Sanjay ballast performace...hmm.

PatrickJ · 04/21/2006, 12:42 AM

Looking at the awesome site from Sanjay http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.c...rmancedata.php

It has got me considering a whole new ball park of choices. Originally, I was going to go with Sunlight Supply ballast, Blue Wave 7. Running dual 250 watt HQI lights on a 120 tank.Now, I have been reading the data and digesting it and thinking hard about ballasts.

PFO is a good ballast according to the PPFD readings, yet I hear that so many people are changing there ballasts from them to another ballast company.

I have no idea on the BlueWave 7's ballast performance, but I do have a clue how it may perform, due to the fact that it is a electronic ballast. I can safely assume that it will not render a higher PPFD than a PFO ballast.

For example, take a look at these differnt ballast performance on the same bulb.

Electronic

Compare

PFO M80

If you open them in two seperate windows, you can see one is far more efficent at putting out light. (PPFD on the PFO is much higher than the electronic)

PFO M80 Ballast or an electronic? Which would benefit me and my corals the most.

PatrickJ · 04/21/2006, 10:06 AM

any takers?

Jeremy B. · 04/21/2006, 10:07 AM

It all depends on what you're after. DE lamps are designed to run off of an HQI ballast, or M80 ballast as we'll call it. This is a magnetic ballast that runs at a little higher wattage than what an electronic or standard magnetic ballast does. In my opinion if you are using DE lamps, and spending the money on the pendants, etc, it makes no sense to buy an electronic ballast that will in fact underdrive most DE lamps out there.

Now, if you're not looking at squeezing every last bit of light out of your lamps, and power consumption is more of an issue to you being in California, then a single ended setup utilizing an electronic ballast might be the best way to go. Most single ended lamps will run fairly close to the same output when driven by an electronic ballast vs a standard magnetic ballast, called M58 (250w version). You might even find the rare combo of electronic ballast and lamp where that setup will even give you more output on the electronic ballast than it will with the magnetic ballast and lamp combo.

Now you can also run that M80 ballast ("hqi") with single ended lamps as well. This will in turn overdrive the lamp, giving you more light output. Keep in mind that when using an M80 ballast with single ended lamps you are overdriving those bulbs 99% of the time, and this will take 2-3 months off the useful spectral life of the bulbs you are using.

RichConley · 04/21/2006, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by PatrickJ

If you open them in two seperate windows, you can see one is far more efficent at putting out light. (PPFD on the PFO is much higher than the electronic)

PFO M80 Ballast or an electronic? Which would benefit me and my corals the most.

The PFO (HQI) also uses a HUGE amount more electricity than the electronic, which is why it puts out more light.

The electronics put out a whole lot more PPFD per watt going into the ballast.

Youd probably get a whole lot more light, and similar electrical consumption using a 400w on a 400w electroic as a 250w on an HQI.

PatrickJ · 04/21/2006, 01:19 PM

Interesting! If anyone else has anything to say, please do!

gvibes · 04/21/2006, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RichConley
The electronics put out a whole lot more PPFD per watt going into the ballast.

That's not what I got out Sanjay's results.

PatrickJ · 04/21/2006, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gvibes
That's not what I got out Sanjay's results.

Yeah, I agree. The PFO M80 (magnetic) ballast, puts out far more PPFD (PAR) than any ballast tested.

moonpod · 04/21/2006, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RichConley
The PFO (HQI) also uses a HUGE amount more electricity than the electronic, which is why it puts out more light.

typically between 50-75w more

The electronics put out a whole lot more PPFD per watt going into the ballast.

wrong. By and large M80 effeciencies are the same as electronics. Sometimes better depending on the bulb in question

Youd probably get a whole lot more light, and similar electrical consumption using a 400w on a 400w electroic as a 250w on an HQI.

It's hard to say on that front b/c the bulbs are so different as are the reflectors

PatrickJ · 04/22/2006, 01:15 AM

hmm, any more input?

I really like the bulbs that I posted. See the link.

PatrickJ · 04/22/2006, 09:22 PM

hmm. I think I am going with the Electronic.

04/21/2006, 12:42 AM	#1
PatrickJ Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Luling, La Posts: 587	Sanjay ballast performace...hmm. Looking at the awesome site from Sanjay http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.c...rmancedata.php It has got me considering a whole new ball park of choices. Originally, I was going to go with Sunlight Supply ballast, Blue Wave 7. Running dual 250 watt HQI lights on a 120 tank.Now, I have been reading the data and digesting it and thinking hard about ballasts. PFO is a good ballast according to the PPFD readings, yet I hear that so many people are changing there ballasts from them to another ballast company. I have no idea on the BlueWave 7's ballast performance, but I do have a clue how it may perform, due to the fact that it is a electronic ballast. I can safely assume that it will not render a higher PPFD than a PFO ballast. For example, take a look at these differnt ballast performance on the same bulb. Electronic Compare PFO M80 If you open them in two seperate windows, you can see one is far more efficent at putting out light. (PPFD on the PFO is much higher than the electronic) PFO M80 Ballast or an electronic? Which would benefit me and my corals the most. __________________ I skim wet, therefore I am. Current Tank Info: 120 Monster Last edited by PatrickJ; 04/21/2006 at 01:01 AM.

04/21/2006, 10:06 AM	#2
PatrickJ Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Luling, La Posts: 587	any takers? __________________ I skim wet, therefore I am. Current Tank Info: 120 Monster

04/21/2006, 01:19 PM	#5
PatrickJ Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Luling, La Posts: 587	Interesting! If anyone else has anything to say, please do! __________________ I skim wet, therefore I am. Current Tank Info: 120 Monster

04/22/2006, 01:15 AM	#9
PatrickJ Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Luling, La Posts: 587	hmm, any more input? I really like the bulbs that I posted. See the link. __________________ I skim wet, therefore I am. Current Tank Info: 120 Monster

04/22/2006, 09:22 PM	#10
PatrickJ Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Luling, La Posts: 587	hmm. I think I am going with the Electronic. __________________ I skim wet, therefore I am. Current Tank Info: 120 Monster

04/21/2006, 10:07 AM	#3
Jeremy B. Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Indianapolis, IN / Muncie, IN Posts: 8,219	It all depends on what you're after. DE lamps are designed to run off of an HQI ballast, or M80 ballast as we'll call it. This is a magnetic ballast that runs at a little higher wattage than what an electronic or standard magnetic ballast does. In my opinion if you are using DE lamps, and spending the money on the pendants, etc, it makes no sense to buy an electronic ballast that will in fact underdrive most DE lamps out there. Now, if you're not looking at squeezing every last bit of light out of your lamps, and power consumption is more of an issue to you being in California, then a single ended setup utilizing an electronic ballast might be the best way to go. Most single ended lamps will run fairly close to the same output when driven by an electronic ballast vs a standard magnetic ballast, called M58 (250w version). You might even find the rare combo of electronic ballast and lamp where that setup will even give you more output on the electronic ballast than it will with the magnetic ballast and lamp combo. Now you can also run that M80 ballast ("hqi") with single ended lamps as well. This will in turn overdrive the lamp, giving you more light output. Keep in mind that when using an M80 ballast with single ended lamps you are overdriving those bulbs 99% of the time, and this will take 2-3 months off the useful spectral life of the bulbs you are using.