250watt in a 175 watt fixture?

[cnaegler]

Does anyone know if a DE 250 watt bulb fit in a 175watt DE socket and if not , what are the limiting factors? If its just the length can the socket be "expanded"? Thanks to all who reply.

[Entropy]

I don't think there is such a thing as a 175w DE bulb. Maybe a 150w?

[DarG]

Right, all 175 watt are SE.
150 watt and 70 watt DE use the same socket. It is not the same as the 250 socket. The 250 watt socket is not only larger, it has different contacts. The 250 watt bulbs have different ends and contacts than 70 and 150 watt. You must change the sockets and the ballasts.

[cnaegler]

There are 175watt DE bulbs .I have two of them in my canopy right now that i bought from odyssea, plus i ordered extra bulbs both DE. I know that 70 and 150's won't work in a 250 BUT i have heard that 175's might work .

[DarG]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10581768#post10581768 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cnaegler
There are 175watt DE bulbs .I have two of them in my canopy right now that i bought from odyssea, plus i ordered extra bulbs both DE. I know that 70 and 150's won't work in a 250 BUT i have heard that 175's might work .

They are an Odyssea "exclusive". It is a 150 watt bulb. Even the picture on their website doesnt cover up their deception.
They list them as 175 watt bulbs and the picture shows the box with 150 watt clearly written on it. Aside from Odyssea calling a 150 watt bulb a 175 watt, 175 watt is SE only.

They wont fit a 250 watt socket. They have different ends. 150 watt and 70 watt have the same ends/contacts. 250 watt is larger bulb with different contacts. The ballasts are different.

Just look at the pictures on the replacement bulb page on their website. You can see the differences between the 250 watt and "175" watt ... err, I mean 150 watt :D

[cnaegler]

I appreciate it DarG. I bought two HQI 175 replacement bulbs from greatdel on E-bay and installed them both in my canopy. Do you think that there being underdriven by the odyssey ballasts? They seem to be working great though. Iwas just hoping the bulbs were compatible so that i could upgrade to 250 watt icecap ballasts and only have to switch out bulbs. So much for an easy upgrade , huh?

[cnaegler]

I've just looked back into my old bulbs and all six bulbs are clearly stamped HQI 175w.Two are from Odyssea and the other four are from different web sites.They are hard to find .I've caught hell trying to locate these. Forgive me if i seem like a jerk, i don't mean to, i'm just trying to get to the bottom of this mystery. I know there are HQI 175 watt bulbs, I have them in my possession, so are they the same size as a 150 or a 250 or are they in a size class of their own, i wonder? Help me someone! Please!

[DarG]

They are the same size as 150 watt (150 watt is a nominal rating by the way). They have the same contacts as a 150. They are 150 watt. They wont work in 250 watt sockets. Look at the pictures of the 150 watt and 250 watt bulbs on the Aquatraders website so you can see the differences in the bulbs and the contacts.

Ok ... They may be stamped 175 watt but they are made by a bulb manufacturer for whoever wants them made. You wont find a 175 watt DE made and sold under the name of any of the major manufacturers. You are getting bulbs from Odyssea and Greatdel. They can have them labeled whatever they want to (what a shock that they would do this). It's a marketing ploy in attempt to make one think they are getting a brighter lamp than a 150 watt. It should tell you something that Ushio, Iwasaki, AB, Giesemann, XM, Coralvue, Hamilton, IceCap, Sylvania, BLV, Radium, Helios, Aquaconnect ... none of these have a 175 watt DE bulb? Only Odyssea and Greatdel ...

The vast majority of halide bulbs for the aquarium hobby dont match their listed kelvin rating. You can label a bulb anything you want to.

You can replace those bulbs with any 150 watt DE bulbs that you want to, you dont have to hunt down 175 watt DE labeled bulbs because all you are hunting down is the labeling.

I guess if I wanted to I could label an XM 150 watt 15000K DE bulb as 182 watts if I wanted to, and not be fibbing. It dissipates 182 watts when run on a magnetic HQI ballast - ANSI M81

I'm just trying to help you get to the bottom of your perceived mystery.

[cnaegler]

OK i get your point. It's a shame that their allowed to get away witk that type of "false" advertisement, isn't it? Much appreciated, my friend. Hope i didn't get under your skin too much. I guess i should have just went with a 150 or 250 watt canopy.sssssssss....lesson learned. Have a nice evening!

[DarG]

Under my skin ... not at all.

Like I mentioned, technically a 150 watt DE may produce 180 watts or more depending on the ballast. A 250 watt DE could be at 350 watts or better. So, technically is it false advertising? I dont know if it is. The bulb wattage rating is a nominal rating.
If I knew my 250 watt DE bulb was really 325 watts on a magnetic HQI ballast would I be lying to label it as 325 watt?

I think it's cheesy marketing to get somebody to think that they are getting a little bit more light but moreso, to decieve them into thinking they have to buy a 175 watt bulb ... which they can only get from the one place selling the fixture ... exception being the other sellers who caught on so they figure they would cash in on the deal.

But a lie, or outright false advertising? Probably not. Deceptive nonetheless. Definitely borderline at best in the ethics category.

But ... this from a company who's 250 watt ballasts only produce 150 watts (measured). Dont run all 250 watt bulbs (but do run theirs) and the ones they do run, run dim. Very dim.

Peace!

[cnaegler]

Yes i see now, it's exactly the same with speakers and amplifiers and such. They label their boxes...... 1000 WATTS TOTAL PURE POWER!!! But if you set them up following the total wattage and not the nominal wattage your asking for something to fry. Thanks again for the humble pie, my friend.

[DarG]

:)