Who is using XM Bulbs?

[Chaotic Cricket]

Originally Posted by WWWD

XM15's are horrific! You will actually get better par out of the XM20's!! The XM10'k are rock solid but do need some actinic suplimentation.

What kind of ballast did you fire them with?

[Chin_Lee]

According to Sanjay's site,
15 K bulbs:
- on 400W XM 15K SE on PFO HQI ballasts gives a PAR of 114.
- on the 250W XM 15K SE on PFO HQI ballast gives a PAR of 80.

Compared to 20K bulbs:
- on the 400W XM 20K SE, you will get the best PAR of 128 with a probe start Magnatek M59 ballast.
- on the 250W XM 20K SE, you get the best PAR of 79 with a PFO HQI ballast.

Mind you - many of these PAR values are about half of what the 10K bulbs will give with similar ballasts

[whaase]

Man, I was really hoping not to have to add more lights for actinic.. I'll really have to think this one over...

Thanks!

[WWWD]

Originally Posted by Chaotic Cricket

What kind of ballast did you fire them with?

We ran 175's and 250's on magnetic 59 ballasts. Inside of 4 months most of the LPS were so starved for light they were starting to heavily recede. Switched back to 10ks and all was good.

[BMW Rider]

Originally Posted by Chaotic Cricket

What kind of ballast did you fire them with?

I'm using Icecap ballasts.