ballast performance?

[schminksbro]

I got 2 of these ballasts free and am running 2-250 watt Phoenix HQIs on them. They seem to work fine but I don't have a par meter. Will this spec sheet tell one of you gurus anything about the performance of this ballast?
http://ultballastspecs.unvlt.com/pd.../1110246CTC.pdf

What specs do you look for when judging a ballast's performance?

 

[Poseidon]

Hey Schminks! Welcome to R2R first off!

Looking at the specs on that ballast, it seems OK. I compare the input wattage, 295, to the output wattage (about 250 right?), then compare the start up amperage to the constant draw. Those numbers should be close to each other, and they are.

I think this looks similar to the old IceCap eBallast.

 

[schminksbro]

Thanks Mike! I'll have to get you over again so you can tell me what I am doing wrong. lol I have a new tank up since the last time you were here.

 

[Poseidon]

Ya, I saw some pictures of the new one, it is looking good.

Have you seen SanJay's site for halides and ballast combos?

Well I'll be... it has been moved. Here is a link anyway:
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/lighting

You can compare TONS there.

 

[schminksbro]

I hadn't seen that forum. Thanks Mike. I thought that I had read the whole internet! LOL

 

[Poseidon]

LOL! I think a new fish forum pops up every other day! SanJay used to have his own website, it was not attached to a forum, but at least the information is still around.

There is a cool thread over there on DIY LED's that I was reading though, you may want to check that out too.

 

[kgross]

I am very surprised that those ballasts actually fire the Phoenix bulb. Those ballasts are a standard M58 probe start ballast, while the DE bulb should need a Pulse start ballast (I think M80 or M135 are pulse start magnetic ballasts).

But those are basicly the same as what you would find in the PFO 250 watt normal ballast.

Kim

 

[schminksbro]

They fire fine I just have no idea what my par is in the lower half of my tank. I do however have acros growing at varied depths.

I am very surprised that those ballasts actually fire the Phoenix bulb. Those ballasts are a standard M58 probe start ballast, while the DE bulb should need a Pulse start ballast (I think M80 or M135 are pulse start magnetic ballasts).

But those are basicly the same as what you would find in the PFO 250 watt normal ballast.

Kim