Radium Bulbs and Ballasts??

[HOC]

Which type and brand of ballast is everybody running on their Radium bulbs? Any suggestions on wattage and combos for a mixed reef would be great. If I remember right the electronic ballasts don't burn the bulb as bright and give it a more blue look vs the HQI. I'd like to save money on elec, but would go 400 watt if needed. I've ran 400 radiums on HQI, but not elec. Also never ran a 250 Radium and I'm afraid they may be too blue.

 

[DarG]

Re: Radium Bulbs and Ballasts??

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15037967#post15037967 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HOC
Which type and brand of ballast is everybody running on their Radium bulbs? Any suggestions on wattage and combos for a mixed reef would be great. If I remember right the electronic ballasts don't burn the bulb as bright and give it a more blue look vs the HQI. I'd like to save money on elec, but would go 400 watt if needed. I've ran 400 radiums on HQI, but not elec. Also never ran a 250 Radium and I'm afraid they may be too blue.

The 250 watt Radium is not super blue. Its got a noticeable blue tint but its not super blue like some 20K's.

They are spec'd for the M80 magnetic HQI ballast. Depends on the cost of electricity in your area but for example, it would cost me maybe 6 or 7 cents per day more to run a pair of 250 watt radiums on M80 ballast versus electronic.

 

[mojo~]

This link might be helpful
ITs the radium tank thread

 

[HOC]

Where's the link

 

[Blazer88]

I run my 250W radium on a Blue Wave 3 HQI ballast and I love it. No supplemental lighting needed, the color and growth are great.

 

[Nanook]

I have 250w Radiums over my long tank on HQI ballasts and love them. Blue color for sure and wattage of about 330 watts each. I have 400w Radiums over my cube on HQI ballasts and love them as well. The only issue with the Radiums on HQI is the wattage. The 400w Radiums are juicing about 500w each on HQI ballast and last only six months.

 

[DarG]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15038734#post15038734 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Nanook
I have 250w Radiums over my long tank on HQI ballasts and love them. Blue color for sure and wattage of about 330 watts each. I have 400w Radiums over my cube on HQI ballasts and love them as well. The only issue with the Radiums on HQI is the wattage. The 400w Radiums are juicing about 500w each on HQI ballast and last only six months.

The wattage is what Sanjay measured the ballast pulling from the wall it is not what the bulb receives from the ballast. The 250 watt radium driven by M80 ballast actually sees about 275 watts or so at the bulb if memory serves.

 

[grigsy]

I really like using Radium 250 watt on an HQI M80 ballast. Better performance - brighter, better PAR - than running it off an electronic ballast.

 

[Toddrtrex]

I am running my Radiums off of a Galaxy ballast. Have been using them for about 3 weeks now (( was using the XM 20Ks prior to that )). So far I am pretty pleased with them.

 

[taylor t]

I have the galaxy ballast with 250 radiums. If I were to do it again, I'd go with the HQI as stated by grigsy. I like that color better.

 

[marineace5]

I also have 250w Radiums SE on Galaxy ballast with no complaints. Have done that combo for about a year over my 180g and everything looks great. I have been happy with the life span of the bulbs.

 

[roblack]

I'm about to switch my MH out for a new LumenMax Elite Mogul with Radium bulb and Galaxy ballast. Have been told this is a great combo. Hopefully I'll have good news soon.

 

[Ehaze]

I use icecaps on lumenbrights, with radiums nice white looks with a light blue tint.

 

[stevedola]

I bought a Bluewave 3, radium 250 se, and lumenbright mini. The combo fired up 3 times but the last time took 20 minutes. Now the bulb wont fire. I called sunlight supply and they told me that the bluewave 3 isnt meant to fire mogel bulbs. Is there something IM missing? am I supposed to do something when wiring together?

 

[James77]

Steve, how long did the bulbs cool before you tried firing them again?

 

[DarG]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15131875#post15131875 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stevedola
I bought a Bluewave 3, radium 250 se, and lumenbright mini. The combo fired up 3 times but the last time took 20 minutes. Now the bulb wont fire. I called sunlight supply and they told me that the bluewave 3 isnt meant to fire mogel bulbs. Is there something IM missing? am I supposed to do something when wiring together?

Sunlight Supply doesnt realize that the Radium 250 mogul lamp is an "HQI rated" mogul based lamp spec'd for the M80 ballast. In other words, you spoke with an uninformed individual at Sunlight Supply ... unfortunately, a company not known for their customer service. And I say this as a user of their products.

They are now using chinese components inside their HQI ballasts. I dont know if that is the issue but you either have a bulb issue, ballast issue ... or the socket could have a problem or anything in between.

Even companies like Radium can put out a bad bulb here and there. So it is possible that the lamp is faulty.

I would first make sure that the tab down inside the socket that contacts the bulb is making good contact. The tabs usually have a spring under them. Unplug the ballast, disconnect the cord that runs from the ballast to the reflector/socket. You can reach in there with your finger and slightly bend that contact tab upwards. Then screw the bulb back in, reconnect the cable and see if it fires the lamp. If not, then try another bulb if you have one. Try another ballast if you have one. Borrow one if you can, if you dont have either. Chances are that if it isnt the socket, its either the ballast or bulb but the only way to know is to try a different one of each to be sure.

But again ... the 250 watt radium is spec'd for the M80 ballast which is exactly what the Bluewave 3 HQI ballast is.

 

[stevedola]

ok, so its mechanical. Ill try and and switch it around to find the issue.

james- the bulbs cooled overnight

 

[stevedola]

the CS rep at sunlight asked if the ballast was humming and vibrating, and it was- she thought that most likely it wouldnt do anything if the ballast was gone. im going to pry up the prong inside the socket and see if that does anything. Ill be in touch after work.

 

[DarG]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15132411#post15132411 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stevedola
the CS rep at sunlight asked if the ballast was humming and vibrating, and it was- she thought that most likely it wouldnt do anything if the ballast was gone. im going to pry up the prong inside the socket and see if that does anything. Ill be in touch after work.

The ballast consists of the coil (transformer/autoformer) the capacitor and an ignitor. These are all seperate components that can be replaced individually. That coil usually doesnt go bad, the cap in that circuit is used for power factor correction only or primarily, I believe. Paulerik would surely know as he is the resident expert ... but if it is actually the ballast that is the problem, it is most likely a bad ignitor.

But as suggested, trouble shoot as much as possible to locate the source of the problem because it may not be the ballast.

Unfortunately they arent using the Advance Transformer components in the newer Bluewave HQI ballasts. Im not saying the components they are using are poor, just that that are now reportedly sourcing the ballast components from a different manucaturer, in China. The Advance components were proven reliable and durable over time. They claim the same specs with the asian components but they cant claim the same track record and reputation of the Advance components. Again, it may not be the ballast at all so Im probably jumping the gun mentioning any of this. But I for one wish they had kept using the Advance brand components. I have two older BlueWave 7 ballasts that use the Advance Transformer components. I also own several of the Sunlight Supply pendant/reflectors.

If it is the ignitor, its a easily replaceable item but unfortunately you would have to send the ballast in for repair to have the part replaced under warranty. And Im jumping the gun again ... sorry.

Keep us posted, Im interested in what you find.

 

[stevedola]

ugh, then what do I do for lighting if its the ballast? let my tank go dark for a week? I paid good money for a high qualitity unit...i thought, I hope everything works out quickly.

Ive been contacted with a number to call at sunlight but Im going to try and isolate the problem first before I call-so atleast I have something to share besides "its not working...aaaaaaah"