides are the same Phoenix Bulbs:

Perhaps they are from a different batch (different stickers from manufacturer or Premium Aquatics internal use)?

 

[Jeremy B.]

Hi,

Sorry about the issue you're experiencing. My first guess is that the lamp arc tube in one of them is in the wrong position. If you look at both lamps while they're off, make sure the nipple coming off of the arc tube is between the 10 and 2 position, or pointing upwards. If the nipple is point horizontal, or downward, this does not let the bulb operate at the proper internal temperature, causing the actual color temp. to be off.

If that is not the issue, then it's most likely a burn-in issue with the bulb, and a lot of times they will color adjust about 40 - 50hrs of burn time.

Those are internal UPC stickers that we use, so they could have been from the same batch, or a different batch, it would be hard to tell.

At any rate, please let me know what you find out and we'll go from there.

Thanks,
Jeremy

 

[john90009]

premium, what side is the bulb supposed to look like the left or the right?

 

[Jeremy B.]

It's hard to tell because of white balance settings with the camera, computer monitor settings, and the ballasts you're running, etc. From what I can tell though it should really be inbetween the two of those.

I still think it's a nipple orientation issue though.

 

[john90009]

ok i hope the issue can be resolved and i can hear the change cause im really interested in these and there are no people in my area with halides so i can see. either of you know a good blue bulb that will be a single ended 250 watt on a galaxy ballast. i would think 20,000k bulbs but i hear they have massive color change or par dropping after a few months.

 

[yellojello]

Hi Jeremy,

These are my second pair of lamps. The first set were Reeflux 10k and I did misorient the nipple on one of them, causing color shift, so this time I was sure to install these correctly. Exactly at 12 o'clock:

Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks.

 

[Jeremy B.]

Ok, good deal. Go ahead and let them run for a week and report back to what you find. There is still a good chance they will both burn-in and look the same.

Just to confirm again, you swapped ballasts, and the color followed the lamps, correct?

 

[yellojello]

Correct, I have a dual port 250w ballast, let's say, Port A and Port B.
Bulb on left is same blue on both Port A and Port B. Bulb on right is the same whiter color on both Port A and Port B.

I will let it run another week or two and update. Thanks for the quick responses Jeremy!

 

[yellojello]

Hi Jeremy,

Still the same. Here is an updated photo:

Can I exchange one? Thanks.

 

[yellojello]

Hi Jeremy,

Still the same. Can I get one exchanged?

Here is an updated photo:

 

[Jeremy B.]

Shoot me an email to jeremy@premiumaquatics.com with your name and order number and I will get it taken care of for you.

THanks,
Jeremy

 

[john90009]

if you get a replacement bulb can you shoot with the same exact settings as one of the original pictures? the first picture was more blue im guessing the cameras exposure changed a tad or did it loose that much of a blue?

 

[henrystyle]

question

question

How long are the mogul phoenix bulbs good for before they need replacing?

 

[Jeremy B.]

It really depends on how long you run them per day, however I would say somewhere around 8 - 10 months should be close.

 

[ZildjianDevil]

I thought the wire on the metal halide bulbs were suppose to facing up? The opposite of the picture since his is facing down.

 

[henrystyle]

I thought the wire on the metal halide bulbs were suppose to facing up? The opposite of the picture since his is facing down.

I thought it was suppose to be as pictured. Thats how I always ran my bulbs. In some bulbs that metal bar is white. I believe that bar is what gives the bulb the correct spectrum when fired.. Someone correct me if Im wrong..

 

[ZildjianDevil]

Yeah I'm confused as well, I was told that metal bar should be facing up, to fire correctly. Because I had the same problem where all two of my XM MH Bulbs were blue while the one was an whitish. I was so mad. Then i was told that if that bar Is off or tilted to the side or anything that it won't show the true color. So I faced the bar up, and within minutes it turned to the blue like the other two.

Anyone know for 100% which way that metal bar should be facing Up towards the reflector or down facing the water like this picture is shown in this thread?

Thanks.

 

[Jeremy B.]

It's all about the nipple on the arc tube (inner glass envelope). You want to have the nipple inbetween the 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock position to get the proper color rendering off of single ended lamps. This goes for any Mogule base (SE) MH lamp. HTH!

 

[mkart]

It's all about the nipple on the arc tube (inner glass envelope). You want to have the nipple inbetween the 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock position to get the proper color rendering off of single ended lamps. This goes for any Mogule base (SE) MH lamp. HTH!

Wow, I have been running mine for 10 months without knowing this. Now I'll have to check how mine are situated. I have 14k Ushio so I assume the same rule applies.

 

[Jeremy B.]

Yes, this applies to mogul base MH lamps.