Can I do this? PC balast to T5 bulbs.

[Yellowtang]

I have a coralife 48" lighht fixture that runs 4 65watt pc bulbs. Can I switch the endcaps and run 48" T5 ho's they are 54 watts, sounds to me like it would work. Plus four T5 ho bulbs are about 1/3 the cost of the pc bulbs. Then I'd have better lighting. I don't care if you tell me it won't work but please explain why. thanks in advance for any insight on this you may have....

JR,

 

[Harry_Y]

My suggestion would be to replace the ballast as well

 

[Yellowtang]

OK. Harry Y... Why?

JR,

 

[Harry_Y]

OK. Harry Y... Why?

JR,

Safety

 

[seaweed88]

Check out Hellolights. You can get a diy 4 bulb 48 inch over driven set with reflectors and bulbs for a little more than your 4 pc bulbs (just a thought.0

 

[ca2or]

but I think he wants them in the original housing that his current pc's are in. I am curious about this as well but on a smaller scale. 24 inch.

 

[seaweed88]

Do you have individual reflectors in the fixture? I believe you will not get the same benefits without the individual reflectors.

 

[ca2or]

hmm....I wonder if there is a way to get the individual reflectors to fit in the same space and remove the PC's.

 

[Yellowtang]

Safety

Theres always gona be a safety issue with modifing an existing manufactures product. Anybody that DIY's has got that.
Yeah I suppose there could be some issue with ballast heat or what not, maybe a pc ballast wont start t5 bulbs, but that's why I started this thread to see if some one knows the answer.

Check out Hellolights. You can get a diy 4 bulb 48 inch over driven set with reflectors and bulbs for a little more than your 4 pc bulbs (just a thought.0

$200. + shipping Not bad

but I think he wants them in the original housing that his current pc's are in. I am curious about this as well but on a smaller scale. 24 inch.

Yeah was gona use same housing. But was also thinking of making my own hood then I could include the two 48" VHOs that I'm curently running at the same time as the pcs .

Do you have individual reflectors in the fixture? I believe you will not get the same benefits without the individual reflectors.

No theres only two reflectors. Back in the days way past, bulbs used to come with their own reflectors some internal some with super reflective tape on the outside, I still have a roll of the tape I used for the bulbs that came without. Not as good as reflectors but did make a difference that could be seen with naked eye.

hmm....I wonder if there is a way to get the individual reflectors to fit in the same space and remove the PC's.

It dosen't look like there is enough room for individual reflectors.

Thank you all. Good points by everyone keep them coming if anyone else has some more I'd like to hear..

JR,

 

[chuckle_berry]

I would say no. T5's have a different gas inside them that takes more excitation than a pc ballast will output.

 

[Yellowtang]

I would say no. T5's have a different gas inside them that takes more excitation than a pc ballast will output.

There are ballast that run both pc and t5's just don't know if the one I have will. guess it will take more research.

JR

 

[Dylan]

Why not buy this?

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/f60/nova-extreme-pro-32126.html

 

[Yellowtang]

Well I finally found it. Its not a problem 65 watt pc ballast will run a 54 watt T5 and
actually over drive it a few watts. I can do what I want for less than $80.

Thanks all !!

JR,