20k Radium, T5's and HQI Ballast??? - Page 2

GQuinn · 12/05/2008, 04:36 PM

Premium Aquatics has the Sunlight Supply Blue Wave 3 250 watt hqi in stock with the advance ballasts, but they also have the "new" Chinese version. I specified when ordering which one I wanted. You can contact them to see if they still have them in stock.

Gary

tweetyfish · 12/06/2008, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by GQuinn
Premium Aquatics has the Sunlight Supply Blue Wave 3 250 watt hqi in stock with the advance ballasts, but they also have the "new" Chinese version. I specified when ordering which one I wanted. You can contact them to see if they still have them in stock.

Gary

Does anyone know when Sunlight switched over to the other version? I have three of the Bluewave 3 ballast with born on dates of 12/07. Hope these have the advance ballast.

Thanks

DarG · 12/06/2008, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tweetyfish
Does anyone know when Sunlight switched over to the other version? I have three of the Bluewave 3 ballast with born on dates of 12/07. Hope these have the advance ballast.

Thanks

I havent heard of a "chinese version" until now so I would think you are safe.

GQuinn · 12/06/2008, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tweetyfish
Does anyone know when Sunlight switched over to the other version? I have three of the Bluewave 3 ballast with born on dates of 12/07. Hope these have the advance ballast.

Thanks

The Chinese version does not have a on/off switch or a extra outlet on the ballast. The nameplate on the ballast will state "Made in China"

Gary

DEERE G · 12/06/2008, 02:42 PM

I am currently running a Galaxy 2x 250 and Radium 20k bulbs. I love the Radium bulbs for the color.

tweetyfish · 12/06/2008, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GQuinn
The Chinese version does not have a on/off switch or a extra outlet on the ballast. The nameplate on the ballast will state "Made in China"

Gary

Looks like I have the "Made in China" version. Seems to be firing the bulbs ok. I don't have a meter to check if the bulbs are losing their intensity to soon.

JSM · 12/08/2008, 07:50 AM

On Marine Depots website it says the PFO HQI ballast has standard plugs, but I thought I read somewhere you had to get an adapter to run this ballast. I have a Bluewave pulse start right now and I know the plug is not standard as far standard goes unless there is a standard ballast plug???? Does anyone know if I'll need an adapter?

Janna

gastone · 12/08/2008, 10:49 AM

JSM,

I supplement my radium w/2 blue+ T5 and 2 03 actinic. If I had to choose just one lamp to supplement the radium, I would go with the actinics as the radiums spikes at 460nm and the true actinics spike at 420nm = nice complement to one another IMO.

Garrett.

sfsuphysics · 12/08/2008, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by PaulErik
An HQI (ANSI M80) ballast will not overdrive a European spec or any lamp designed for a HQI ballast. It will operate them to spec. The Radium 250-watt lamp is recommended by the manufacturer to be used on a HQI (ANSI M80) ballast. All other ballasts underdrive this lamp (operate the lamp below wattage rating). Underdriving can cause the same results in reduced lamp life as overdriving a metal halide lamp.

So you don't consider running a 250w bulb at over 330watts as overdriving? 330 watts is the spec?

DarG · 12/08/2008, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sfsuphysics
So you don't consider running a 250w bulb at over 330watts as overdriving? 330 watts is the spec?

You are probably quoting the wattage draw of the ballast from the wall. That is not what the lamp actually sees.

That aside, the bulbs are spec'd for use on the M80 ballast. That is the ballast they are designed to be driven by and that is the ballast that correctly drives them to their design parameters. So no, they arent being overdriven by the M80, they are being underdriven by the electronics. "250 watt" is a nominal value, thats all.

In actuality, the Radium is designed for 280 watts if memory serves. That is what it sees on the M80 ballast. The wattage the ballast pulls from the wall is not what is delivered to the bulb.

PaulErik · 12/08/2008, 01:21 PM

JSM, the PFO ballast uses a custom plug for the ballast output. You will most likely need an adapter depending on what you are using with the ballast.

Sfsuphysics, the Radium bulb is not rated at 250-watts. The nominal wattage rating is 270-watts for the Radium 250-watt bulb. Sanjayâ€™s wattage measurements are taken on the input side of the ballast. This measures what the ballast, components and lamp uses together. Every ballast will waste power. The ANSI M80 (HQI) magnetic ballast will drive the lamp as it is intended and designed to.

