Mh lighting questions??

[xcdennisx]

im looking at these two different mh lights:
IceCap 250 10k HQI Metal Halide Pendant - $385
Hamilton 250 10k HQI Reefstar Lighting System - $300
Whats the difference between them two in your opinion? I was thinking about getting the hamilton one cause its cheaper.

 

[bang guy]

Yhe IceCap will run more efficient, run the bulb longer, and have a cooler ballast. The PFO will generally put out more light but consume more power. The actual results depend a lot on the bulb you're going to burn.
Cost wise the IceCap will be cheaper in the long run because you replace the bulbs less often but the PFO will give significantly more light.
examples:

 

[xcdennisx]

does single or double ended have a difference?

 

[bang guy]

There's debate on that as well. It mostly depends on the bulb/ballast combination. HQI put out more light but once you place a sheet of tempered glass in front of a DE bulb it's about the same output as a regular SE MH. I prefer the HQI mostly because the reflector can be so much more compact but most of the commercial reflectors are about the same size. The advantage of DE is the vast number of bulbs and ballasts available.
Flip a coin