Overdriven T5s?

[flricordia]

Can someone explain overdriving T5s and what that entails? I am thinking of setting up a 150 and have a 660 ballast and was wanting to go with T5s. What can I run on the ballast? I understand I can operate PC, VHO or T5s on it.

 

[reefraff]

a 660 will overdrive the 4 ft T5 lamps to about 80 watts. You can run 4 on that ballast. Or you can run 3 of the 5 foot 80 watt lamps on it, they are as bright but do cover an extra 12" of length.

 

[speeddemonlsr]

what are the dimesions?

 

[flricordia]

Originally Posted by reefraff
a 660 will overdrive the 4 ft T5 lamps to about 80 watts. You can run 4 on that ballast. Or you can run 3 of the 5 foot 80 watt lamps on it, they are as bright but do cover an extra 12" of length.
And this doesn't shorten the bulb life? Thanks

 

[ameno]

I have heard that overdriving the bulbs will shorten the bulb life, I have regular t-5 HO on a 125 (14)39 watt and it's all I need, works great.

 

[reefraff]

If you run fans overdriving the lamps wont kill them. The spectrum shift comes into play before a lack of intensity anyway. For top performance you want to change lamps by 12 months.

 

[flricordia]

Originally Posted by reefraff
If you run fans overdriving the lamps wont kill them. The spectrum shift comes into play before a lack of intensity anyway. For top performance you want to change lamps by 12 months.
Thanks, 12 months is good as I would probably change them sooner anyway.

 

[flricordia]

Originally Posted by ameno
I have heard that overdriving the bulbs will shorten the bulb life, I have regular t-5 HO on a 125 (14)39 watt and it's all I need, works great.
I was jsut wanting to put a 660 ballast I have to use and go with T5s is why I was asking. i am with you, the regular T5 HO intensities are pretty good as they are but with ricordias the more light the better.