Reg. output florescents with a VHO ballast?!

Discussion in 'Reef Lighting' started by Midnight_Madman, Oct 24, 2004.

to remove this notice and enjoy 3reef content with less ads. 3reef membership is free.

  1. Midnight_Madman

    Midnight_Madman Montipora Digitata

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2004
    Messages:
    1,077
    Location:
    Mount Pleasant, SC
    Has anyone ever tried or heard of running regular output florescents on a VHO ballast? I just got done reading an artical in an aquarium magazine that says it works great! and many people do it. That means I could keep my existing light fixture with my 03, 10,000k and 50/50 and rewire a vho ballast to it! I am excited to try this out. I wonder how much light output that will create?
     
    Midnight_Madman, Oct 24, 2004
    Midnight_Madman, Oct 24, 2004
    #1

    2. Click Here!

  2. Birdlady

    Birdlady Finback Whale

    Joined:
    May 8, 2004
    Messages:
    2,716
    Location:
    PhillySuburbs, Pennsylvania
    Welp, I was just talking to some folks up the street who just opened a new LFS here. That is what he has wired up. VHO Ballast driving NO lights....he also had some regular balllasts with reg. lights right next to it. He is getting about twice the light output.

    Problem is, you are overdriving the bulbs and they will go bad faster. You will probably end up spending twice as much in bulbs.
     
    Birdlady, Oct 24, 2004
    Birdlady, Oct 24, 2004
    #2
  3. reiple

    reiple Fire Shrimp

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2003
    Messages:
    324
    Location:
    Quezon City,
    Try the IceCap website.

    www.icecapinc.com

    The recommendation is to use GE Daylight Plus bulbs. These are 6500K bulbs and are cheap to replace.
     
    reiple, Oct 24, 2004
    reiple, Oct 24, 2004
    #3
  4. Midnight_Madman

    Midnight_Madman Montipora Digitata

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2004
    Messages:
    1,077
    Location:
    Mount Pleasant, SC
    Actually, the artical said it would keep the life of the bulbs longer than a normal ballast because the heat is less. I think they also last longe because of the higher power output, which you would think is the oposite, but is not.. I guess.
    I might just have to try this.. I wonder If I can still use the same standard endcaps? I hope so!
     
    Midnight_Madman, Oct 25, 2004
    Midnight_Madman, Oct 25, 2004
    #4
  5. Birdlady

    Birdlady Finback Whale

    Joined:
    May 8, 2004
    Messages:
    2,716
    Location:
    PhillySuburbs, Pennsylvania
    Hmmmm....interesting....what do I know anyway! [smiley=2thumbsup.gif]
     
    Birdlady, Oct 25, 2004
    Birdlady, Oct 25, 2004
    #5
  6. reiple

    reiple Fire Shrimp

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2003
    Messages:
    324
    Location:
    Quezon City,
    for diy way can mod it so the ends will not heat up and melt. there is a small adaptor for two prong connectors you can insert for the ends of a lamp and solder the other end to the ballast wiring. you can then cover the ends with a glue gun to reduce corrosion and accidentally falling off by the connectors. total cost:a little soldering, a little glue gun and the connectors maybe a dollar for 4 lamps.

    might not be a good explanation i hope i can draw it cause a pic is worth more than a thousand words. ;)
     
    reiple, Oct 29, 2004
    reiple, Oct 29, 2004
    #6

    7. Click Here!

  7. Midnight_Madman

    Midnight_Madman Montipora Digitata

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2004
    Messages:
    1,077
    Location:
    Mount Pleasant, SC
    Oh that sounds awesome. Could me send a diagram or something... I think I know what you mean. But what is the adaptor and where do I get it?
     
    Midnight_Madman, Oct 29, 2004
    Midnight_Madman, Oct 29, 2004
    #7