MH lighting ballast output

sirclintler · 10/02/2017, 10:06 AM

I have a MH setup from the 1920s, se 250w x3. My question is it typical for 2 diffrent ballasts to output different wattage? All are 250w however with 20k bulbs I have a blue color on one ballast and the other ballast controlling 2 bulbs is more of a 14k. All bulbs are the same 20k and I have swapped bulbs to verify it's the ballast.
Any recamendations on new ballasts would be great, I need to control 3 250w MH

mcgyvr · 10/02/2017, 10:24 AM

Swapping bulbs and having the same issue confirms your thoughts.. They aren't driving the bulbs the same way..

Some choices on ballasts here..
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/aquar.../ballasts.html
Or you can roll your own,etc..

Which bulbs do you have?

JWClark · 10/02/2017, 10:59 AM

Take one bulb off the ballast in question and see if driving one bulb gives you the same color as the other ballast. My first guess would be that the two bulbs being run off of one ballast are sharing the 250w load, decreasing drive intensity on them, resulting in the color shift.

Not an electrician so not sure if this really even makes logical sense.

sirclintler · 10/02/2017, 12:02 PM

Thanks guys the bulbs are the cheap pulsrite

tkeracer619 · 10/02/2017, 10:59 PM

Are you going to stick with the pulsrite?

This is a decent electronic ballast that would be good for those bulbs. You would need 3.
https://www.marinedepot.com/CoralVue...MHHFEB-vi.html

A little more expensive but from Hamilton. They are one of the only companies out there who are staying invested in metal halides for aquariums so I prefer to support these guys if I can.
https://hamiltontechnology.com/index...product_id=177

10/02/2017, 10:06 AM	#1
sirclintler Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Indiana Posts: 267	MH lighting ballast output I have a MH setup from the 1920s, se 250w x3. My question is it typical for 2 diffrent ballasts to output different wattage? All are 250w however with 20k bulbs I have a blue color on one ballast and the other ballast controlling 2 bulbs is more of a 14k. All bulbs are the same 20k and I have swapped bulbs to verify it's the ballast. Any recamendations on new ballasts would be great, I need to control 3 250w MH

10/02/2017, 10:24 AM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Swapping bulbs and having the same issue confirms your thoughts.. They aren't driving the bulbs the same way.. Some choices on ballasts here.. https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/aquar.../ballasts.html Or you can roll your own,etc.. Which bulbs do you have? __________________ Who me?

10/02/2017, 10:59 AM	#3
JWClark Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: MD Posts: 576	Take one bulb off the ballast in question and see if driving one bulb gives you the same color as the other ballast. My first guess would be that the two bulbs being run off of one ballast are sharing the 250w load, decreasing drive intensity on them, resulting in the color shift. Not an electrician so not sure if this really even makes logical sense. __________________ Back after a 13yr hiatus--much to my wife's dismay. Though she sure loves looking at the tank and feeding the fish! Current Tank Info: Reefer 450 seed tank for the retirement 315gal Reef Savvy build.

10/02/2017, 10:59 PM	#5
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Are you going to stick with the pulsrite? This is a decent electronic ballast that would be good for those bulbs. You would need 3. https://www.marinedepot.com/CoralVue...MHHFEB-vi.html A little more expensive but from Hamilton. They are one of the only companies out there who are staying invested in metal halides for aquariums so I prefer to support these guys if I can. https://hamiltontechnology.com/index...product_id=177 __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k. Last edited by tkeracer619; 10/02/2017 at 11:17 PM.

10/02/2017, 12:02 PM	#4
sirclintler Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Indiana Posts: 267	Thanks guys the bulbs are the cheap pulsrite