workhorse ballast ??

fishman122 · 01/08/2007, 05:16 PM

i was wondering if anyone uses workhorse ballasts? they seem to be in the "budget" price range so, was wondering if anyone had had any success with them?

fishman122 · 01/09/2007, 10:59 AM

??

Tiki G. · 01/09/2007, 11:17 AM

I have two Workhorse 5 ballast running a 96 watt actinic PC bulb each for a total of 192 watts. Use this to supplement my MH 10k bulb on my 45 gallon. Been using this set-up for about 6 months now and no problems with mine. Good inexpensive way to go if you ask me. There are more expensive routes to take, but not necessary unless you have the money to do so.

rstark33 · 01/09/2007, 01:54 PM

I run a WH7 on two 48" VHO's for actinics with the halides. It does the job well.

gabe3d · 01/09/2007, 06:07 PM

I had two set of WorkHorse 7 running a 60'' VHO bulb with no problem for two years. I think it's a good buy at 35 each.

horkn · 01/09/2007, 08:28 PM

i have a w5 running 3x39 of t5ho on my tank.

after over 2 years of use on the original bulbs, i can honestly say that the instant satrt of the workhorse will not kill a t5ho bulb prematurely like many have told me would happen.

i can say that i see the output of the original bulbs has diminished.

new bulbs are coming shortly...

poppin_fresh · 01/09/2007, 08:43 PM

I think there are several major light manufacturers who use the WH ballasts. I have a couple that have yet to fail me.

annewayne · 01/09/2007, 09:05 PM

Does anyone have a link to them?

sds · 01/09/2007, 09:52 PM

dont mean to hijack but i was looking at their website fulham.com and i dont see anything saying a wh7 will light 2 48"vho can you help me with this? I have one and would like to use it for vhos

rstark33 · 01/10/2007, 09:37 AM

I run it like wiring diagram 13 on their website. Except I make my 2 48 VHO's look like one long 8' by connecting the far ends.
Here is a very rough drawing of how I wire it.

I am not an electrician and do not guarantee or make any claims that this wiring will not shock you and burn your house down or make everything die in your tank, I take no liabilty in presenting this drwaing. IN FACT, I make no guaranties about any of my opinions and this picture is in fact only some scribbles that my 3 year old made last night with crayons of two snakes being attacked by an octopus. (But it does make my vho's work!)

Catharsis70 · 01/18/2007, 08:46 AM

wouldnt two bulbs end to end still create teh same amp draw on the ballast? If so then I think you are asking for trouble. Fulham suggests one vho bulb (all are 1500mah) per WH7 ballast.

goreefer · 01/18/2007, 08:53 AM

I use WH5's to fire my 24 watt T5's.
I have one that is firing two bulbs at thier normal output and another one that is overdriveing two other bulbs.
They are a good ballast for the money.

prugs · 01/18/2007, 01:54 PM

http://www.fulham.com/
Use their site info to get the correct ballast for your application & wiring diagram.
I use a workhorse 7 to drive (2) 80watt T5 HO lamps. Very good product IMO.

Fishbulb2 · 01/18/2007, 02:01 PM

How can I determine how many t5's I can run off of my WH5 ballast. Right now I am running 2 65W PC actinics off of it and I would like to switch over to t5's. Will this be worth it and more light? How many bulbs and of what lenght can I run? I was hoping for 2-4 24" bulbs but I don't know how to total up the wattage and such to make sure I can safely run X number of bulbs.
Thanks guys,
FB

goreefer · 01/18/2007, 02:42 PM

You can fire 4 24 watt T5 HO bulbs with a WH5 at their normal wattage. You can also overdrive 2 24watt bulbs by connecting two of the red wires togather for each bulb.
Check out their website for the wiring diagrams.

iamquockie · 01/19/2007, 02:17 PM

how many vho's and what wattage could a WH5 push? I am currently pushing 4x54 T5HO on (2) WH5's and kind of unsatisfied by the "look" of the actinic.

goreefer · 01/19/2007, 02:45 PM

A WH5 has 128watts of output. So any combination up to 128 watts should work.

Roland Jacques · 01/19/2007, 03:52 PM

from what ive been reading WH tend to underdrive HO t-5s and VHO lamps compared to standard HO& VHO ballasts. im not sure by how much with vhos,

I cant seem to find good Datta on ballast comparision

Catharsis70 · 01/20/2007, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by goreefer
A WH5 has 128watts of output. So any combination up to 128 watts should work.

This is not accurate. You cant just go by the wattage as different bulb types require different amperage to fire and run. T5 HO and PC bulbs are very similar and can often run off the same ballasts but VHO is a different animal.

01/08/2007, 05:16 PM	#1
fishman122 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Rainbow City, AL Posts: 60	workhorse ballast ?? i was wondering if anyone uses workhorse ballasts? they seem to be in the "budget" price range so, was wondering if anyone had had any success with them?

