Insides of a bluewave ballast?

[Delphinus]

I thought that Perry was somewhat secretive as to whether it really was a M135 or a M155 or a M131 (or an EIEIO for that matter). For example you can't crack those cases open without voiding the warrantee. But maybe I'm wrong about it being a "secret", I just stumbed upon this thread where he mentions in passing that the M135 is the best domestic ballast for the Radium ....

http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...threadid=93807

So ... um I guess that does answer my question (I think it answers Canadian_Man's as well )

I didn't really want to call Perry and ask him that ... um .. hey can you tell me what's in your ballast, so that I don't have to buy it from you? Great way to start off in a good "light".

Thank you much for the info (for me this is academic I have no cash to switch over my lighting today, but maybe down the road I'll jump on this Radium bandwagon).

[Aquattro]

Tony, there is no secret at all. Here is a note from Perry about radium ballasts.

"Many people do in fact use the SON AGRO ballast for this lamp. It lights because it has an ignitor, being that it is a HPS ballast. There are some problems with this configuration. 1) it shortens lamp life. 2)It causes severe spectral shift in 5-8 months 3) radium says that overdriving the lamp by this much can actually cause the lamp to blow up (I wouldn't worry about that, I've never seen/heard of it happening before).

The fact is that the SON AGRO puts about 70 more watts through the lamp than should be. The Radium lamp is an 'energy saver' and is rated at 360watts. Radium Has said it will not warrant the lamp for the above stated reasons.

The m59 does burn more blue, and the firing is not always consistent.

What radium has told us to use is the m135 ballast. Its a 400w pulse start MH ballast. It does burn more blue than the HPS, but less so than the M59. So far it looks like burning with this ballast will add about 2-3 months to usable lamps life (this is just per a source, and should be verified).

We don't sell the SON AGRO for aquarium use because it is misleading, and has a higher inherent risk. The pulse start is the ballast we use for 400w pulse start lamps.

Regards,

Perry
"

[StirCrazy]

what should also be mentioned, is that PFO claims almost the same thing about the son agro ballast, so all this is one companies truth against the others.

so wha we have is to companies both saying that radium said there ballast is the best.. see why it have been trying to figure out lighting for so long

Steve

[Jayson]

Here is the deal on the Bluewave ballasts: They come with the recommended ballast for the Radium bulb. I can also get you a dual or single Blue Wave ballast with the Son Agro ballast. As the above posts states this is not the ballast recommended for the Radium and Radium will not warrenty the bulb when used on this ballast. If you have more questions I will try to answer them for you. Thanks

[Aquattro]

Jayson is of course correct. Perry has stated that the SA is available in their cases, but the are not recommended for the Radiums. PFO has also recently offered a M135 pulse start, which is their recommended ballast for the Radium.
The SA is used regardless as it gives a whiter look that many people, myself included, prefer. I am aware that bulb life may be shortened. I accept this as a cost of my hobby. I have seen the radiums on M135 Bluewave ballasts and don't like them. I heard the real correct ballast is a S51 HPS, although I have no idea what that looks like.
I'm not sure if PFO is still recommending the SA since offering the pulse start. Maybe someone else knows?

[Jayson]

PFO is now recommending the pulse start ballast after they have had alot of complaints about broken bulbs and premature failure of the lamps. Now you have 2 major manufacters recommending the pulse start ballasts. I think the choice should be clear. Just my opinion.

[Aquattro]

From PFO's site. (HQI for PFO is the SA)

Pulse Start or HQI style Ballast?

The standard ballast has a transformer and capacitor in the circuit. The HQI ballast has a transformer, capacitor, and an igniter in the circuit. The pulse start has a transformer, capacitor, and an igniter in the circuit.



The European lamps work best with an igniter in the circuit.(Ushio, AB, Radium). The HQI ballast generally simulates the European ballast closer than the pulse start ballast does. However, the pulse start ballast is a lot less expensive than the HQI ballast. If you are on a budget and want the European lamps than get a pulse start ballast to ensure these lamps will fire. However, the light output will probably be reduced.



As a general rule we do not recommend the pulse start ballast on European bulbs. If you are trying to make a decision on running a European lamp on a standard ballast or a pulse start ballast, choose the pulse start ballast.

[Aquattro]

Jayson, question if I may. I have seen the Radiums running on a Blueline E-ballast and the color is very close to the color when running on a SA ballast. Do you have any ideas why this is? Is the e-ballast overdriving the bulbs also? Just curious.

[Canadian Man]

Awsome Info To All! My mind is spinning.
So could one also get a PFO ballast from J/L for example, BUT can you get a pfo ballast from j/l with a m135 ballast in it?
That's my new question.

[Aquattro]

Jon, I believe you can. I sent Pat, the owner of PFO, an email this evening to see if he can clarify all of this. I'm fairly certain that if they have the PS ballast, it is a M135. Jayson indicates that they do in fact offer this option, and I imagine Jayson would know better than most people here.