What Bulb??

[salisbury a d]

I dont need one yet but which bulb is better?
I am looking through at the different metal halide bulbs and im not sure which one to get when the time comes.
What is the difference between German made or American made?
Right now i have a 175 watt, 10000k ushio screw socket.
And why is the german 13000k cheaper than the 10000k german made?
Just curious.
thanks
Adam

 

[robchuck]

What type of ballast are you running your current Ushios on? Chances are, it's a pulse start ballast (ANSI M137) or electronic ballast, because the German bulbs require a pulse start ballast (or can operate on electronic ballasts). American bulbs are typically probe start, so you would need a probe start ballast (ANSI M57) to run them.
Do you have the brand name for the German 13,000K bulb? The only bulb I can think of at 175W made in Germany with 13,000K anywhere in the specs is the AB 10,000K bulb. It appears more like a 13,000K bulb though, but is about the same cost as the Ushio anywhere I've looked.

 

[salisbury a d]

Wow amd I dumb. I forgot i postes this.
Um not sure who the ballast was made by, I bought a complete hood from an online supplier and this is the only info they gave me on the ballast: Remote ventilated, enclosed ballast .
It makes a pulsing sound when it starts so I am assuming it is a pulse start. I could have upgraded to an icecap electronic ballast but I didnt have the money.
I am happy with what I got though.
Thanks
Adam