01/09/2007, 01:54 PM	#4
rstark33 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Gresham, OR Posts: 294	I run a WH7 on two 48" VHO's for actinics with the halides. It does the job well. __________________ Rich Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon with 100 gallon sump in garage

01/09/2007, 08:28 PM	#6
horkn Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: milwaukee wisconsin Posts: 4,125	i have a w5 running 3x39 of t5ho on my tank. after over 2 years of use on the original bulbs, i can honestly say that the instant satrt of the workhorse will not kill a t5ho bulb prematurely like many have told me would happen. i can say that i see the output of the original bulbs has diminished. new bulbs are coming shortly... __________________ people write stupid things in this space Current Tank Info: 200g DIY wood reef, 2x 250w SE 10k MH 2x80 t5ho, 75g sump, Geo Ca RX, ASD 6" recirc skimmer

01/09/2007, 08:43 PM	#7
poppin_fresh Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 1,982	I think there are several major light manufacturers who use the WH ballasts. I have a couple that have yet to fail me. __________________ PBITAWA! Current Tank Info: None now. Past- 180g w/ 100g basement sump and 20g 'fuge. H & S skimmer, T'5s & Tunze

01/10/2007, 09:37 AM	#10
rstark33 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Gresham, OR Posts: 294	I run it like wiring diagram 13 on their website. Except I make my 2 48 VHO's look like one long 8' by connecting the far ends. Here is a very rough drawing of how I wire it. I am not an electrician and do not guarantee or make any claims that this wiring will not shock you and burn your house down or make everything die in your tank, I take no liabilty in presenting this drwaing. IN FACT, I make no guaranties about any of my opinions and this picture is in fact only some scribbles that my 3 year old made last night with crayons of two snakes being attacked by an octopus. (But it does make my vho's work!) __________________ Rich Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon with 100 gallon sump in garage

01/09/2007, 10:59 AM	#2
fishman122 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Rainbow City, AL Posts: 60	??

01/09/2007, 11:17 AM	#3
Tiki G. Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Jacksonville Bch, FL Posts: 163	I have two Workhorse 5 ballast running a 96 watt actinic PC bulb each for a total of 192 watts. Use this to supplement my MH 10k bulb on my 45 gallon. Been using this set-up for about 6 months now and no problems with mine. Good inexpensive way to go if you ask me. There are more expensive routes to take, but not necessary unless you have the money to do so.

01/09/2007, 06:07 PM	#5
gabe3d Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Elk Grove/Sunnyvale/Shibuya Posts: 1,605	I had two set of WorkHorse 7 running a 60'' VHO bulb with no problem for two years. I think it's a good buy at 35 each.

01/09/2007, 09:05 PM	#8
annewayne Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Des Moines Posts: 237	Does anyone have a link to them?

01/09/2007, 09:52 PM	#9
sds Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Roswell NM Posts: 342	dont mean to hijack but i was looking at their website fulham.com and i dont see anything saying a wh7 will light 2 48"vho can you help me with this? I have one and would like to use it for vhos

01/18/2007, 08:46 AM	#11
Catharsis70 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: IL Posts: 859	wouldnt two bulbs end to end still create teh same amp draw on the ballast? If so then I think you are asking for trouble. Fulham suggests one vho bulb (all are 1500mah) per WH7 ballast.

01/18/2007, 08:53 AM	#12
goreefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Knoxville, Tennessee Posts: 825	I use WH5's to fire my 24 watt T5's. I have one that is firing two bulbs at thier normal output and another one that is overdriveing two other bulbs. They are a good ballast for the money.

01/18/2007, 01:54 PM	#13
prugs Moving Out Join Date: May 2003 Location: San Tan Valley, AZ 85140 Posts: 4,898	http://www.fulham.com/ Use their site info to get the correct ballast for your application & wiring diagram. I use a workhorse 7 to drive (2) 80watt T5 HO lamps. Very good product IMO. __________________ A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words. Current Tank Info: Getting rid of the last equipment :{

01/18/2007, 02:01 PM	#14
Fishbulb2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 1,807	How can I determine how many t5's I can run off of my WH5 ballast. Right now I am running 2 65W PC actinics off of it and I would like to switch over to t5's. Will this be worth it and more light? How many bulbs and of what lenght can I run? I was hoping for 2-4 24" bulbs but I don't know how to total up the wattage and such to make sure I can safely run X number of bulbs. Thanks guys, FB __________________ Just getting back in, but trying to do it right! Current Tank Info: 40 gallon tank. SPS, LPS, few softies

01/18/2007, 02:42 PM	#15
goreefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Knoxville, Tennessee Posts: 825	You can fire 4 24 watt T5 HO bulbs with a WH5 at their normal wattage. You can also overdrive 2 24watt bulbs by connecting two of the red wires togather for each bulb. Check out their website for the wiring diagrams.

01/19/2007, 02:17 PM	#16
iamquockie Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: dfw Posts: 276	how many vho's and what wattage could a WH5 push? I am currently pushing 4x54 T5HO on (2) WH5's and kind of unsatisfied by the "look" of the actinic.

01/19/2007, 02:45 PM	#17
goreefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Knoxville, Tennessee Posts: 825	A WH5 has 128watts of output. So any combination up to 128 watts should work.

01/19/2007, 03:52 PM	#18
Roland Jacques Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 2,848	from what ive been reading WH tend to underdrive HO t-5s and VHO lamps compared to standard HO& VHO ballasts. im not sure by how much with vhos, I cant seem to find good Datta on ballast comparision __________________ Roland