PFO ballast Q

60Cubed · 08/07/2008, 10:15 PM

What is the difference in the PFO HQI and the PFO PS? Both 400w metal halide ballast. All info is appreciated.

PaulErik · 08/08/2008, 02:31 PM

The 400-watt HQI ballast (none standardized North American ballast) is a high lamp current ballast designed for European metal halide lamps. It is supposed to operate like an European ballast. It will overdrive standard and PS (pulse start) lamps (operates them at an increased wattage). Standard North American and pulse start lamps are usually referred to as low lamp current lamps.

The 400-watt PS (pulse start) ballast (ANSI M135/M155) is a low lamp current ballast designed for pulse start metal halide lamps like the Radium 400-watt 20,000K lamp. It will under drive most other European lamps (operates them at reduced wattage).

Both ballasts are not recommended for standard North American probe start type metal halide lamps. These ballasts are equipped with a high voltage lamp ignitor to start the lamps. Standard North American probe start 400-watt lamps are self-starting lamps and are recommended for probe start (ANSI M59 standard North American) ballasts.

60Cubed · 08/08/2008, 08:16 PM

How do you know what is an american bulb v/s an European bulb?

And is this DE or SE?

I just bought one thinking it was a HQI. When I got it ended up being a PS ballast.

So are the Radium 20k's any good? And Could I use them with this ballast? Also, how would an XM 20K do in this ballast?

Dejavu · 08/09/2008, 12:02 AM

from what I have read is that Radium 20k's will fire on a PFO PS. They just will bluer and dimmer with less par. XM's should be fine on a PFO PS.

PaulErik · 08/09/2008, 01:09 PM

This article has a ballast/lamp compatibility list (table 2): http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-03/sj/index.php

The Radium 400-watt 20,000K lamp is recommended for a pulse start (ANSI M135/M155) ballast. The XM 20,000K is a probe start standard North American type (ANSI M59) lamp. The XM lamp is not recommended for a pulse start (ANSI M135/M155) ballast but people have used them on a pulse start ballast without any problems. The pulse start ballast has similar operating characteristics as a standard probe start ballast. The main difference is the starting method.

60Cubed · 08/10/2008, 05:35 AM

Thanks everybody. I will try it out and see. I just wonder if I will lose some overall PAR by using this ballast.

PaulErik · 08/10/2008, 01:44 PM

You wonâ€™t lose much PAR by using the XM 20,000K versus the recommended standard (ANSI M59) ballast. This is because both provide the same amount of current to the lamp. The Radium 400-watt is recommended for the PS ballast but the output is lower than most other lamps on this ballast. This is because the PS ballast allows the lamp to operate at the designed wattage. The Radium 400-watt lamp is actually rated at 360-watts.

08/07/2008, 10:15 PM	#1
60Cubed Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 2,518	PFO ballast Q What is the difference in the PFO HQI and the PFO PS? Both 400w metal halide ballast. All info is appreciated. __________________ "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty" Winston Churchill Current Tank Info: 75g...radions/vortechs/apex/geo/ehiem/bubble magnus...all the good stuff and still want more!!!!

08/08/2008, 08:16 PM	#3
60Cubed Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 2,518	How do you know what is an american bulb v/s an European bulb? And is this DE or SE? I just bought one thinking it was a HQI. When I got it ended up being a PS ballast. So are the Radium 20k's any good? And Could I use them with this ballast? Also, how would an XM 20K do in this ballast? __________________ "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty" Winston Churchill Current Tank Info: 75g...radions/vortechs/apex/geo/ehiem/bubble magnus...all the good stuff and still want more!!!!

08/10/2008, 05:35 AM	#6
60Cubed Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 2,518	Thanks everybody. I will try it out and see. I just wonder if I will lose some overall PAR by using this ballast. __________________ "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty" Winston Churchill Current Tank Info: 75g...radions/vortechs/apex/geo/ehiem/bubble magnus...all the good stuff and still want more!!!!

08/08/2008, 02:31 PM	#2
PaulErik Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: North Charleston, SC Posts: 1,703	The 400-watt HQI ballast (none standardized North American ballast) is a high lamp current ballast designed for European metal halide lamps. It is supposed to operate like an European ballast. It will overdrive standard and PS (pulse start) lamps (operates them at an increased wattage). Standard North American and pulse start lamps are usually referred to as low lamp current lamps. The 400-watt PS (pulse start) ballast (ANSI M135/M155) is a low lamp current ballast designed for pulse start metal halide lamps like the Radium 400-watt 20,000K lamp. It will under drive most other European lamps (operates them at reduced wattage). Both ballasts are not recommended for standard North American probe start type metal halide lamps. These ballasts are equipped with a high voltage lamp ignitor to start the lamps. Standard North American probe start 400-watt lamps are self-starting lamps and are recommended for probe start (ANSI M59 standard North American) ballasts.

08/09/2008, 12:02 AM	#4
Dejavu ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 5,423	from what I have read is that Radium 20k's will fire on a PFO PS. They just will bluer and dimmer with less par. XM's should be fine on a PFO PS.

08/09/2008, 01:09 PM	#5
PaulErik Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: North Charleston, SC Posts: 1,703	This article has a ballast/lamp compatibility list (table 2): http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-03/sj/index.php The Radium 400-watt 20,000K lamp is recommended for a pulse start (ANSI M135/M155) ballast. The XM 20,000K is a probe start standard North American type (ANSI M59) lamp. The XM lamp is not recommended for a pulse start (ANSI M135/M155) ballast but people have used them on a pulse start ballast without any problems. The pulse start ballast has similar operating characteristics as a standard probe start ballast. The main difference is the starting method.

08/10/2008, 01:44 PM	#7
PaulErik Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: North Charleston, SC Posts: 1,703	You wonâ€™t lose much PAR by using the XM 20,000K versus the recommended standard (ANSI M59) ballast. This is because both provide the same amount of current to the lamp. The Radium 400-watt is recommended for the PS ballast but the output is lower than most other lamps on this ballast. This is because the PS ballast allows the lamp to operate at the designed wattage. The Radium 400-watt lamp is actually rated at 360-watts.