Timers?
 

Venki,
Why no timers? how are you turning your bulbs on and off? I am using a heavy duty timer for both bulbs, and I have great color (bright white).


Al

Re: Timers?
 

me too...

I personally find that with timmers, they are crap unless you spend at least $40+ on each one, they have problems delivering power cleanly...
I have tried literaly about 30+ brands and models of timers.... the only kind I buy now are always over $50 each, I havent had a problem since!

So are you saying that the bulb's may burn diffrently with or without a timer? :confused: Never heard that one before

a timer, or any other device put inline between the power source and ballast will act as a resistor and lower the amount of power going to your bulb, so yes it could make the bulb burn irregular... the larger the gauge of wire, and better quality the connections are of any device put inline between your equipment and power source, the less power will be loss due to resistance...
ever pluged a power tool into an extention cord that was really long, sometimes the tool wont work properly, and may even throw the breaker
power works best with the least amount of resistance, thats whay some ballasts say the max length the power cord to the socket can be, because even the cord has resistance...

well, I have heavy duty appliance timers, that, with taxes, cost very close to $50.

so far, I have had no problems at all.

Just tagging along to see what comes out of that point.

Well guys I guess I will chime in on this thread. About a month ago I purchased 2 175w 10k bulbs from Venki. I was very happy when I fired my first bulb up, it was very blue compared to my 10k Ushio. I was so happy I posted pictures of it right away. Two days later I hooked up my other ballast and fired up the other bulb. To my surprise it appeared the color of about a 6500k bulb. I waited about a week hoping it would burn in. After a week the two 10k's were completely different colors (about a 6500k and 14k). I was told by Venki to ship the bulbs back to him and he would test them. After about 3-4 week of testing the verdict was my ballasts were the cause of the bulbs not firing correctly. These were the same ballasts that Venki told me were the best ballasts for these bulbs (about 2 days before i bought the bulbs). In the 3-4 weeks Venki was testing my bulbs I was following threads on reef central about the same problem other people were having. It seemed to be a common problem with the 175w 10k's. They would either burn really yellow or really blue. Venkie told me the only thing he could do was refund my money and that in the future he would put warnings that the bulbs did always work on tar ballasts.......I though a little late! After he already told me they did. So I ended up with my refund alright......... "I refund your account 2 X 42 = 84 less 20% restocking fee = 67.2 total including tax = 71.90 in the next couple of days." Quote from email...... but that didn’t cover my $15 shipping charge x2. (Since I had to pay for the return shipping)

So in the end I end up with no bulbs and $47 in the whole. This is exactly why my parents tell my not to buy things on the Internet!!!!!!!!!

I apologize for the novel

Last time I bought a bulb off the Internet and wasn't happy with it, the supplier gave me new one, no (hardly any) questions asked. I got a new bulb that did work fine and I was $0 in the hole. I buy lots off the Internet, and I've never had a problem.
Restocking for defective product seems a bit odd, no? Maybe it's just me :rolleyes:

Ok enuf of this bunk. hell we better take our breakers out and directly wire them to the utility source..

I can't believe you actiualy posted this Kyle..... any timer that is rated for the amprage required for the bulb will not restrict the power to the bulb (unless it is in its off cycle :rolleyes: ) you know I even went and measured my draw through the timer last night because even though I knew the timer excuse was junk I thought I might give you the benifit of the doubt.

If you think about it even if it was a little bit of a resistive load it would only increase the total amount of power you consume. a 15 amp timer is not going to restrict a 5 amp load they are simpacly a switch, like a light switch, which when made has a 0 ohm load (I tested 4 different types of timers for this last night including the old 5.00 dial ones) so anyone who is blaming the color of a bulb on the timer better find a new excuse.

Steve