Ati sunpower 8 x 39w - not using all the bulbs

[fishkeeprian]

Hi, I purchased an ATI Sunpower 39 x 8 bulb fixture at a steal, but it will be a little overkill on my tank. I've worked out and been advised a 6 bulb unit would have been more and adequate but I could not pass on this. Could I run 6 bulbs only in the 8 bulb unit? I was thinking of not using the back bulb or the very front, would there be any problems in doing this?

Thanks

[tropic]

interested to know too. just cant avoid the algae compare to my maxpsect ethreals..

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[LQT]

Dovetailing off of our conversation here:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2651872

You'd have to rewire the ballasts so that you switch the independent 2 bulb channel from bulbs 2&7 to bulbs 1&8. Again, use the linked YouTube video as a guide to take the ATI fixture apart.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=687IST9sTtI

To give you an idea of what the insides of an ATI fixture looks like, I found these pictures online.

ATI - ballasts

My understanding is that the way an 8 bulb ATI Sunpower fixture is wired, is that three ballasts are wired in parallel, one ballast is wired on its own, then you have a wiring for the fan. Hence, the three power cords. So, once you have the fixture open, look at how the ballasts are wired to the terminal block, you'll be able to tell which ballasts are wired in parallel and which ballast is independent. Note that the below picture is from a 6 bulb fixture. See how you could tell which ballasts are wired in parallel and which ballast is independent by tracing the power supply wires?

ATI wiring

Once you've determined, which ballast is independent, it should be as simple as swapping the endcap wires to put bulbs 1&8 on the independent ballast.

[LQT]

It should be a lot simpler then it sounds. Just study the ballast wiring diagram and you should be able to conceptualize how everything goes together.

HEP wiring diagram

[fishkeeprian]

Originally Posted by LQT

It should be a lot simpler then it sounds. Just study the ballast wiring diagram and you should be able to conceptualize how everything goes together.

HEP wiring diagram

Thank you for taking the time to provide me with the info. If I may i still would you like to have a look when I take it apart and advise what you think of that's ok with you?

[LQT]

I'll certainly try!

[fishkeeprian]

Originally Posted by LQT

I'll certainly try!

Hello,

I contacted ATI and they have said this about the wiring;

The Sunpower has 2 channels. Tube 1,2,4,5,7 and 8 are one channel and tube 3 and 6 are one channel. Tube 1,2 has one electronic ballast, 4,5 has one and 7, 8 has one. The other channel has one ballast too


Does this make sense?

Thanks Ian

[LQT]

Yup, so there are 4 ballasts all together. One channel consists of one ballast, running tube 3&6. The other channel has 3 ballasts wired in parallel running bulbs 1,2,4,5,7,8. See the first picture I posted above for reference... that is what the inside of your fixture will look like.

By tracing the power supply lines of each ballast (black, green & grey wires), you'll be able to determine which ballast runs the 2 bulb channel (bulbs 3&6). The next step is to look at the endcap wiring for bulbs 1&8 and trace it back to their respective ballast(s) (hopefully it's the same one). Now just swap the wiring so that bulbs 1&8 are on the single ballast channel and bulbs 3&6 (formerly the 2 bulb channel) are wired to the ballast(s) that you just took the wiring from bulbs 1&8 from.

[fishkeeprian]

Originally Posted by LQT

Yup, so there are 4 ballasts all together. One channel consists of one ballast, running tube 3&6. The other channel has 3 ballasts wired in parallel running bulbs 1,2,4,5,7,8. See the first picture I posted above for reference... that is what the inside of your fixture will look like.

By tracing the power supply lines of each ballast (black, green & grey wires), you'll be able to determine which ballast runs the 2 bulb channel (bulbs 3&6). The next step is to look at the endcap wiring for bulbs 1&8 and trace it back to their respective ballast(s) (hopefully it's the same one). Now just swap the wiring so that bulbs 1&8 are on the single ballast channel and bulbs 3&6 (formerly the 2 bulb channel) are wired to the ballast(s) that you just took the wiring from bulbs 1&8 from.

Great thank you, your explanation is a lot clearer.

[fishkeeprian]

Originally Posted by LQT

Yup, so there are 4 ballasts all together. One channel consists of one ballast, running tube 3&6. The other channel has 3 ballasts wired in parallel running bulbs 1,2,4,5,7,8. See the first picture I posted above for reference... that is what the inside of your fixture will look like.

By tracing the power supply lines of each ballast (black, green & grey wires), you'll be able to determine which ballast runs the 2 bulb channel (bulbs 3&6). The next step is to look at the endcap wiring for bulbs 1&8 and trace it back to their respective ballast(s) (hopefully it's the same one). Now just swap the wiring so that bulbs 1&8 are on the single ballast channel and bulbs 3&6 (formerly the 2 bulb channel) are wired to the ballast(s) that you just took the wiring from bulbs 1&8 from.

Hi is the endcap wiring the brown wires?

[LQT]

Not sure, as each fixture will vary. Judging by the above pictures, it looks like they should be all the same color. The endcap wire end of the ballast should be the side with 6 wire connections. Be sure to study the ballast wiring diagram I posted above so you understand how each two bulb set is to be hooked up to the ballast before taking any wires apart.

[Keith@ ATI NA]

You really don't need to rewire anything you simply have to leave out bulbs on the same ballast. Simply leave out bulbs 7&8 and you'll be all set.

[LQT]

So 7&8 are on the same ballast? That's good to know...

[Keith@ ATI NA]

Originally Posted by LQT

So 7&8 are on the same ballast? That's good to know...

Yep! On the 6 bulb however, 5&6 are NOT on the same ballast.

[homer1475]

On the six bulb setup its 2 and 4 on one. 1,3,5, and 6 are on the other.

[tropic]

Is this configuration same as for dimmable unit?

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