MH Ballast question(s)

token · 07/16/2007, 08:13 PM

I have an Advance ballast that is rated for 150w or 175w MH bulbs. The only 150w I have found is an Iwasaki 10k from Champion. 175w's are much more common but I wonder about the efficiency.

Granted, this ballast is not exactly state of the art but it has lasted a good long time. I intend it as an upgrade to my 15g High nano.

Will the ballast perform "better" with a 150w bulb? Will it drive the Iwasaki 10k (I am confused, I think, by the 6500k Iwasaki...)? If it will run a 175w bulb with equal ability, what is a nice "crisp" bulb suitable for a 15g High that might allow me to attempt some SPS's in a nano environment (I have only ever kept "softies" in my nano...?

Thanks in advance for any opinions or suggestions!

PaulErik · 07/16/2007, 08:31 PM

That ballast is an ANSI M57/M107 probe start ballast. It is designed for 175-watt probe start ANSI M57 lamps. It is compatible with reduced wattage 150-watt ANSI M107 lamps that are designed to replace standard 175-watt lamps.

The 150-watt Iwasaki lamps are standard pulse start lamps. An ANSI M57/M107 will not be able to reliably light a pulse start lamp. It will also underdrive a pulse start type 150-watt lamp because the electrical specification calls for a higher arc current than a M57/M107 ballast operates a lamp at.

Standard aquarium probe start 175-watt lamps should only be with that ballast. You can use almost any aquarium 175-watt lamp except for AB and Ushio because these require an ANSI M137/M152 pulse start ballast to operate properly.

token · 07/17/2007, 10:55 AM

PaulErik: Thank you for explaining that! I haven't the foggiest clue when it comes to that but I have had a 175w Hamilton 10k and it's time to replace it so I thought that it would be better to get actual knowledge.

07/16/2007, 08:13 PM	#1
token Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 614	MH Ballast question(s) I have an Advance ballast that is rated for 150w or 175w MH bulbs. The only 150w I have found is an Iwasaki 10k from Champion. 175w's are much more common but I wonder about the efficiency. Granted, this ballast is not exactly state of the art but it has lasted a good long time. I intend it as an upgrade to my 15g High nano. Will the ballast perform "better" with a 150w bulb? Will it drive the Iwasaki 10k (I am confused, I think, by the 6500k Iwasaki...)? If it will run a 175w bulb with equal ability, what is a nice "crisp" bulb suitable for a 15g High that might allow me to attempt some SPS's in a nano environment (I have only ever kept "softies" in my nano...? Thanks in advance for any opinions or suggestions! __________________ •Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage - to move in the opposite direction. --Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: 100g and 75g displays, both with 2 x 250w Iwasaki 14k DE, 100g sump, 55g growout, 55g refugium, 20g benthic

07/17/2007, 10:55 AM	#3
token Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 614	PaulErik: Thank you for explaining that! I haven't the foggiest clue when it comes to that but I have had a 175w Hamilton 10k and it's time to replace it so I thought that it would be better to get actual knowledge. __________________ •Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage - to move in the opposite direction. --Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: 100g and 75g displays, both with 2 x 250w Iwasaki 14k DE, 100g sump, 55g growout, 55g refugium, 20g benthic

07/16/2007, 08:31 PM	#2
PaulErik Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: North Charleston, SC Posts: 1,703	That ballast is an ANSI M57/M107 probe start ballast. It is designed for 175-watt probe start ANSI M57 lamps. It is compatible with reduced wattage 150-watt ANSI M107 lamps that are designed to replace standard 175-watt lamps. The 150-watt Iwasaki lamps are standard pulse start lamps. An ANSI M57/M107 will not be able to reliably light a pulse start lamp. It will also underdrive a pulse start type 150-watt lamp because the electrical specification calls for a higher arc current than a M57/M107 ballast operates a lamp at. Standard aquarium probe start 175-watt lamps should only be with that ballast. You can use almost any aquarium 175-watt lamp except for AB and Ushio because these require an ANSI M137/M152 pulse start ballast to operate properly.