|
05/26/2017, 09:00 AM | #1176 |
Dogmatic Dinosaur
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 6,256
|
Do you have a kill-a-watt where you can measure wall wattage with one versus two? This could prove the above, which I also think is accurate.
|
05/26/2017, 09:20 AM | #1177 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 223
|
Quote:
|
|
05/26/2017, 09:29 AM | #1178 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 223
|
|
05/26/2017, 11:16 AM | #1179 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 11,033
|
Quote:
While I haven't taken them apart, I have done that with other power supplies and ballasts. Duals are usually based on a single powertrain with multiple secondary turns off the main transformer. While that means that the secondary circuitry is dedicated to each output, the primary circuit is common. When you use it in dual mode, you're pushing the primary to its combined peak output. Unless they oversized the primary side to truly accomodate double the power, running in dual mode will generate less output per output.
__________________
Failure isn't an option It's a requirement. 660g 380inwall+280smp/surge S/L/Soft/Maxima/RBTA/Clown/Chromis/Anthias/Tang/Mandarin/Jawfish/Goby/Wrasse/D'back. DIY 12' Skimmer ActuatedSurge ConcreteScape |
|
05/26/2017, 12:37 PM | #1180 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 223
|
Quote:
|
|
05/26/2017, 02:12 PM | #1181 |
Registered Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 11,033
|
Less output per output ... I need a nap. Language skills diminishing
__________________
Failure isn't an option It's a requirement. 660g 380inwall+280smp/surge S/L/Soft/Maxima/RBTA/Clown/Chromis/Anthias/Tang/Mandarin/Jawfish/Goby/Wrasse/D'back. DIY 12' Skimmer ActuatedSurge ConcreteScape |
05/26/2017, 02:30 PM | #1182 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 223
|
Quote:
|
|
05/26/2017, 04:42 PM | #1183 |
Registered Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 11,033
|
no no.. duals split the power while dedicated provide consistent output.
Dedicated electronic ballasts are superior to the magnetic ballasts. They're more efficient, run cooler and can maintain the voltage better, even with line variances. I would not advocate for magnetic ballasts. IMO, they overdrive the bulbs and make them burn out faster. They also generate more heat to the immediate area.
__________________
Failure isn't an option It's a requirement. 660g 380inwall+280smp/surge S/L/Soft/Maxima/RBTA/Clown/Chromis/Anthias/Tang/Mandarin/Jawfish/Goby/Wrasse/D'back. DIY 12' Skimmer ActuatedSurge ConcreteScape |
05/26/2017, 08:50 PM | #1184 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 223
|
Hmm
So your saying even a magnetic dual ballast is splitting the power ? Years ago I had a dual magnetic and from what I remember there were two ballasts in the aluminum box |
05/26/2017, 10:51 PM | #1185 |
Registered Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 11,033
|
I don't know how the magnetic dual ballasts are designed. They could be split or combined.
Here's what I'm saying (to be clear) - IME Electronic is better than magnetic. Dedicated single ballasts are better than duals.
__________________
Failure isn't an option It's a requirement. 660g 380inwall+280smp/surge S/L/Soft/Maxima/RBTA/Clown/Chromis/Anthias/Tang/Mandarin/Jawfish/Goby/Wrasse/D'back. DIY 12' Skimmer ActuatedSurge ConcreteScape |
05/27/2017, 06:19 AM | #1186 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 223
|
Thank
I learned something that I didn't know So now I may look for a second 175 ballast |
05/27/2017, 08:27 AM | #1187 |
Dogmatic Dinosaur
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 6,256
|
The only that I have ever owned - PFO dual M80 - were two separate ballasts in a single box.
Electronic is not always better than magnetic. If they bulbs are designed for Magnetic, especially HQI and Radiums, then they run better off of Magnetic ballasts. Some 10K bulbs will do significantly better off of M58. Some don't care. It matters. |
08/18/2017, 06:10 AM | #1188 | |
Registered Member
|
Quote:
__________________
Originally posted by yellowslayer13: "I hate that hole" Current Tank Info: SCMAS Member 225 peninsula euroreef RS180 Apex 400W X 3 20k radiums / Spectra mixed SPS |
|
08/18/2017, 07:56 AM | #1189 |
Dogmatic Dinosaur
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 6,256
|
20K Radium. It is made to be driven on those ballasts. All other bulbs will be overdriven, but some do OK and some will cut the life substantially.
|
08/28/2017, 03:02 PM | #1190 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: North Palm Beach FL
Posts: 198
|
I have two questions. Question 1 can a Galaxy electronic ballast for a DE bulb? It outputs 4 amps so I think it can but I haven't been able to find a firm answer. Question 2 on the ballast itself it states don't unplug the lamp cords while it is plugged in. It is a dual 250 ballast and it is going over a 40 breeder so I only need the one lamp if I protect the other female socket that is not in use with some sort of insulating cover would that be okay?
Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk |
11/25/2017, 12:55 PM | #1191 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Posts: 32
|
Cabo sun Mini
Hello,
Does anyone have par distribution plots for the cabo sun mini or know what the spread is like. From the BRS video on metal halides, the cabo sun the spread is almost perfectly even at 18" depth. Just wondering if the Cabo Sun mini is the same except with a less spread, which will be fine since the normal cabo sun can light very wide tanks by the looks of the BRS video. I am wanting to light a 24x24x12 frag tank. |
11/25/2017, 05:00 PM | #1192 |
Acro Addict
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Maine
Posts: 598
|
I just purchased three of the Reef Brite MH/XHO Se pendants and ballasts from BRS , 250 watt. I ordered three of their twin arc 14k bulbs as well. Any general thoughts on this? I was debating 14k vs 20k twin arcs... I thought the 20k might be too blue.
I'm pretty darn excited.... very glad to move on from led and to see the real long shimmer of halides.
__________________
Back to halides and loving it! Current Tank Info: 180g sps dom, 40b sump, Reeflo Dart, Apex, Aquamaxx co2, Reefbrite mh/led pendants w/14k twinarcs, Kore 5th doser, Tunze ATO, Ranco controlling 800 watt Finnex tube, 2 Maxpect Gyre 150XF with Ice Cap Controllers and battery backup, Bean Animal drain |
12/06/2017, 05:55 PM | #1193 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 223
|
Would a Giesemann Infinity 2x150w, 4x54w be enough for a 4x2x2 SPS tank?
|
12/06/2017, 05:57 PM | #1194 |
Dogmatic Dinosaur
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 6,256
|
Yes. Bulbs are a bit limited in 150W double ended, but the best-of-breed 14K Phoenix are hard to beat and mostly people like them.
|
12/11/2017, 01:04 PM | #1195 |
Reefer
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Pittsburg, CA
Posts: 584
|
---
__________________
Budget reefing is a pipe dream. Current Tank Info: 190 gallon DSA mixed reef, 2 X 250W metal halides, 2 X 80w T5's, SRO 3000 skimmer, and a few other goodies under the hood Last edited by greengeco82; 12/11/2017 at 01:11 PM. Reason: deleted |
12/18/2017, 02:57 PM | #1196 |
Registered Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 6,361
|
Question, I am currently running a single 400 10k bulb on my tank. I am thinking of switching to two 250 watt bulbs just for a little more spread. What is an ideal height for he bulb to be off the water line? Or should I measure from the bottom of the reflector? My 400 bulb is 15 inches off the water line on a 24 inch tank. I figure I can lower the 250s to still get plenty of punch in the tank. However I'm curious as to a good mounting height because I am going to build a light rack that rests on my tank top. That's why I am curious on bulb distance off the water. The tank has an internal overflow and a eurobrace so the water is about 2 inches from the tanks eurobrace.
Thanks for the insight. Corey |
12/18/2017, 03:46 PM | #1197 |
Registered Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 11,033
|
I set mine to get to 1900 PAR maximum.
__________________
Failure isn't an option It's a requirement. 660g 380inwall+280smp/surge S/L/Soft/Maxima/RBTA/Clown/Chromis/Anthias/Tang/Mandarin/Jawfish/Goby/Wrasse/D'back. DIY 12' Skimmer ActuatedSurge ConcreteScape |
12/18/2017, 07:22 PM | #1198 |
Registered Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 6,361
|
Yours are outside, correct?
Or is that only with your halides? Corey |
12/18/2017, 10:50 PM | #1199 |
Registered Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 11,033
|
MH was at 1900 peak x 19 hours.
Sunlight I'm at 1600 x 6 hours, but uniform.
__________________
Failure isn't an option It's a requirement. 660g 380inwall+280smp/surge S/L/Soft/Maxima/RBTA/Clown/Chromis/Anthias/Tang/Mandarin/Jawfish/Goby/Wrasse/D'back. DIY 12' Skimmer ActuatedSurge ConcreteScape |
12/19/2017, 09:17 AM | #1200 |
Registered Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 6,361
|
What size halide do you have giving you 1900 par?
Corey |
|
|