ATI Powermodule ~~ Now with pictures over tank!! ~~

[Oceanic]

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

what were you running befor that you think you are going to notice a savings? 10 bulbs at 54 watts each is 540 watts plus a bit for the ballast I would say you are up around 555watts. My 250 watt HQIs used about 680 watts so the differance there is only about a few bucks a month if they are run the same amount of time. the overall heat output will be slightly lower but 540 watts of light is still a ton of heat. not as much point source but almost as much radiating into the room.

Steve

My old ballast was a dual 250W HQI M80 type ballast that was a full 9 amps + two 54W T5's = 608 watts of pure heat. The new Powermodule is 5 amps with 540 watts, the heat must be at least 50% less.

My tank now stays a full 2 degrees cooler than before and my heater in on more often. The room itself is way cooler and the cooling fan almost never comes on. Not to mention the chiller will almost never come on now unless it is 35 degrees outside.

I am not sure what the power savings will be but I am sure I will see some. I am actually not too worried about the savings, I am just so happy about the way the tanks looks and the fact it does not bake the room.

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by Oceanic

608 watts of pure heat. The new Powermodule is 5 amps with 540 watts, the heat must be at least 50% less.

.

ok 600 watts of light = 600 watts of heat weather it is MH or CF, or T5, ect.. light is energy and when it stops being light it turnes into heat so you in reality only lowered your heat to the room by 9.5% the difference is the MH is more intense and burns at a hoter temp so it will heat local things more, but the exact same wattage of heat is put out nomater what kind of bulb if the power usage is the same.

now what counts is you like them and are happy with them, I just dont want people to be misinformed by advertising hype that says 600watts of T5's is going to put out less heat to the room or use less energy than 600 watts of MH, or CF, ect.

Steve

[Oceanic]

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

ok 600 watts of light = 600 watts of heat weather it is MH or CF, or T5, ect.. light is energy and when it stops being light it turnes into heat so you in reality only lowered your heat to the room by 9.5% the difference is the MH is more intense and burns at a hoter temp so it will heat local things more, but the exact same wattage of heat is put out nomater what kind of bulb if the power usage is the same.

now what counts is you like them and are happy with them, I just dont want people to be misinformed by advertising hype that says 600watts of T5's is going to put out less heat to the room or use less energy than 600 watts of MH, or CF, ect.

Steve

Yeah true enough, I am not aware of any such advertising hype on less heat unless you are refering to my observation. I beleive you are correct about the wattage and heat calculation; however, the fixture is cool to the touch, I don't have a big metal ballast that I could cook an egg on, and my chiller has not come on once. My power savings are coming from less use of the chiller and or cooling fans controlled by my reefkeeper. The ballast for the powermodule only draws 5 amps instead of 9 for the hqi ballast.

Yes i am happy with the lights, yes they are cooler for my tank an room.

[staceyd72]

Congrats on the Powermodule, these are amazing fixtures.
I have the 10 x 80w. I got mine last March from Reefgeek, this was the first 10x80 PM in Canada, I was on the waiting list for three months. Yes, bulbs are expensive, I just received 13 new tubes from reefgeek for $400. I can't find any 80W bulbs in Canada
I have mine set up on a sliding rail, so that it slides back into my fish room, I found this works best as I usually have to fix corals or move something every few days.

You should also raise it for the first month or so to assimilate your corals to the new type of light, as T5's evenly distribute light unlike metal halides, your corals may start to bleach from the new light.

Another idea is to run your fan speed higher instead of 4 switch it to 7 or 7.5(can't remember the exact number off hand). This will help your bulbs run a little cooler. I also have a small fan blowing across the unit's fans.

[Oceanic]

Originally Posted by staceyd72

Congrats on the Powermodule, these are amazing fixtures.
I have the 10 x 80w. I got mine last March from Reefgeek, this was the first 10x80 PM in Canada, I was on the waiting list for three months. Yes, bulbs are expensive, I just received 13 new tubes from reefgeek for $400. I can't find any 80W bulbs in Canada
I have mine set up on a sliding rail, so that it slides back into my fish room, I found this works best as I usually have to fix corals or move something every few days.

You should also raise it for the first month or so to assimilate your corals to the new type of light, as T5's evenly distribute light unlike metal halides, your corals may start to bleach from the new light.

Another idea is to run your fan speed higher instead of 4 switch it to 7 or 7.5(can't remember the exact number off hand). This will help your bulbs run a little cooler. I also have a small fan blowing across the unit's fans.

Good advice, I love my lights! I wish I had room for a slider, much easier than the cable suspension wires. I just raise the unit up to clean it.

[lastlight]

Originally Posted by Oceanic

I wish I had room for a slider, much easier than the cable suspension wires. I just raise the unit up to clean it.

You need to head back to my build thread lol. Winch that badboy up =)

[shrimpchips]

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

ok 600 watts of light = 600 watts of heat weather it is MH or CF, or T5, ect.. light is energy and when it stops being light it turnes into heat so you in reality only lowered your heat to the room by 9.5% the difference is the MH is more intense and burns at a hoter temp so it will heat local things more, but the exact same wattage of heat is put out nomater what kind of bulb if the power usage is the same.

now what counts is you like them and are happy with them, I just dont want people to be misinformed by advertising hype that says 600watts of T5's is going to put out less heat to the room or use less energy than 600 watts of MH, or CF, ect.

Steve

Actually, the big issue is efficiency - MH ballasts and bulbs aren't as effieicent as flourescent ballasts and tubes, so for the same amount of energy they consume, more of it is turned into visible/useable light by the T5 ballast/bulbs. The MH ballast/bulb might consume the same 600 watts, but less of it becomes visible light and more of it is radiated directly as heat.

That powermodule sure is sexy though. Wish I had the funds for one, but I think I'll be going with it's more angular, slightly less attractive cousin, the Sunpower