Burnt out another MH, why?
 

Running two 250W 14k, DE Hamilton's in PFO mini-pendants powered by AQ2-250HQI-120V PFO dual ballast, 8 hours/day. Pendants are mounted in a enclosed hood vented by a 5 inch muffin fan ducted up from basement.

One bulb has been going for a year (happy anniversary to me, tank up a year on the 17th) but only got 6 months from other and now it's repacement's burnt out. Though not much of a trend, that's 2 bulbs that have only lasted 6 months. Should I be looking for a problem with the ballast or just bad luck?

i dont know. never heard of that. possibly overheating?

Damn, lost another one and this one after only running a month at 9hr/day. Beginning to think Hamilton's are crap.

Though the pendants are mounted in a hood, don't think temperature's a problem. I have a 5" muffin fan in the basement hooked up to some 3" duct blowing air through the hood. Been quite awhile since I took temp reading and don't remember exactly but I'm moving a lot of air and the exhaust temperature air wasn't that much above ambient.

Not that this helps you but the only lamp I've ever had that was a bona-fide "burnt out halide" was a 250W DE. And come to think of it, it was the Hamilton lamp that came in the Hamilton Reefstar pendent. The Ushio I replaced it with is still going strong (now a bit overdue for replacement actually, a tad over a year I think). I'll be replacing it with an Iwasaki 14k though, love the Iwasaki's, so want to see if the DE's are as good quality as their SE's.

I've had 2 premature burnt out hamilton's. One in about 8 months, the other in 2 months! Both DE 14k 250w. Both in a hamilton pendant fixture with a hamilton ballast. Too bad because they are nice bulbs for the money.

See at J&L the Iwasaki are backordered so wondering about the Ushio. How the colour, like the Hamiltons and not looking for anything to blue?

No, more of a whitish colour. I think it was bluer when it was new though (not overwhemingly so though - you'd still want actinics if you wanted a blue sheen, I would think).

I find with stuff backordered at J&L though it's very rarely too long to wait - at least the last 2 or 3 things I've inquired about, ended up being in stock a couple days later. Maybe fire off an email to them and ask..

Edit: failing that, I noticed premiumaquatics.com has them: http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...y_Code=mh-250w

I ran into the same issue. I ended up going with the aquaconnect 14k. The colour is very simmilar the the hamilton. Maybe slightly bluer, but not much. Overall, a nice bulb.

hey I have the reefstar pendents as well . I have to say Hamilton bulbs are crap. I went to 13.5 k geismann and then xm 10k. I am running who actinic blues and thought the xm were to white. i am now on phoenix 14 k bulbs 250w DE and will never use another bulb again. they are awesome. Even with my blue actinics my tank is a nice color with a hint of blue. Just awesome. Check out OA , Wendell recommended them to me about 3 months ago. They are fairly cheap aswell maybe 90 bucks??? cant remember check out the wedbsite. Later

Good luck

quick question when you install your bulbs do you wear gloves???Because the oil's on your fingers that you will put it on the bulb and it will cause a heat spot on the glass and cause premature burn out!!!