Home Depot metal halides?
- Thread starter 84chris
- Start date
krazekajin
Active Member
There has been a lot of discussion on this topic. I did not get a homedepot ballast, but I did get a generic unassembled ballast that I am currently waiting to get set up. I talked to an electrician and he assured me that it would work. The only thing is that some MH ballasts will only fire a certain type of bulb. I would get the specs of the ballast as to what type of bulb it will fire and then check and see if you can get an aquarium bulb that will fit.
also, what fixture are you looking at. Could you post the model number or even a link to Home Depot's website with that fixture.
also, what fixture are you looking at. Could you post the model number or even a link to Home Depot's website with that fixture.
84chris
Member
Originally Posted by KrazeKajin
also, what fixture are you looking at. Could you post the model number or even a link to Home Depot's website with that fixture.
I havent went out to look yet but i will post it when i do. I am in the same situation as you are, my best friend is an electrician and says it wont be a problem at all, so some time this week im going to look into this.
also, what fixture are you looking at. Could you post the model number or even a link to Home Depot's website with that fixture.
I havent went out to look yet but i will post it when i do. I am in the same situation as you are, my best friend is an electrician and says it wont be a problem at all, so some time this week im going to look into this.
krazekajin
Active Member
sounds good. The reason I ask, is because I have been Home depot and I can never find MH lights. Maybe I am blind, but I am just curious as to what is out there.
thereefkeeper
Member
IMO, I think a lot of people hear Mercury Vapor and think MH. I have checked at my local HD and Lowe's and never seen any MH lights.
zanoshanox
Active Member
I have seen them too...but the ones i saw came wiht like 250w 4200 k bulbs or something...wrong spectrum for reefs...
larryndana
Active Member
Originally Posted by zanoshanox
I have seen them too...but the ones i saw came wiht like 250w 4200 k bulbs or something...wrong spectrum for reefs...
but could you put an aquarium type bulb in? :thinking:
if it did work, i wonder what kind of price difference there is?
I have seen them too...but the ones i saw came wiht like 250w 4200 k bulbs or something...wrong spectrum for reefs...
but could you put an aquarium type bulb in? :thinking:
if it did work, i wonder what kind of price difference there is?
reefkprz
Active Member
it will work just make sure you buy the right type of bulbs for your ballast. the price difference is about 200$ cheaper and way uglier with casings that rust. but if you retrofit it into a custom hood you would be fine, the reflectors in them arent that great either. but for 119$ you can have almost the same thing as a MH retro kit. insted of paying 350$ of course you wouldnt get the actinic pcs that come with the retro kits but hey for a hundred bucks who cares.
integral9
Member
I think you can use the Homedepot balasts, if you can find em. I've been looking around my homedepot and can't seem to find em. I've found the bulbs and the fixtures, but not the ballasts. I wouldn't use the bulbs though. For one, I couldn't find a Kelvin rating on their bulbs, second I'd bet they are probably 6500K instead of 8500K or 10000K. I think 6500K is a bit too far outside the ideal range for Coral lighting. Is OK for FOWLR, but not Reaf.
btw. The MH and HPS bulbs are in the light bulb aisle next to the contractor fluorescent tubes.
also, get a ballast that has an "electronic starter" or is called an "electronic ballast" like the Ice Caps. They are much more efficient than the magnetic or coil ballasts and produce much less heat.
btw. The MH and HPS bulbs are in the light bulb aisle next to the contractor fluorescent tubes.
also, get a ballast that has an "electronic starter" or is called an "electronic ballast" like the Ice Caps. They are much more efficient than the magnetic or coil ballasts and produce much less heat.
scsinet
Active Member
The bulbs that come with the standard Lithonia, LOM, etc fixtures are 4K or 3K bulbs, which are pretty much useless.
The 70w fixtures are the ones most commonly found in the ceiling or "wall pack" style fixtures that are sold there.
However, there is no aquarium bulb made that is a drop in replacement, as 70W aquarium bulbs are only made in Double Ended. You'd have to rig up a socket. Even then, the fixtures are probe start, and DE bulbs are pulse start. A probe start bulb has an internal ignitor, but the 70W bulb in the Depot fixtures lack them, so it's possible that the ballast is capable of firing a DE bulb.
You are going to be far better off, and cheaper, to buy a loose ballast from an electrical supply house and a mogul socket and build your own fixture, unless the halide fixtures at Lowes or the Depot are on some wild clearance or something. I picked up two once for $6 each, but I haven't bothered to do anything with them yet.
The 70w fixtures are the ones most commonly found in the ceiling or "wall pack" style fixtures that are sold there.
However, there is no aquarium bulb made that is a drop in replacement, as 70W aquarium bulbs are only made in Double Ended. You'd have to rig up a socket. Even then, the fixtures are probe start, and DE bulbs are pulse start. A probe start bulb has an internal ignitor, but the 70W bulb in the Depot fixtures lack them, so it's possible that the ballast is capable of firing a DE bulb.
You are going to be far better off, and cheaper, to buy a loose ballast from an electrical supply house and a mogul socket and build your own fixture, unless the halide fixtures at Lowes or the Depot are on some wild clearance or something. I picked up two once for $6 each, but I haven't bothered to do anything with them yet.