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View Full Version : help me mod this light!

fload
11/06/2006, 03:16 AM
ok i want to get more light out of this coralife set up i got... http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=ES53506
i read online about this dude who swapped out ballast's in his and now is running 400W instead of 150W i would like to do the same with your ballast would this be possible? would it need a new socket? its the double ended bulb style... he made it sound like he just got a 400w ballast and plugged it right in... the lights have the quick connect things going to the ballasts... i just dont want to buy a ballast and then have it not work,

would you suggest this ballast?
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=IC3181
ASH
11/06/2006, 02:49 PM
fload - The 'dude' that just swapped out ballasts is likely looking for a new home as his is toast. The fixture you bought combines what's wrong with most 'does everything' fixtures on the market.

It uses PC lamps, which is strike one in my book as they produce a lot of light, just not light that makes it into your tank. Lamps likely will not last a year. I see it has a fan, but what is cooled by it?

It combines MH and fluorescent lamps in the same hood and doesn't isolate the MH heat from the fluorescent lamps. MH thrives on heat, fluorescent lamps produce less light and a shorter lamp life when cooked.

It would be a leap of faith to think Coralife overbuilt their fixture to stand up to over 2.5+ times the heat and voltage it was made for. There isn't a 400-watt DE that would squeeze in that space or fit those lamp holders. Even if there was, and that's a big IF, the heat from the MH lamp would melt the entire fixture. The LEDs would die from the heat and the PC would hopefully fail before catching fire. A do everything Coralife fixture running 492 watts plus what the ballasts and fan draw can't be over-driven to 992-watt without being a hazard.

I'd check on the thread that suggested this and ask, How's their fixture doing?

Suggestion on getting more out of it, switch the PC lamps to 6.5K and do likewise on the DE 150-MH bulbs. If the ballasts aren't electronic, which is likely the case, switch to electronic especially for the MH as the lamp life will jump to 2+ years.

Andy