Whalehead9 · 12/08/2008, 02:33 PM

So what about the Galaxy Ballast? Is this a M80 ballast type or some other type, would it work for the radiums?

PaulErik · 12/08/2008, 02:44 PM

The Galaxy ballast is an electronic ballast. It will work with the Radium lamp but will not provide the full wattage to the lamp.

Wayner2 · 12/08/2008, 06:56 PM

Does that mean bulb life is shortened due to it being underdriven along with it (Radium) being a little more on the blue side because it is no being driven to spec.

Stoney G · 12/08/2008, 11:23 PM

I'm running a radium lamp with the galaxy ballasts and I've noticed all over RC that several people are using this combanation and love it. I really like the color I get. Even if it does shorten the life (and I guess we want really know util someone does some testing) I don't mind changing a bulb a couple of months early with the results I'm getting. That's my 2 cents worth

Stoney G · 12/09/2008, 12:15 AM

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1525206
See this thread. It looks like the Blue wave has the correct parts.

12/06/2008, 02:42 PM	#30
DEERE G Passing Through Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: ATL Posts: 1,503	I am currently running a Galaxy 2x 250 and Radium 20k bulbs. I love the Radium bulbs for the color. __________________ -Keith- Current Tank Info: DRY

12/08/2008, 10:49 AM	#33
gastone Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Fredericksburg, VA Posts: 448	JSM, I supplement my radium w/2 blue+ T5 and 2 03 actinic. If I had to choose just one lamp to supplement the radium, I would go with the actinics as the radiums spikes at 460nm and the true actinics spike at 420nm = nice complement to one another IMO. Garrett. __________________ I'm your huckleberry. Current Tank Info: 42Hex, 250W Radium in a lumenarc mini + 2x24W T5 Blue+ and 2x24W T5 actinic connected to a 30 gallon zoanthid tank currently lit by 4x39W T5 (Actinic, blue+, pro color, blue+)

12/08/2008, 02:33 PM	#37
Whalehead9 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: 619 baby! Posts: 297	So what about the Galaxy Ballast? Is this a M80 ballast type or some other type, would it work for the radiums? __________________ efficiency is the new horsepower Current Tank Info: 12 asst fw+sw tanks

12/05/2008, 04:36 PM	#26
GQuinn Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 982	Premium Aquatics has the Sunlight Supply Blue Wave 3 250 watt hqi in stock with the advance ballasts, but they also have the "new" Chinese version. I specified when ordering which one I wanted. You can contact them to see if they still have them in stock. Gary

12/08/2008, 07:50 AM	#32
JSM Premium Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Altoona, Iowa Posts: 890	On Marine Depots website it says the PFO HQI ballast has standard plugs, but I thought I read somewhere you had to get an adapter to run this ballast. I have a Bluewave pulse start right now and I know the plug is not standard as far standard goes unless there is a standard ballast plug???? Does anyone know if I'll need an adapter? Janna

12/08/2008, 01:21 PM	#36
PaulErik Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: North Charleston, SC Posts: 1,703	JSM, the PFO ballast uses a custom plug for the ballast output. You will most likely need an adapter depending on what you are using with the ballast. Sfsuphysics, the Radium bulb is not rated at 250-watts. The nominal wattage rating is 270-watts for the Radium 250-watt bulb. Sanjayâ€™s wattage measurements are taken on the input side of the ballast. This measures what the ballast, components and lamp uses together. Every ballast will waste power. The ANSI M80 (HQI) magnetic ballast will drive the lamp as it is intended and designed to.

12/08/2008, 02:44 PM	#38
PaulErik Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: North Charleston, SC Posts: 1,703	The Galaxy ballast is an electronic ballast. It will work with the Radium lamp but will not provide the full wattage to the lamp.

12/08/2008, 06:56 PM	#39
Wayner2 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 270	Does that mean bulb life is shortened due to it being underdriven along with it (Radium) being a little more on the blue side because it is no being driven to spec.

12/08/2008, 11:23 PM	#40
Stoney G Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Nashville TN Posts: 107	I'm running a radium lamp with the galaxy ballasts and I've noticed all over RC that several people are using this combanation and love it. I really like the color I get. Even if it does shorten the life (and I guess we want really know util someone does some testing) I don't mind changing a bulb a couple of months early with the results I'm getting. That's my 2 cents worth

12/09/2008, 12:15 AM	#41
Stoney G Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Nashville TN Posts: 107	http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1525206 See this thread. It looks like the Blue wave has the correct parts.