Ballast for Radium 250w
- Thread starter 6t74two7
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rc1626
Active Member
Not sure this is happening. They've reduced the number of Metal Halide reflector options recently as well. I thought the m80 ballast removal was pandemic related but according to Hamilton they could no longer source the parts (assuming transformers). I use both led technology with the Phillips Coral Care and MH with 250 watt Radiums. I prefer the Radiums all the way but have to say I am concerned long term for MH survival in this niche.
Koigula
Active Member
I spent an hour sourcing parts for the M80 and it uses a very specific Advanced transformer no longer available. It is something like 3. 0 amp from 110 v. There is an article on Boston Reefers showing all M80 parts previously sold as a kit from Hello lights.
Radium 400w with the Icecap ballast is still readily available. 250 W radium bulb is also an option with Icecap. I think the 400 watt solutions will be around longer as the ballasts are more commercially common.
I am ok for 3 or 4 years and radiums are still made. Rumors of them discontinuing are 10 years old.
rc1626
Active Member
I don't think Radiums are going anywhere soon. There has been a sure sign of a downshift in aquarium MH tech. in the US over the past few years though and not sure it's ever coming back. My fingers are crossed that I'm wrong.
Koigula
Active Member
Some simple hammertone reflectors are hard to come by. Hamilton seems to be at mercy of importers not delivering.
Having LEDs I really do appreciate the modularity of halides. Nothing is a critical failure and a throw away after 5 years of use. Probably not a popular opinion but radium 400 is tought to beat. I think it is really just a 10K with less white,
Having LEDs I really do appreciate the modularity of halides. Nothing is a critical failure and a throw away after 5 years of use. Probably not a popular opinion but radium 400 is tought to beat. I think it is really just a 10K with less white,
Aquarium Specialty shows the M80’s in stock.? Have they not updated their website this whole year?
Koigula
Active Member
Ill take a look. They are not know for keeping things updated but maybe...
I just sourced selectable electronic ballast. I am of opinion Aquarium Specialty will not really have it available but good luck. It has a limiting part you could make yourself but too much trouble I think.
I just sourced selectable electronic ballast. I am of opinion Aquarium Specialty will not really have it available but good luck. It has a limiting part you could make yourself but too much trouble I think.
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YOYOYOReefer
Valuable Member
ive got several dual 400 watt pfo ballasts,, i think radium changed thier bulb design the newer bulbs dont last very long when being overdriven
Koigula
Active Member
I ended up with this on over drive wired to a Reefbrite pendant. About only solution left besides a Geisseman special order of the spectra light. I suspect 250 watts and lower are impossible to get as they are no longer a commercial size.
https://www.coralvue.com/icecap-250w-selectable-wattage-electronic-ballast
https://www.coralvue.com/icecap-250w-selectable-wattage-electronic-ballast
It's been about 15 years or more since I've run radiums, but I found some old research that I'd done on another forum. I'm not sure if PaulErik is still around, but on the old RC, he was one of the OG lighting gurus. Here's what he had to say:
A North American 250-watt HPS (ANSI S50) is similar to a metal halide HQI (ANSI M80) Ballast. Both ballasts limit lamp current to the same level (3.0 amps). The main difference is the starting voltage and starting amperage. The difference is generally close enough to not cause any major problems. The only problem could be reliable lamp starting. After start up both ANSI S50 and ANSI M80 ballasts will operate a lamp similarly. Higher voltage lamp starters are available but are not common. In the commercial industry we have installed ANSI M80 spec lamps in HPS fixtures but we replaced the lamp starter/ignitor with a high voltage (4000-5000V) superimposed ignitor. The lamps did light with standard HPS ignitor but when lamps age they require a higher starting voltage to light reliably. In the commercial lighting field the lamps will be used for a longer time period than in the aquarium lighting field so this might not be a problem.
I used an S50 ballast to push my radiums and never had a problem firing them off. And I don't recall that longevity was compromised either. ymmv
Edit: eesh! Didn't realize I replied to a very old thread. Apologies.
A North American 250-watt HPS (ANSI S50) is similar to a metal halide HQI (ANSI M80) Ballast. Both ballasts limit lamp current to the same level (3.0 amps). The main difference is the starting voltage and starting amperage. The difference is generally close enough to not cause any major problems. The only problem could be reliable lamp starting. After start up both ANSI S50 and ANSI M80 ballasts will operate a lamp similarly. Higher voltage lamp starters are available but are not common. In the commercial industry we have installed ANSI M80 spec lamps in HPS fixtures but we replaced the lamp starter/ignitor with a high voltage (4000-5000V) superimposed ignitor. The lamps did light with standard HPS ignitor but when lamps age they require a higher starting voltage to light reliably. In the commercial lighting field the lamps will be used for a longer time period than in the aquarium lighting field so this might not be a problem.
I used an S50 ballast to push my radiums and never had a problem firing them off. And I don't recall that longevity was compromised either. ymmv
Edit: eesh! Didn't realize I replied to a very old thread. Apologies.
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