Select-a-watt question with Phoenix bulbs

[apstreck]

I have a seldct-a-watt ballast that runs 150, 175, 250, or HQI. I'm using Phoenix 14k 250w DE bulbs, and I've been running my ballast at the 250w setting. This weekend however, another hobbyist told me I should be running them on the HQI setting since it is DE.

Anyone using Phoenix 250w DE, what do you run yours on?

[USC-fan]

HQI over drives the bulbs. You would get more par. I never ran these type of ballast as i always used m80 HQI ballast with my DE MH.

So i would agree with your friend.

Originally Posted by RokleM

I've seen this posted a few places by a few individuals, so besides me "saying so", here's a video showing me switching between the two settings.

"250" - 270w 1450-1460par
"HQI - 310w 1650-1660par

~13-15% increase in par between the two. At the end as I'm looking at the bulb adjusting, but there's a flash of light as you adjust as it goes brighter. The video doesn't do a great job of picking it up though.

Those that believe they aren't getting any different results between the two should either use some tools to actually confirm that as a fact, or if they have contact the manufacture....because it does indeed work.