Metal Halide Project underway......

[jfdjason]

Alright all my parts have come in for my DIY Metal Halide project. Received my Ballast, Mogul Socket, and Bulb. Just have to make a trip to the HD and purchase a reflector and box to house the ballast tomorrow. Should be up and running by the evening. And the Best part about it === DIY $94.50

 

[jfdjason]

Here is a pic of the parts

 

[irenicus]

Hey JFDJason!
Where did you get your ballast? Hellolights?

 

[jfdjason]

Residental Landscape Lighting & Design

 

[robchuck]

What's the wattage of the bulb and the ballast, and what color temp. is the bulb?

 

[jfdjason]

It's 250 Watts, Iwaski 6500K bulb. I will be running this along side of a 175 Watt 15,000K bulb. I have been researching lighting for a long time, and I found a guy that lives by me with this same setup and it really gives a nice color. I will still use my actinic lights for sunrise and sunset and my DIY moonlights for the evenings.

 

[robchuck]

Sweet! With all that blue you'll have, the 'Saki won't look too yellow, but you'll still get all of it's magical coral growth benefits!

 

[bigtyguyy]

JFDJason lets see some finished pics when you get her up and running

 

[rubberduck]

yay lets see some pics

 

[bigtyguyy]

Hey JFDJason whered you buy the parts, online? or locally? where is the cheapest site online that i can order 2 175W MH and ship them to Toronto

 

[golfish]

FWIW, I've seen some old tool boxes used as heat sinks, just an idear..

 

[bigtyguyy]

Hey guys
this may sound like a dumb question but why are PFO ballast much cheaper then ICECAP? There must be a quality level difference but are they bad ballasts

 

[golfish]

Originally posted by bigtyguyy
Hey guys
this may sound like a dumb question but why are PFO ballast much cheaper then ICECAP? There must be a quality level difference but are they bad ballasts

I'm guessing your looking at the PFO magnetic ballast not the electronic ballast, that's probably the price diff your seeing.
FWIW, I like a magnectic ballast over the e ballast.

 

[billr70]

Awsome JFD Jason, Caint wait to see the finished pictures. Could you give a parts and price list when your done?
Thanks, Billy

 

[bigtyguyy]

thanks golfish

 

[billr70]

How loud are the Magnetic Ballast compared to Electronic? Thinking of Magnetic.
Thank You, Billy

 

[bigtyguyy]

ya what is the difference

 

[acrylic51]

Electronic ballasts are more energy efficient than magnetic ballast, run cooler, but they say the electronic ballasts don't drive the bulbs to their fullest potential.... I guess there has to be a trade off somewhere!