XM 250watt Bulb Updates?

[Wilafur]

hiya, i was just wondering if there are any updates as to the compatability issue with the 250watt xm bulbs and the newer IC ballasts.

has this issue been resolved? i ask because i am on the verge of purchasing a 10k xm 250 watter.

thanks.

[IceCap Service]

After a week of testing we have determined the XM lamp needs a magnetic beast to operate. With an electronic ballast it is hard to start and runs at only 215 watts.
See http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=298588&perpage=25&pagenumber=2

[Wilafur]

thanks for the quick reply. so the testing was conducted on only the 20k xde bulbs? any plans to run similar tests on the 10k xm SE version?

[IceCap Service]

We are more than willing if and when we can get a sample bulb.

[jolly_ranch]

I run 3 XM10K SE 250 bulbs on three of the newer ICECAP HQI ballast for over a month now. So far no problems at all.

[IceCap Service]

Thats a good sign. Its starting to lok as if the issue is only with the double ended lamps.

[Wilafur]

very encouraging news indeed. :)

[jolly_ranch]

Not only that, the issue seems to be the XM20K DE and not the XM10K DE. Are the complains just with the 20K lamps?

[TXLewis]

For IceCap - since it seems that at least one compatibility issue has been identified, are you aware of any others? Would it be possible to start a thread on DE lamps that are compatible with the new electronic ballasts?

My research (getting ready to buy three 250W lamp/ballast combos) has yielded that a lot of "experienced" folks poo-poo electronic ballasts. Based on the theory of operation, I would strongly prefer an electronic. However, if there are bulb compatibility issues, it would be good to know.

[ASH]

From IceCap:
We are not a crowd that suffers in silence. The reason for the thread on the 20K DE 250-watt XM and Hamilton 14k (which is compatible) is because IceCap electronic ballasts are expected to light anything out there.
Currently, besides the 20K DE 250-watt XM the only other red-lined bulb is the Radium DE 150-watt 20K which our very smart 150-MH ballasts detects as having an arc tube that belongs in a higher wattage bulb.
Compatibility issues and our electronic ballasts is old news no longer valid.
Andy

[jolly_ranch]

To ICECAP:

It’s also the 10K DE XM bulbs that don't work with your ballast not just the 20K. You that state that every bulb works. It is marketed that way and is a lie..
"Compatibility issues and our electronic ballasts is old news no longer valid" Its still valid. Every web site says “will fire any bulb!!!” not true. What about the newbie’s that buy your product base on that?

[macavelli]

My 2 cents worth..... I have been having issues with my 250 SE Xm 10k bulb . Three months ago I purchased 250 Ice cap electronic ballast w/ the 250w xm bulb, after 2months of use the ballast no longer can fire the bulb. I looked for bad connections and none were found. I then decided to purchase another one at the lfs thinking I may have just had a bad bulb.. 8 days into the second bulb I started having different problems with it.... This time the bulb gave out a greenish yellowish dull light (it was giving of the same look as when the bulb first comes on and hasn't had the chance to warm up yet.) I then changed the position of the bulb and it made a slight change in the brightness it was putting out, but the next day it went back to the dull green color. I have since taken the bulb back to the lfs and he tested it on one of his older style IceCap ballast and he sd it fired up just fine. He said he ran the bulb for 2 days with no problems. He decided to send the bulb back to Xm anyways to see if they can duplicate the same problem I was having, and they could not. They said they found no problem with it. I have since purchased an Ushio and have had no problems with it at all, and it's been running for about 6 weeks now..... So I decided to try the XM bulb again and guess what...... crisp white for about an hour, and back to the dull yellow again... There has to be some sort of compatibility issue because I have had no problem with the ushio bulb. Xm never did tell me what type of ballast they tested it on, which adds to the frustration because no one has given me a concise reason as to why I'm having this problem. The only answer I get is "It work for me I don't know what to tell ya, here is your bulb back." (I wish that answer worked with my boss when he asked me why the network isn't working... ) It just seem to me that no one will step up to the plate and take responsibility for the problem...

[Wilafur]

well, i bit the bullet and picked up a 250watt XM 10K SE bulb. the bulb fires true and burns nicely on the ice cap hqi ballasts.

yay!

[Dakan]

I am running two 250 watt XM 20ks on new style ice cap e-ballasts with no problems. I was about to order a third ice cap ballast but read this statement on a retail website that i was going to order it from.

This ballast will power any metal halide 250-watt bulb other than the 'XM' brand bulbs. It does not over-drive the bulb, so output will be at the bulb manufacturer's specifications. By using a constantly changing, very high frequency, the ballast will light any bulb without flicker. Longer bulb life and other features makes this the best ballast for all metal halide applications. Does not come with Molex connector. 4-inch wire leads included.

[IceCap Service]

The above refers to the Double Ended lamps, not the mogul based single ended. To date we have not had any negative feed back concerning the single ended lamps.

[Wilafur]

it looks like macavelli is experiencing some difficulties with the XM SE bulbs.

[Dakan]

hi, this statement at marine depot should be fixed to help clear up confusion.

http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_lighting_metal_halide_icecap_250_ballast_information.asp

[Dakan]

Also I got my third IC ballast last week and am running SE XM bulbs with no problems.

[73ChargerFan]

Premium Aquatics has a similar note in their description of the ballast. Very responsible, IMHO.

[John R]

FYI - A buddy and I bought a total of five XM10K- 250 watt bulbs and IC ballasts to run on PFO pendants on 12/03. Of my three, two fired fine and one didn't. I even sent a ballast back to IC for a replacement (which they did) even though it looks like it wasn't needed. The third one took a month and started firing daily. My buddy had essentially the same results. His two took awhile then fired consistently.
If you don't want the non-firing headache, get a different bulb. The difference is minimal. Or try one of those EVC tech bulbs I see Ocean Encounter carrying. There are cheap too.
Good Luck.

[Cruiznblue]

So what is the problem with the DE bulbs?

I am giong to get 250W SE XM bulbs for my Icecap ballast, but just curious.

[73ChargerFan]

Search the Icecap forum. I think there's more info here on the XM bulbs not working correctly with the Icecap ballasts.

[Cruiznblue]

ok will do..thanks