Is there a way to tell whether my ballasts are 175w or 250w??

Mr James · 06/17/2006, 09:44 PM

I bought an entire system from a guy here on RC. Part of the sale were the lights. He said they were 3 x 250w MH with 3 x 250w Reeflux bulbs, mogul sockets. Got the tank home, filled it up, and lit up the lights. They worked fine. But I am upgrading to electronic ballasts and was going to trade these to another RC'er for some corals. I told him that I saw a sticker on the bottom of the ballast that said 175w. He asked me to verify. The thing I couldn't get over was they fired the 250w Reeflux bulbs without a problem. The guy I want to trade with said a 175w ballast will fire a 250w bulb, but will only send 175 watts through the bulbs.

My Question: How do I tell if these are indeed 250w or did I get taken?? That may sound harsh, but I don't intend for it to. They do say 3.5 amps on the bottom as well. Would that be the difference??

jjmg · 06/17/2006, 09:49 PM

It was always my understanding that a 175 watt ballast wouldn't fire a 250 watt bulb, but I have never tried it to find out. Are there no other markings on the ballast? Maybe something starting with an M?

Mr James · 06/17/2006, 10:06 PM

It was made by CSL. I have not opened the enclosure but just may do that tomorrow and look for the M58 or similar number. The sticker is off-center for whatever that means. It was also my understanding was that a 175w ballast would never fire a 250w bulb either?!? Thanks for the reply, I thought I was going nuts for a second.

Hey, we're neighbors!! We just had a reef club meeting today, Florida Panhandle Reef Club. Interested in future meetings?? I live in Crestview. See here: http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumd...s=&forumid=379

Mr James · 06/18/2006, 07:26 AM

I'm going to need to bump this up. I was hoping for an electrical engineer's opinion, other than the electrical engineer I bought it from in the first place. Sneer, sneer.

Ereefic · 06/18/2006, 08:53 AM

Your best bet is to open them up and check for the ANSI code on the ballast itself.

Mr James · 06/18/2006, 09:21 AM

What ANSI code am I looking for?? Does one code specify 175w and another 250w?? Out to the garage I go to look into it. As it is Father's Day today, I get free passes out to the garage without any questions being asked, like, "When are you coming back inside", or "How long are you going to be out there". Today is my day to get stuff accomplished on the tank.

Ereefic · 06/18/2006, 09:39 AM

M57 is 175w and M58 is 250w

Mr James · 06/18/2006, 09:44 AM

You da man!! The MR-2 you sold me is kicking butt!! I am running a little wet to try and bring the nitrates into order until I can get the fuge running. Had a club meeting yesterday and won the hearts of some people.

michaeldaly · 06/18/2006, 10:20 AM

You could also use a multimeter to measure how many watts it's putting out.

Mr James · 06/18/2006, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by michaeldaly
You could also use a multimeter to measure how many watts it's putting out.

Mike from Fort Wayne, is that you?? I honestly don't know how to read a multi-meter, yet. Some day though, under the close supervision of a parent or guardian.

Hey all, Ereefic was right on the money. I opened it up and and it indeed said M57 and it also said for 175w mh bulbs. The electrical engineer who sold it to me must have missed that part. Hmmmm... Time to change my For Sale post.

06/17/2006, 09:44 PM	#1
Mr James Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Kernersville, NC Posts: 6,192	Is there a way to tell whether my ballasts are 175w or 250w?? I bought an entire system from a guy here on RC. Part of the sale were the lights. He said they were 3 x 250w MH with 3 x 250w Reeflux bulbs, mogul sockets. Got the tank home, filled it up, and lit up the lights. They worked fine. But I am upgrading to electronic ballasts and was going to trade these to another RC'er for some corals. I told him that I saw a sticker on the bottom of the ballast that said 175w. He asked me to verify. The thing I couldn't get over was they fired the 250w Reeflux bulbs without a problem. The guy I want to trade with said a 175w ballast will fire a 250w bulb, but will only send 175 watts through the bulbs. My Question: How do I tell if these are indeed 250w or did I get taken?? That may sound harsh, but I don't intend for it to. They do say 3.5 amps on the bottom as well. Would that be the difference??

06/17/2006, 09:49 PM	#2
jjmg Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Pensacola, Fl Posts: 1,897	It was always my understanding that a 175 watt ballast wouldn't fire a 250 watt bulb, but I have never tried it to find out. Are there no other markings on the ballast? Maybe something starting with an M?

06/17/2006, 10:06 PM	#3
Mr James Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Kernersville, NC Posts: 6,192	It was made by CSL. I have not opened the enclosure but just may do that tomorrow and look for the M58 or similar number. The sticker is off-center for whatever that means. It was also my understanding was that a 175w ballast would never fire a 250w bulb either?!? Thanks for the reply, I thought I was going nuts for a second. Hey, we're neighbors!! We just had a reef club meeting today, Florida Panhandle Reef Club. Interested in future meetings?? I live in Crestview. See here: http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumd...s=&forumid=379

06/18/2006, 07:26 AM	#4
Mr James Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Kernersville, NC Posts: 6,192	I'm going to need to bump this up. I was hoping for an electrical engineer's opinion, other than the electrical engineer I bought it from in the first place. Sneer, sneer.

06/18/2006, 08:53 AM	#5
Ereefic Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 5,821	Your best bet is to open them up and check for the ANSI code on the ballast itself.

06/18/2006, 09:21 AM	#6
Mr James Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Kernersville, NC Posts: 6,192	What ANSI code am I looking for?? Does one code specify 175w and another 250w?? Out to the garage I go to look into it. As it is Father's Day today, I get free passes out to the garage without any questions being asked, like, "When are you coming back inside", or "How long are you going to be out there". Today is my day to get stuff accomplished on the tank.

06/18/2006, 09:39 AM	#7
Ereefic Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 5,821	M57 is 175w and M58 is 250w

06/18/2006, 09:44 AM	#8
Mr James Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Kernersville, NC Posts: 6,192	You da man!! The MR-2 you sold me is kicking butt!! I am running a little wet to try and bring the nitrates into order until I can get the fuge running. Had a club meeting yesterday and won the hearts of some people.

06/18/2006, 10:20 AM	#9
michaeldaly Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Earth Posts: 2,009	You could also use a multimeter to measure how many watts it's putting out.