MH bulb orientation

[tarponjim]

I was on the phone with Hamilton today and mentioned the bulb orientation - meaning that I've always heard that you want to have the filiments (wires in the bulb) at a 90 deg angle to the water surface if your bulbs are horizontal. Their tech guy says he never heard of it. That's what I've always been told. Anyone agree or disagree???
Thanks, Jim.

 

[Adam1]

Jim,

MH lamps are supposed to be labeled as follows: BU, BD, BUD, BH.

They stand for Base up, base down, base up or down, or base horizontal. There is also a base universal, but I don't remember the letters.

Anyway, the lamp will burn most efficiently in the position it is designed for. A lamp may still function if it is burned in the incorrect orientation, but the output, color and life of the lamp may all be affected.

FWIW, most aquarium lamps are supposedly universal burn position. I do know that Iwasaki color ace do have specific burn positions. I had to send some back because they were BUD and I needed BH.

HTH

Adam

 

[tarponjim]

Thanks. I looked at the bulbs. They say Hamilton 175w/U 1000k German. HHmmm? I would think Hamilton would know their stuff but the first person I talked to didn't have a clue as to what I was asking about and had to get some guy who said he never heard of it. This was Hamilton's tech support people. They also claim the bulbs hold their spectrum for 14 months. I know that can't be true.