Lighting question: MH ballast and sockets - Aquarium Advice

meathead · 03-22-2008, 11:14 PM

I have been wondering if this was possible but could not find any information to tell me if it would work or not, can anyone help me out. I have a 250 Watt MH ballast kit consisting of a transformer, capacitor, and mogul socket.

I have used thes kits before and the work perfect, my question is could I buy a double ended socket kit and a 250 Watt HQI bulb and just swap it out with the mogul socket? Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks.

sw-addict · 03-23-2008, 05:49 AM

I know that it works in reverse, you know had a 250watt hqi system bulb holder broke switched with mogul socket (thats all that was available localy) and it worked fine. of course I switched back as soon as I ordered the new part. but I dont see why it wouldn't work the other way around.

cccapt · 03-23-2008, 08:15 AM

I don't think you can fire a HQI DE bulb with a magnetic ballast. Any reason in particular you want to use DE instead of SE bulbs?

meathead · 03-23-2008, 11:33 AM

I was thinking about doing away with my canopy and going with two 250 watt DE pendants.

Since the canopy I have now was a DIY, I have a custom made ballast box with both transformers, capacitors, and cooling fans already made, i was wondering if i could just purchase the two pendants and wire them up to the existing ballast box.

Again any and all help is greatly appreciated.

**Ziggy953** · 03-27-2008, 01:25 AM

You could always do single ended pendants instead of the DE. As far as I know you have to have an HQI ballast to fire DE bulbs. HQI ballast will fire both single ended and DE, but I don't think it works the other way around.

I would check with the manufacturer of your ballast and see if it will fire HQI DE bulbs. What kind of ballast is it?

03-22-2008, 11:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
meathead Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 2	Lighting question: MH ballast and sockets I have been wondering if this was possible but could not find any information to tell me if it would work or not, can anyone help me out. I have a 250 Watt MH ballast kit consisting of a transformer, capacitor, and mogul socket. I have used thes kits before and the work perfect, my question is could I buy a double ended socket kit and a 250 Watt HQI bulb and just swap it out with the mogul socket? Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks.

03-23-2008, 08:15 AM	#3 (permalink)
cccapt SW 10 & Over Community Mentor Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Northeast PA Posts: 1,237 Images: 2	I don't think you can fire a HQI DE bulb with a magnetic ballast. Any reason in particular you want to use DE instead of SE bulbs? __________________ 125g reef See My Tank Info Check out The build project

03-27-2008, 01:25 AM	#5 (permalink)
Ziggy953 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Sumerduck, Virginia Posts: 2,868 Images: 5	You could always do single ended pendants instead of the DE. As far as I know you have to have an HQI ballast to fire DE bulbs. HQI ballast will fire both single ended and DE, but I don't think it works the other way around. I would check with the manufacturer of your ballast and see if it will fire HQI DE bulbs. What kind of ballast is it? __________________ Happy Reefing! *NEW 150G Pick up 6/29/08 Build will be 4th of July weekend* Visit our Article section for answers on a variety of topics. LFS, PWC, PH RO/DI what in the world? Look here! Pods, algae and more!

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03-23-2008, 05:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
sw-addict Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 188 Images: 2	I know that it works in reverse, you know had a 250watt hqi system bulb holder broke switched with mogul socket (thats all that was available localy) and it worked fine. of course I switched back as soon as I ordered the new part. but I dont see why it wouldn't work the other way around.

03-23-2008, 11:33 AM	#4 (permalink)
meathead Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 2	I was thinking about doing away with my canopy and going with two 250 watt DE pendants. Since the canopy I have now was a DIY, I have a custom made ballast box with both transformers, capacitors, and cooling fans already made, i was wondering if i could just purchase the two pendants and wire them up to the existing ballast box. Again any and all help is greatly appreciated.