Ice Cap 430 - How many T5's?

[RedEyeReef]

How many T5's can I run off my Ice Cap 430? right now I have 2 -39" T5's. Can I add two more?

How many:

24" bulbs?
36" bulbs?
48" bulbs?
60" bulbs?

I love my T5's on Ice Caps and want to add more.

[IceCap Service]

Maximum of 2 T-5 lamps on a model 430. A 660 will run 3 of the 80 watt T-5 lamps or 4 of the 54 watt T-5 lamps.

[ASH]

We have found for most applications the Model 430 will do up to two of any T-5 HO lamps available, up to the 80-watt 58" lamps. We had tried three 36" lamps and the ballast can not start the lamp load.

As you know, don't be fooled by the wattage # on the lamp. We have not tried running three 24" lamps but I think it would work.

Andy

[RedEyeReef]

So to be safe it sounds like I need to buy another Ice Cap ballast, 430 or 660 to run more T5's.

How about this, can I run 2 - 48" Actinic VHO and 2 48" T5 Blue Plus bulbs of one 660?

I hear the T5 actinic is not near as good as the VHO, but T5's last 3 - 4 times longer.

[ASH]

"How about this, can I run 2 - 48" Actinic VHO and 2 48" T5 Blue Plus bulbs of one 660?"

You can run all four lamps off of one Model 660. Use your heatsink.

"I hear the T5 actinic is not near as good as the VHO, but T5's last 3 - 4 times longer."

I don't know how long a T-5 HO Blue + or Actinic + will run on our VHO ballasts but a URI VHO super actinic will run more than 2 years. You may get more light where you want it with the T-5 HO and a SLR but the VHO will run many years and still provide lots of light.
If you don't overdrive the T-5 HO it may last 3 or 4 years but I haven't heard that claim yet.

Andy

[RedEyeReef]

Originally posted by ASH
"How about this, can I run 2 - 48" Actinic VHO and 2 48" T5 Blue Plus bulbs of one 660?"

You can run all four lamps off of one Model 660. Use your heatsink.

"I hear the T5 actinic is not near as good as the VHO, but T5's last 3 - 4 times longer."

I don't know how long a T-5 HO Blue + or Actinic + will run on our VHO ballasts but a URI VHO super actinic will run more than 2 years. You may get more light where you want it with the T-5 HO and a SLR but the VHO will run many years and still provide lots of light.
If you don't overdrive the T-5 HO it may last 3 or 4 years but I haven't heard that claim yet.

Andy

Thanks for the reply. That is great I can run T5's and VHO off the same 660 at the same time.

I thought URI VHO Actinics need to be replaced every 6-8 months because of their loss of intensity?

[ASH]

Conventional billboard ballasts could deplete a VHO lamp by 30% in 6 months. Things have changed since then.
People selling lamps often 'forget' that fact.

Andy

[RedEyeReef]

Originally posted by ASH
Conventional billboard ballasts could deplete a VHO lamp by 30% in 6 months. Things have changed since then.
People selling lamps often 'forget' that fact.

Andy

Imagine that,

Thanks Andy.

[ctxmonitor]

Originally posted by ASH
We have found for most applications the Model 430 will do up to two of any T-5 HO lamps available, up to the 80-watt 58" lamps. We had tried three 36" lamps and the ballast can not start the lamp load.

As you know, don't be fooled by the wattage # on the lamp. We have not tried running three 24" lamps but I think it would work.

Andy

So Ash, you saying that I can not run a IC430 with 2 T-5 48" bulb that is 96 watt, right?

But I could run 2 48" 54 watt lamp.. Is that correct?

[IceCap Service]

We have found for most applications the Model 430 will do up to two of any T-5 HO lamps available, up to the 80-watt 58" lamps.
The 430 will run 2 of the T-5 lamps. The 48 inch T-5's are 54 watts and the 60 inch lamps are 80 watts.

[ctxmonitor]

Oh, thanks IceCap for the reply. I'm new and I thought there were 96 watt T-5 lamp... Thanks for clearing that up..

[RedEyeReef]

Will the 660 run 4 - 60" T5's?

[IceCap Service]

The max load for the 660 is 3 X 80 watt T-5's or 4 X 54 watt T-5's.

[ctxmonitor]

If I get a IC 660 and only use 2 x 54 watt T-5's is there any detriment?

[IceCap Service]

If using under the max there is no drtriment what so ever.

[ctxmonitor]

thanks, got it.

[RedEyeReef]

Originally posted by IceCap Service
The max load for the 660 is 3 X 80 watt T-5's or 4 X 54 watt T-5's.

OK, I think I read in a thread somewhere that a 430 will run 2 - 60" 80 watt T5's... Right?

[ctxmonitor]

Originally posted by IceCap Service
We have found for most applications the Model 430 will do up to two of any T-5 HO lamps available, up to the 80-watt 58" lamps.
The 430 will run 2 of the T-5 lamps. The 48 inch T-5's are 54 watts and the 60 inch lamps are 80 watts.

RedEyeReef, yea IceCap Service said it in this post that it will run 2 T-5 lamps which are 60 inch long.

[RedEyeReef]

Thanks ctxmonitor,

To many different threads...

[ctreefer]

Hi have you done any tests yet on the 430 with 3 t4 24" bulbs? If so do you know how much they were overdriven by?

thanks

[ctreefer]

sorry, that should have been t5 bulbs

[ASH]

We tried and failed to light 3 X 39-watt T-5 HO lamps.
We haven't tried 3 X 24-watt T-5 HO lamps on a Model 430. It would be on the edge if it worked and ok with proper heat sinking, if it lights.

Andy