Metal Halide Ballast. Probe or Pulse start? - Aquarium Advice

pike · 01-15-2006, 09:38 PM

Could you explain the diff. between a probe start and pulse start [acronym:261eea3736="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym:261eea3736] ballast to me.
The reason I ask is because I just bought two [acronym:261eea3736="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym:261eea3736] 175w ballast Advance M57 retro kits. They are the same core and coil but one comes with an igniter/starter and the other does not.
If I just don't use the igniter will this make the ballast a probe or pulse start? What is the Diff.?

ccCapt · 01-15-2006, 11:35 PM

Kill the yellow font over a white background. Impossible to read.

But to answer your question, a pulse start uses the ingitor and the probe start does not. The M57 is a probe start and the M137 is pulse start.

Some bulbs will fire with either ballast, some like an Ushio need the M137.

Serge · 01-16-2006, 07:16 AM

A more technical explanation can be found at the link below. [acronym:00108c9501="Hope this helps (or) Happy to help"]HTH[/acronym:00108c9501]

http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/nlpi...ProbePulse.asp

pike · 01-16-2006, 09:44 AM

Thanks

01-15-2006, 09:38 PM	#1
pike Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Maine Posts: 48 Images: 4	Metal Halide Ballast. Probe or Pulse start? Could you explain the diff. between a probe start and pulse start [acronym:261eea3736="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym:261eea3736] ballast to me. The reason I ask is because I just bought two [acronym:261eea3736="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym:261eea3736] 175w ballast Advance M57 retro kits. They are the same core and coil but one comes with an igniter/starter and the other does not. If I just don't use the igniter will this make the ballast a probe or pulse start? What is the Diff.?

01-15-2006, 11:35 PM	#2
ccCapt SW 10 & Over Community Mentor Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Northeast PA Posts: 1,877 Images: 3	Kill the yellow font over a white background. Impossible to read. But to answer your question, a pulse start uses the ingitor and the probe start does not. The M57 is a probe start and the M137 is pulse start. Some bulbs will fire with either ballast, some like an Ushio need the M137. __________________ 125g reef See My Tank Info Check out The build project /Larry

01-16-2006, 07:16 AM	#3
Serge Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Rockland, Ontario Posts: 1,031 Images: 6	A more technical explanation can be found at the link below. [acronym:00108c9501="Hope this helps (or) Happy to help"]HTH[/acronym:00108c9501] http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/nlpi...ProbePulse.asp __________________ Serge Vote Here for Aquarium Advice QT: 12 gal, 6 lbs. LR. Main tank: 125 gal. 135 LBS of LR (Fiji and Tonga), 200 lbs of sand. - Always a work in progress.

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01-16-2006, 09:44 AM	#4
pike Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Maine Posts: 48 Images: 4	Thanks