pc lighting

[jtdribbles]

Hey everyone. I just purchased some power compact lights from a swapmeet here. I came home and during the installation into my canopy they fell. Upon plugging them in only the white set works. My question is....they really don't seem that much brighter than the flourescent that I had. Is this because the blue set is not in or something? Shouldn't they be really bright. He said the bulbs are each about 6 weeks old. my tank is 48 x 24 x12. I think thats about 70 gallons..the lights say 96 watts on the light.

 

[wolffam]

Where your previous flourescent lamps 40 watts? If you had 2 * 40 = 80 watts, and then switched to the pc's with only 1 lamp working at 96 watts, you wouldn't see much difference, although the spectrum should be greater. Is it possible to fix the other lamp? You might consider using both types of lights for more wattage.

 

[adrian]

Watts are not a measure of intensity. Just because a bulb uses more wattage does not mean it is brighter. Compare 2 110 watt VHOs to a 175 MH. The VHOs use more wattage, but the MH is still more intense. Power compacts, IME, appear brighter than any other flourescent, but our eyes are very poor at judging light, therefore I could be wrong.

 

[jtdribbles]

wolffam, previous flo was 1 40w bulb....however I switched the connectors to the ballast for the pc's and it is now much brighter. I plan to use the 40w flo as additional lighting...I have one daytime and one actinic.should I use the daytime light or the actinic?

 

[wolffam]

If the actinic is working on the PC, I'd go with the 40 watt daytime flo. Otherwise use the actinic until you can get the PC blue working. Hope this helps!