20k radium 250W

[wayner1]

Jason:

Have you tested the 250W Radium 20k on the PFO hqi Ballast, just wondering how they compare to the 400w bulbs color wise.

Wayner

[jasonfrey]

Hi Wayner,

Yes, we did several test with the 20K's on standard and hqi ballasts. Definately want to stick with the hqi ballasts on those bulbs.

It was a surprise that the 250watt 20K did look different then the 400watt 20K. The 250 20K was much more blue. It still looks nice, but the 400watt 20K really had a better look color wise to me, but that's subjective to the eye. I think the 400watt is just able to push out the white spectrum a little more and still have the nice blue cast.

I was also surprised to see how nice the 12K looks on a 400watt standard ballast. It runs pretty dim on lower wattage ballasts, but the 400watt 12K standard looks pretty close to a 20K 400 hqi setup. The 20K certainly is better, but for a budget, the 12K looked really close.

jason

[macaw]

Hi Jason

Understood that the 20K runs better under HQI ballast, what about blueline.

By the way, do you have any 220 volts 400W HQI ballast.

Thanks

Nilson

ps: Received the AquaC already, very happy!!:p

[jasonfrey]

Hi Nilson,

<<Understood that the 20K runs better under HQI ballast, what about blueline.

When we compared PFO standard to PFO hqi was night and day difference. Haven't had a chance to compare on Eballast yet.

<<By the way, do you have any 220 volts 400W HQI ballast.

PFO can make there standard or hqi ballast into 220volt. Drawback is the weight though, probably around 20 plus pounds, so would be expensive to ship to HK.

[percula]

Just to dive further into the subject as the board has given lil info, the 250watt 20k, have you tested it on an icecap perhaps? Wondering the difference, and if it was necessary to get the icecap esrviced to that specific bulb. Thanks Jason! Appreciate it! - perc - chris

[jasonfrey]

hi Chris,

Sorry, haven't tried it on icecap yet, i'll put that on the to do list. The new Icecap 250 claims it will run any bulb, except 65K, they have a special one for that. So it should drive the bulb, Icecap can special tune for hqi bulbs as well though, so imagine a special tuned ballast for hqi would work really well.

jason

[percula]

Awesome. Glad to hear the tuning to hqi, if only I could get some money... or icecap would come out with the 400watt ballast... thanks again jason! If ya do get it tested let us know! - perc - chris