undrtkr_00 Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 OK, so I guess I leaped before I looked. I picked up a used 150W halide setup with moguls without realizing that there are almost *no* single end 150W bulbs out there for sale. The ballast is pulse-start. So, my question is, if I swap out the mogul fitting for a DE fixture, will I be able to drive typical 150W DE bulbs with it? I have read up a little but the whole "HQI" labeling thing is a little confusing because people don't seem to use it accurately. So, even though this is not an "HQI" ballast, will I be able to drive DE bulbs (which may or may not be called HQI depending on where you get them) with it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 What ballast is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClayTheSavageFraser Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 I've never had a problem with it!! CLay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
undrtkr_00 Posted January 29, 2010 Author Share Posted January 29, 2010 What ballast is it? Don't know the name brand - it looks like a DIY assembled job. After looking at the specs for the Phoenix bulbs, they seem to indicate that they'll run fine on a non-HQI pulse-start ballast, but the color will be different (more blue on non-HQI). So, that's probably what I'll end up doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 In addition to the color shift, the PAR could drop by up to 30%. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
undrtkr_00 Posted January 29, 2010 Author Share Posted January 29, 2010 OK, thanks for the info. I assume the bulb life will be longer, then. Regardless of the PAR drop, it will be much higher than the 2x24W T5 that I am running now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
undrtkr_00 Posted February 25, 2010 Author Share Posted February 25, 2010 FWIW, the 150W DE Radium is designed to run on pulse start magnetic ballasts, so I may give that one a whirl next. I picked up a 14k Phoenix bulb the other day from Upscales, and have been pretty happy with it. Good, somewhat bluish coloration (definitely bluer than the 250W 14k Phoenix I have at home, running on an electronic ballast), good "pop" on my rics and zoos with fluorescence, and judging by the way my zoas are crowding the rocks, much higher PAR than what I used to have. (rock2) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted February 25, 2010 Share Posted February 25, 2010 I really like the Phoenix 14k 150W bulb. I'm running two of them over my 55 and get good color. Growth is slower than with the 250W Reeflux bulbs they replaced but that's to be expected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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