Metal Halide?

[FB]

Does anybody know of any tutorial type document when it comes to MH lighting. I'm looking for something that explains all the types of MH lights. Explanation on how the ballasts work. Wiring ETC.

I'm thinking of getting a MH light, but am more than confused with all the jargon.

Thanks

FB

 

[Len]

I'm not aware of any consolidated document. I'd be more then glad to help you answer any of the confusing jargons though

 

[SnowManSnow]

Its fairly simple. You have a bulb, a housing that the bulb goes in, and a ballast to fire the bulb.. the ballast is plugged into an outlet and the housing wiht the bulb plugs into the ballast.

There is a "K" (Kelvin) rating with each bulb. The higher the K.. .the bluer the light tends to be.

People generally either use 75w 150w 250w or 400w MH bulbs. The higher the wattage the bigger the light!

DE = DOUBLE ENDED bulb (these are generally brighter than their single socket brothers) they are also a good bit smaller in diameter and I consider them a little easier to manage.

There are a few ways to set up a MH system. 1- retrofit = You have the reflector, the bulb, and the ballast. People usually BUILD these into hoods.

2- Pendants (what I really like) Pendants hang from the ceiling. You just hang the light, plug the fixture into your ballast, the ballast into the wall and there you go.

3- Complete hood systems. These usually sit up on legs over the aquarium

From this information you should be able to tell what I'm talking about when I say I have a Hamilton Reefstar Pendant that is 400w DE 14K.

Hope this helps!
Any more questions we can help with?

B

 

[FB]

Ok thanks for the help.

I think I have the basics. I guess I'm looking for more technical information.

Do I have to buy special MH equipment for reefing. Will any MH ballast run reef bulbs. MH is used in many applications. Parking lots, Arena lighting, signs. What makes these lights different from reef lighting, besides the bulb.

Just for discussion. Here is a MH ballast.

http://www.prolighting.com/sousm400q-k.html

How do I/You know if this ballast could be used on a reef application. If so what bulbs. Bulb housing. Can all ballasts be plugged into any wall socket. Of couse the bulb would have to match the ballasts wattage.

I have also read about different ways of "firing the bulb"...please explain.

Thanks again for all your help.

FB

 

[Len]

A MH ballast is a MH Ballast. Commercial application MH ballasts are the same as those for reefkeeping. What you will need is a suitable ballast for the bulb you plan to drive, and this is where it gets a little trickier. The most common MH ballast type is those with ANSI numbers starting with M5* (for example, M57 is the 175W version, M58 is the 250W version). M5* ballasts will usually drive any single-ended bulb, but often not optimally - the difference can be very dramatic. The ballast you linked is the common M59. The M8* ballasts are made for double ended, and M13* are pulse start ballasts that some European bulbs prefer.

The above ballast choices have much to do with how the bulbs are initially "fired" (how the initial arc is struck). "Standard" (aka "American") MH bulbs have a probe start in the bulb which faciliates the initial arc. Pulse starts do not have this probe, nor do double ended bulbs. Pulse start ballasts, however, use an ignitor to strike the probeless bulb (most European and the new crop of Asian bulbs are of this design). To be honest, I don't know if DE ballasts have ignitors or not.

Ballasts designed for standard 110V/120V operation can be plugged into the wall.

Of course, there are electronic ballasts too, and the current production ones are very nice. These will fire just about every bulb type, so it's the safest/easiest bet. They'll be about twice the price as a DIY ballast like the one you linked, but they do run cooler, are more efficient, and much easier to use across a spectrum (no pun intended ) of bulbs.

 

[liquid]

You can also look over the metal halide lighting articles in AAOLM here.

Shane

 

[Rob Top]

Consider searching e-bay for metal halide. Look more towards the warehouse lighting. Refered to as low or high bay light fixtures. I bought 3 175w to my door was $45. A little DIY work, new reflectors and I have a 3x175w MH set up for $150, plus bulbs. The basic M57 ballast. I'll go get pics

 

[Rob Top]

Never before, and probably never again have I or will I say I'll get pics and have them minutes later :lol:

The ballasts hanging in the corner of the fishroom. Of course the actual ballasts are smaller, since this is inside the fishroom I was fine with leaving them in the heat sinks they came in.

A couple of the reflectors, again in a fishroom and looks do not matter.

 

[das75]

http://216.187.96.54/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=22046

http://216.187.96.54/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=22045

and check out some other stickies on the lighting section of the forum

 

[FB]

you guys are awesome

Thanks


FB