Product Review: More Spectral Analysis of 250 Watt Double Ended Metal Halide Lamps and Ballasts

by | Oct 15, 2004 | 0 comments

13 more 250W DE metal halide lamps available within the reef hobby were evaluated along with 2 ballasts used to drive these lamps. The lamps are listed in Table 1. The ballasts used are the “HQI” ballast (ANSI-M80) and the IceCap Electronic Ballast. As usual these lamps were tested using the identical setup to all our previous tests, thus allowing for direct comparison between the lamps.

Table 1: List Of Lamps And Ballasts Tested
250W DE Lamps250W Ballasts
XDE 10000KPFO-HQI (ANSI -M80)

IceCap (Electronic)

XDE 20000K
CORALVUE 20000K
SUN AQUATICS 20000K
SUN AQUATICS 14000K
SUN AQUATICS 10K
AQUACONNECT 14000K
GIESMAN MEGACHROME 13000K
GIESEMANN 20000K
ARCADIA 14000K
HIT (BLV) 20000K
HELIOS 12500K
HELIOS 20000K

Spectral Output Of The Lamps (Single Ballast)

Since the ANSI-M80 is the recommended ballast for 250W double ended lamps, we decided to compare the lamps using this ballast to establish a baseline of performance.

Figure 1 below shows the spectral output of the nine different lamps when operated by the same ballast – the M-80 ballast. These spectral plots are for the unshielded lamps (i.e. without the use of any UV absorbing glass shield).

figure1-allm80.gif

Figure 1: Spectral plot showing a comparison of the spectrum all the 250W DE lamps tested

Table 2: Comparison of PPFD, CCT, and Power use of the different 250W DE lamps with the M80 ballast – unshielded and shielded
LampPower (Watts)Voltage (Volts)Current (Amps)PPFD (Unshielded)CCT (Unshielded)PPFD (Shielded)CCT (Shielded)
XDE 10KK314121.62.77136.47645109.57026
XDE 20KK269121.62.5955.14na42.4na
Coralvue 20KK314121.32.7558.19na48.35na
SUN AQ 20KK333121.42.9280.28na64.13na
SUN AQ 14K333121.82.8877.5na61.78na
SUN AQ 10K345121.93.251425251116.55053
AQ CON 14KK313123.22.77101.6na82.1na
GS MEGA 13KK336122.82.94112.91041887.88586
GS 20KK3051222.7452.5na43.2na
ARCADIA 14KK318121.82.8588.151149873.3910577
HIT(BLV) 20KK306121.32.7930655.243.9na
HELIOS 20KK338122.53.0177.9na62.06na
HELIOS 12.5KK371123.63.39150.15533125.55288

Comparison of Lamp Performance Under Different Ballasts

In this section we present the results of testing the different lamps using different ballasts. For each lamp tested different ballasts were used to fire the lamp and data is presented for the unshielded and shielded case. Spectral data is only provided for the shielded case, since we feel that most lamps will be used in this manner.

1) XDE 10000K

Table 3: XDE 10000K
LampPower (Watts)Voltage (Volts)Current (Amps)PPFD (Unshielded)CCT (Unshielded)PPFD (Shielded)CCT (Shielded)
M80314121.62.77136.47645109.57026
IceCap253120.42.33121754195.27097
figure2-xde10kk.gif

Figure 2: Spectral Plot of the Shielded XDE 10000K Lamp with the different ballasts

2) XDE 20000K

Table 4: XDE 20000K
LampPower (Watts)Voltage (Volts)Current (Amps)PPFD (Unshielded)CCT (Unshielded)PPFD (Shielded)CCT (Shielded)
M80269121.62.5955.14na42.4na
IceCap224121.32.1244.6na36.1na
figure3-xde20kk.gif

Figure 3: Spectral Plot of the Shielded XDE 20000K Lamp with the different ballasts

3) CORALVUE 20000K

Table 5: CORALVUE 20000K
LampPower (Watts)Voltage (Volts)Current (Amps)PPFD (Unshielded)CCT (Unshielded)PPFD (Shielded)CCT (Shielded)
M80314121.32.7558.19na48.35na
IceCap254122.42.350.7na41.1na
figure4-cvue20kk.gif

Figure 4: Spectral Plot of the Shielded Coralvue 20000K Lamp with the different ballasts

4) SUN AQUATICS 20000K

Table 6: SUN AQUATICS 20000K
LampPower (Watts)Voltage (Volts)Current (Amps)PPFD (Unshielded)CCT (Unshielded)PPFD (Shielded)CCT (Shielded)
M80333121.42.9280.28na64.13na
IceCap252121.42.363.8na50.8na
figure5-sun20kk.gif

Figure 5: Spectral Plot of the Shielded SUN AQUATICS 20000K Lamp with the different ballasts

5) SUN AQUATICS 14000K

Table 7: SUN AQUATICS 14000K
LampPower (Watts)Voltage (Volts)Current (Amps)PPFD (Unshielded)CCT (Unshielded)PPFD (Shielded)CCT (Shielded)
M80333121.82.8877.5na61.78na
IceCap256121.62.3352.9na41.5na
figure6-sun14kk.gif

Figure 6: Spectral Plot of the Shielded SUN AQUATICS 14000K Lamp with the different ballasts

6) SUN AQUATICS 10000K

Table 8: SUN AQUATICS 10000K
LampPower (Watts)Voltage (Volts)Current (Amps)PPFD (Unshielded)CCT (Unshielded)PPFD (Shielded)CCT (Shielded)
M80345121.93.251425251116.55053
IceCap2091221.999.85396825208
figure7-sun10kk.gif

