Turning on MHs

[HawaiianReef]

Is there a recomended sequence to turning on a MH light?
I read somewhere a while back that someone damaged their ballast because they powered up their MH without a load. At least I think thats what it was. Either way, the idea was damage occurred from turning the lights on wrong.
Can this happen?

David

 

[Jeepguy242]

it is true that you can damage SOME ballasts without a load on them...

that said there should not be a switch between the ballast and the bulb... only power to the ballast...

screw in your bulb, plug in the cord, and flip the switch....


some ballasts like mine do not have a switch.... in that case when you plug them in they will turn on...

 

[Skynyrd Fish]

Not that I'm aware of. Are they dimmable? Mine kicked on with a timer. Nothing fancy. I ran them for 15 years. I would not power them up without a bulb.

 

[HawaiianReef]

No not dimmable. And embarrassing cheap. Its an old Odyssea with 3 MH, 4 60" t5, and some moon lights. The entire light is 72". I have the newer ballast. Apparently the older ones go poof in a matter of weeks.
Either way, I'd love to give them a try.
What MH bulbs would you guys recommend?

 

[Skynyrd Fish]

Radiums. This is the old reef guys go to. Clean blue light, if your fixture takes screw in bulbs. I'm thinking your fixture is HQI bulbs, so with the T5 you can make some cool combos, maybe a 10k bulb and some ATI Blue plus and true actinic T5's. I'm Running all T5, but I miss the Radiums shimmer.

 

[HawaiianReef]

I've been looking at the t5 bulbs and you pretty much hit my taste right on the head. I am planning blue+ and actinic. The fixtures are HQI.
I heard this particular fixture has some pretty poor light distribution on the t5s because the reflectors suck. I dont know yet. But I don't have any sps. But I know I'll get addicted to tbem once I get some. They are Stunning