14K phoenix bulbs

lastlight · #1 05-22-2011, 03:13 AM

4.8 for two? Doesn't sound like M80? The 3.3 sounds bang on.

viperfish · #2 05-22-2011, 03:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lastlight

4.8 for two? Doesn't sound like M80? The 3.3 sounds bang on.

It certainly is. It's the Aqua Medic M ballast, made by Tridonic in Germany for Aqua Medic.

lastlight · #3 05-22-2011, 03:47 AM

Is it somehow more efficient? you'd think it'd be closer to 2 x 3.3?

viperfish · #4 05-22-2011, 04:55 AM

That would put the wattage at 396 watts, I've read a Phoenix 14K on an M80 should be around 310 watts. All I'm saying is what I read on the Apex.

whatcaneyedo · #5 05-22-2011, 04:58 AM

I just did the same thing with my dual ballast. I shut everything else off to see what it was drawing and I got 6.2 amps. I always thought ballasts would be more consistent. Maybe this topic deserves its own thread?

viperfish · #6 05-22-2011, 05:02 AM

Very interesting. I have another controller, maybe tomorrow I'll test it out and see what it reads.

lastlight · #7 05-22-2011, 06:45 AM

It's a 4-year old thread I don't see the harm lol...

viperfish · #8 05-22-2011, 02:51 PM

True, it is old but the amazing thing is there is not a whole bunch of discussions around it online. Sanjay Joshi seems to be the only one that has done any extensive research, he has published some really good articles. If you check other forums, there is mention of it but they don't go anywhere. I guess it's not as cool as the new LED trend, but overdriving MH bulbs with magnetic ballasts is interesting nonetheless.