use different wattage on same fixture?

krestonc · 03/24/2010, 04:28 PM

i have a cheap hqi/pc fixture (odyssea). i am planning on upgrading the ballast. can i upgrade to a 250w (currently it is a 150w) ballast and bulb using the same fixture. (it's the kind with pc's and led's, if that makes any difference.)

jubjub · 03/24/2010, 04:41 PM

by looking at some basic sites looks like
150w hqi
Length: 5.2 Inches
Diameter: .875 Inches

250w hqi
Length: 6.4 Inches
Diameter: couldnt find this

so if you bought like new standoff's and redrilled the holes to mount them in theory should

krestonc · 03/24/2010, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jubjub

by looking at some basic sites looks like
150w hqi
Length: 5.2 Inches
Diameter: .875 Inches

250w hqi
Length: 6.4 Inches
Diameter: couldnt find this

so if you bought like new standoff's and redrilled the holes to mount them in theory should

i'm gonna have to look at that. but, what i'm asking is can the wiring in the fixture itself handle the added wattage SAFELY?

dadowd · 03/24/2010, 07:21 PM

my pendant is rated up to 400 watts. it only has 16 gauge wire. hope this helps

jdthomas24 · 03/24/2010, 07:34 PM

opps

jdthomas24 · 03/24/2010, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krestonc

i'm gonna have to look at that. but, what i'm asking is can the wiring in the fixture itself handle the added wattage SAFELY?

Yes it can. The sockets and the gauge of the wire normally rate up to 600 volts.
16 gauge wire is good for 10 amps which is 1200 watts together.

krestonc · 03/24/2010, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdthomas24

Yes it can. The sockets and the gauge of the wire normally rate up to 600 volts.
16 gauge wire is good for 10 amps which is 1200 watts together.

thank you. you are the second person to say this, so i feel confident enough to do the upgrade.

Mike31154 · 03/24/2010, 09:23 PM

Ok so it looks like the electricals can handle it, but can the fixture handle the extra heat generated by the additional wattage? Just throwing that out there, safety and all.

krestonc · 03/24/2010, 10:32 PM

that's a good point. guess i should upgrade the fans too

krestonc · 03/24/2010, 10:35 PM

actually, my guess is that the actual fixture itself is likely the same thing they would use for their 250 watt set up anyway.?.

Toddrtrex · 03/24/2010, 11:56 PM

The end caps for 150's are different then the ones for 250's, so you would have to change those too.

03/24/2010, 04:28 PM	#1
krestonc Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: SoCal Posts: 41	use different wattage on same fixture? i have a cheap hqi/pc fixture (odyssea). i am planning on upgrading the ballast. can i upgrade to a 250w (currently it is a 150w) ballast and bulb using the same fixture. (it's the kind with pc's and led's, if that makes any difference.)

03/24/2010, 04:41 PM	#2
jubjub Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: vacaville, cali Posts: 2,698	by looking at some basic sites looks like 150w hqi Length: 5.2 Inches Diameter: .875 Inches 250w hqi Length: 6.4 Inches Diameter: couldnt find this so if you bought like new standoff's and redrilled the holes to mount them in theory should __________________ "The world holds two classes of men - intelligent men without religion, and religious men without intelligence." - Abu Ala Al-Maari

03/24/2010, 09:23 PM	#8
Mike31154 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 1,555	Ok so it looks like the electricals can handle it, but can the fixture handle the extra heat generated by the additional wattage? Just throwing that out there, safety and all. __________________ Mike Current Tank Info: 77g sumpless sw with rock, sand, a few critters, fishes & polyps. Lights, pumps.....

03/24/2010, 11:56 PM	#11
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	The end caps for 150's are different then the ones for 250's, so you would have to change those too. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

03/24/2010, 07:21 PM	#4
dadowd Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Central Indiana Posts: 61	my pendant is rated up to 400 watts. it only has 16 gauge wire. hope this helps

03/24/2010, 07:34 PM	#5
jdthomas24 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Rockwall, Texas Posts: 852	opps

03/24/2010, 10:32 PM	#9
krestonc Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: SoCal Posts: 41	that's a good point. guess i should upgrade the fans too

03/24/2010, 10:35 PM	#10
krestonc Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: SoCal Posts: 41	actually, my guess is that the actual fixture itself is likely the same thing they would use for their 250 watt set up anyway.?.