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View Full Version : 175w to 250w mh ... no real diff in brightness


natron
01/31/2007, 07:28 PM
Hi. I just switched from 175 watt mh(ice cap ballast and ushio 14k se bulb) to a 250 watt mh(ice cap ballast and hamilton 14 se bulb).I do see more blue in the ham but not a great deal brighter(i was expecting bright).Is this normal in my naked eye doesnt really pick up on the diff?thx.

natron
01/31/2007, 10:03 PM
No ideas?...

supertech3
01/31/2007, 10:50 PM
why don't you try a lamp comparison between the two lamps and see at this site.
http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/select2lamp.php

manderx
01/31/2007, 11:58 PM
you went from a very bright 175 bulb run by a ballast that drives bulbs brighter than most in it's class to a dim 250 bulb driven by a ballast that usually does not drive bulbs the brightest in it's class (though i still prefer the 250 icecap over others even if it isn't the absolute brightest).

plus your eye adjusts, you'd really have to see them side by side to tell unless one is massively brighter than the other.

natron
02/01/2007, 08:00 PM
Thx. I guess i can hope that in the next couple weeks the bulb may burn in and brighten up.Any suggestions on a better bulb?I do like a bluer look just not 20k blue.Thx.

aclos3
02/01/2007, 08:07 PM
Well, the hamilton is "up there" in terms of par for 14k bulbs. To get a lot brighter, you will probably have to move to a 10k (like XM) or change ballasts to something like an EVC e-ballast or M80 mag ballast. Either way, you are going to make the appearance more yellow.

natron
02/01/2007, 11:22 PM
Thx.