The wonderful world of T5

[kgross]

Does your TEK light overdrive the lamps? From what I understand one of the big selling points of the PM is that it does NOT OD the lamps.

All that being said the word on the street is that it produces 25% more PAR at 24" than an equally lamped TEK. Its supposed to be a combination of ballasts and better reflectors.

The TEKs are nice, and the price is certainly MUCH better, but I certainly don't want to have to upgrade to a better fixture 6 months down the road

B

If the PM does not overdrive the lamps, and the tek does as you seem to claim, the reflectors would have to be more than 25% better in the PM than in the tek, which I don't think is possible, the Tek reflectors compare to the SLR reflectors, which most people say are the best. So either the PM is overdriving the bulbs, or the 25% number is not correct. But purchase what you want, just don't complain when people try to give first hand information in a public thread.

 

[Ben1]

I think I have a good idea now on why RDO is pretty dead.

Care to share?

FWIW I had to replace one of my ballast in my TEK unit and it was an advanced rapic start 2 x 39 watt T5 HO ballast. I bought the replacement on line and did it for $39. So as far as the overdriving, I dont know but seems like standard HO electronic ballast. I know Ice Cap ballast are supposed to run the 54 watt 4' bulbs at 84 watts or so. This of course means they need more cooling.

 

[Concrete]

Grim Reefer tested both fixtures: PM & Tek-
The ATI Powermodule had 50% more PAR than the Tek.

Comparing a Tek to a PM is like comparing a Ford Escort to a Porsche GT2

The +'s of a PM
*Active/Ducted Cooling (Air is pulled in through the sides, over the endcaps, through holes right over the ec's, & finally the hot air is removed
by the fans)
*98% reflective Silver coated reflectors
*Does not OD the bulbs, uses a T5 Spec ballast
*Sleek Aluminum fixture with a quality hanging kit
*The Best T5 fixture on the market right now, period.

 

[SnowManSnow]

I am very sorry that I tried to answer in this thread. I have on the fixtures talked about, but I guess that does not matter. Now the tek does not overdrive (mine is pulling 219 watts according to my kill a watt, but my voltage is low 99 to 101 volts currently).

I think I have a good idea now on why RDO is pretty dead.

Kim

What are you talking about? Did I offend you in some way?

I was just saying that the GENERAL concensus is that the TEK isn't as good of a light as the ATI.

From now on I'll take you you state as absolute truth without any question of your authority
Even though the study posted by Grim says that the ATI had 50% more PAR than the superior TEK light.

Love you!

B

 

[SnowManSnow]

Grim Reefer tested both fixtures: PM & Tek-
The ATI Powermodule had 50% more PAR than the Tek.

Comparing a Tek to a PM is like comparing a Ford Escort to a Porsche GT2

The +'s of a PM
*Active/Ducted Cooling (Air is pulled in through the sides, over the endcaps, through holes right over the ec's, & finally the hot air is removed
by the fans)
*98% reflective Silver coated reflectors
*Does not OD the bulbs, uses a T5 Spec ballast
*Sleek Aluminum fixture with a quality hanging kit
*The Best T5 fixture on the market right now, period.

it is amazing that the PM would pull so much more PAR. I'm still trying to figure out exactly WHY it is so much more effecient than the TEK is. About the only difference that I can see.. just from looking quickly at the 2... is the active cooling.

Are the reflectors THAT much better? I mean.. pardon my ignorance.. but once you light the lamps and reflect the light down.. what else is there?

B

 

[SnowManSnow]

I think I have a good idea now on why RDO is pretty dead.

Care to share?

FWIW I had to replace one of my ballast in my TEK unit and it was an advanced rapic start 2 x 39 watt T5 HO ballast. I bought the replacement on line and did it for $39. So as far as the overdriving, I dont know but seems like standard HO electronic ballast. I know Ice Cap ballast are supposed to run the 54 watt 4' bulbs at 84 watts or so. This of course means they need more cooling.

Another quesiton. From what I've read about T5s people tend to like the ballasts that DO NOT OD more than ones that do correct? Why? I would think more power is better? Does it cause spectrum shifts or something?

B

 

[kgross]

I am very sorry that I tried to answer in this thread. I have on the fixtures talked about, but I guess that does not matter. Now the tek does not overdrive (mine is pulling 219 watts according to my kill a watt, but my voltage is low 99 to 101 volts currently).

I think I have a good idea now on why RDO is pretty dead.

Kim

What are you talking about? Did I offend you in some way?

I was just saying that the GENERAL concensus is that the TEK isn't as good of a light as the ATI.

From now on I'll take you you state as absolute truth without any question of your authority
Even though the study posted by Grim says that the ATI had 50% more PAR than the superior TEK light.

Love you!

B

Where did I say the TEK was a better light? You started this thread by saying the ATI PM was the best, and was asking for suggestions for number 2. I gave you info about the tek fixture I have. I said it is very good fixture, and then you replied basicly, that it was not goop enough to by. Then purchase the PM that is considered to be the best.

I still do not understand how a PM could get 50% more light than a TEK without overdriving the bulbs. Unless the tek for some reason is way underdriving the bulbs, which I doubt, my older fixture has 2 advance t5ho ballasts in it, so they should not be under or overdriving the fixture.

 

[SnowManSnow]

I'm sure you're right in whatever you're trying to say.

I wen't back and read and after your reply I just asked if the TEK OD'd the lamps. How does that say that the TEK isn't good enough to buy?

Stop inferring and assuming.

If ya wanna argue take it to the Sump

If ya wanna discuss T5 lighting then hang around some more.

B

 

[Ben1]

Well 50% more par is impressive. If it really has 50% more par then maybe its worth 50% more. I still would buy a nicer fixture like the PM if money wanst a concern. If it is, I am happy with my tek. I have 8 x 39 on a 58 oceanic, so the tank isnt too deep.

Another quesiton. From what I've read about T5s people tend to like the ballasts that DO NOT OD more than ones that do correct? Why? I would think more power is better? Does it cause spectrum shifts or something?

Overdriving will give more PAR, but IIRC shortens the lifespan of the bulbs. Depending on how well they are cooled, since they run hotter when overdriven.

If you have a large bank of T5's and need to change them every 6 months, it can add up. Some people like the extra par and run their T5's with ice caps

According to Ice Cap

4 lamp combination of T5HO lamps driven on a 660 will result in additional PAR of between 25-40% more output versus a standard ballast. 2 lamp combination of T5HO lamps on a 430 will result in 25-30% more PAR than a standard ballast.

But if the bulbs run hotter, and their life span is shortened, the savings of going T5 is quickly lost. According to some that have "tested" there is minimal gain in PAR when going to a ballast that will OD the bulbs and all the extra energy is tranformed to heat with not much gains.

 

[SnowManSnow]

I'm still at a loss as to why the ATI PM puts out so much more PAR than say a TEK light does then since neither of them OD the lamps.

B

 

[mr_X]

you should consider the aquactinics constellation

 

[SnowManSnow]

Those are nice lights too.. there's another one that aquactinics makes that looks REALLY cool... but I don't wanna search for it right now haha.

B

 

[mr_X]

you can get a 10 bulb fixture from aquactinics :wink:

 

[SnowManSnow]

haha i dont want to live on the sun!