New HQI 250w MH ballast question

[pecan2phat]

Hi Andy,
Do the newer HQI 250w MH ballast require a heatsink for optimal performance?

Someone told me that the newer style do not need the heatsink but marine depot sells one along side of the ballast.
Just wondering?

[ASH]

Our 175 & 250-watt MH ballast don't need a heatsink.
Our 150 & 400-MH ballasts require one. I suggest using a heatsink for any electronic Metal Halide 120-volt ballast. The benefits are longer and more reliable lighting.

In a 220-volt environments everything runs cooler and the heatsink is not needed unless the ambient temperature is already between warm & hot where the ballast is placed.

Our new Ballast Box for MH ballasts takes that same need and makes it attractive and adds quick disconnects and an on/off switch.
Andy

[Lo0seR]

Ash I just bought a 400MH electronic ballast from you guys and had one question about it's par compared to a magnetic ballest. There is a lot of talk in the forums on how a magnetic ballast will generate more par than a electronic one. As of right now I am running a 400DE on your 400mh electronic and have to feel that it runs the same par as the magnetic from the way things continue to grow, is this 400MH High Frequency burn the 400DE differently than the other electronic ballast, or just the same as the other electronic ballast it's just easier on the bulbs creating a longer life for them?

[ASH]

Our 120-volt 400-MH runs at over 100KHz. so its considered a super high frequency ballast. None of our MH electronic ballasts run like a conventional ballast. All of our ballast are very efficient and have excellent output per watt ratios.

The situations where MH bulbs produce more PAR on conventional ballasts usually are the result of the bulb being severely over-driven and therefore will shorten bulb life and alter the K of the bulb. The other possibility is the bulb is not made to the correct specifications and actually needs to be driven harder than the rated wattage on the bulb would indicate. We don't offer a custom ballast for bulbs that aren't made to industry specifications.

Andy

[Lo0seR]

Thank you for the reply Ash, now I wish that I had a good DE to go with it instead of the current over priced made in china Krystal Star bulb.

[poknsnok]

hi andy

chris just hooked me up with 2x250 hqi and 1x150 to retrofit my aquaspacelight. I dont know much about the whole retrofit procedure but i have an electrician do it.I notice the ballasts have a powercord. and in the previous posts i see reference to a heat sink and that the 150 requires one. did I get one??

Joe