Figure 7: Spectral Plot of the Shielded SUN AQUATICS 10000K Lamp with the different ballasts

7) AQUACONNECT 14000K

Table 9: AQUACONNECT 14000K
LampPower (Watts)Voltage (Volts)Current (Amps)PPFD (Unshielded)CCT (Unshielded)PPFD (Shielded)CCT (Shielded)
M80313123.22.77101.6na82.1na
IceCap1961231.8184.8na68.6na
figure8-aqcon14kk.gif

Figure 8: Spectral Plot of the Shielded AQUACONNECT 14000K Lamp with the different ballasts

8) GIESEMANN MEGACHROME 13000K

Table 10: GIESEMANN MEGACHROME 13000K
LampPower (Watts)Voltage (Volts)Current (Amps)PPFD (Unshielded)CCT (Unshielded)PPFD (Shielded)CCT (Shielded)
M80336122.82.94112.91041887.88586
IceCap253122.12.2879.21018763.98982
figure9-gs13kk.gif

Figure 9: Spectral Plot of the Shielded GIESEMANN MEGACHROME 13000K Lamp with the different ballasts

9) GIESEMANN 20000K

Table 11: GIESEMANN 20000K
LampPower (Watts)Voltage (Volts)Current (Amps)PPFD (Unshielded)CCT (Unshielded)PPFD (Shielded)CCT (Shielded)
M803051222.7452.5na43.2na
IceCap2481222.3143.64na34.3na
figure10-gs20kk.gif

Figure 10: Spectral Plot of the Shielded GIESEMANN 20000K Lamp with the different ballasts

10) ARCADIA 14000K

Table 12: ARCADIA 14000K
LampPower (Watts)Voltage (Volts)Current (Amps)PPFD (Unshielded)CCT (Unshielded)PPFD (Shielded)CCT (Shielded)
M80318121.82.8588.151149873.3910577
IceCap248123.12.3176.34325355.9219721
figure11-arcadia14kk.gif

Figure 11: Spectral Plot of the Shielded ARCADIA 14000K Lamp with the different ballasts

11) HIT (BLV) 20000K

Table 13: HIT (BLV) 20000K
LampPower (Watts)Voltage (Volts)Current (Amps)PPFD (Unshielded)CCT (Unshielded)PPFD (Shielded)CCT (Shielded)
M80306121.32.7930655.243.9na
IceCap248121.32.3241.7na33.18na
figure12-blv20kk.gif

Figure 12: Spectral Plot of the Shielded HIT (BLV) 20000K Lamp with the different ballasts

12) HELIOS 20000K

Table 14: HELIOS 20000K
LampPower (Watts)Voltage (Volts)Current (Amps)PPFD (Unshielded)CCT (Unshielded)PPFD (Shielded)CCT (Shielded)
M80338122.53.0177.9na62.06na
IceCap250123.52.362na48.7na
figure13-helios20kk.gif

Figure 13: Spectral Plot of the Shielded HELIOS 20000K Lamp with the different ballasts

13) HELIOS 12500K

Table 15: HELIOS 12500K
LampPower (Watts)Voltage (Volts)Current (Amps)PPFD (Unshielded)CCT (Unshielded)PPFD (Shielded)CCT (Shielded)
M80371123.63.39150.15533125.55288
IceCap256122.82.3101.2658782.256872
figure14-helios12kk.gif

Figure 14: Spectral Plot of the Shielded HELIOS 12500K Lamp with the different ballasts

Discussion and Conclusion

Figure 15, and 15 show comparison of power and PPFD of the various lamps tested. Once again as seen from the data and plots, there is wide variation among the lamps and the use of CCT to designate the lamps is pretty much meaningless given that the spectral plots are often very similar yet the lamps are being sold with different color temperatures. The usual disclaimer applies – this data is based on a sample size of one, and we have no idea what the variation is within lamps. The HQI 80 ballasts tends to consume much higher wattage than the rated 250W, while the electronic ballast tends to stay close to the rated power of the lamp. The implications of consuming more power are obvious – more light output, however if this detrimental to lamp life remains to be seen.

Comparing the data here and other 250W DE articles with the data for 250W Mogul lamps, should provide enough factual information to dispel the myth that 250W DE lamps produce more light output than the 250W single ended mogul lamps. A general sweeping statement to this effect cannot be made, and depends on the lamp under consideration.

figure15-ppfdballasts.gif

Figure 15: PPFD (Shielded) – Different ballasts

figure16-ppfdpower.gif

Figure 16: PPFD (shielded) vs Power

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank several people whose help made this study possible. They were kind enough to provide us with lamps and ballasts for testing: Patrick at PFO Lighting, Brian at HelloLights.com, Andy at IceCap Inc, Phil at Giesemann, Edward at Aquaconnect, Venki at Sun Aquatics, TAAM for the Helios lamps, Chris at Hikari Sales, and Moonpod at RC. Finally, we would like to thank Dr. Paul Walker of Penn State University for the use of the spectroradiometer and dark room for testing the lamps.

References

  1. Joshi, S. 1998. Spectral Analysis of Metal Halide Lamps Used in the Reef Aquarium Hobby Part 1: New 400-watt Lamps, Aquarium Frontiers, Nov 1998.
  2. Joshi, S. and Morgan D. 1999. Spectral Analysis of Metal Halide Lamps Used in the Reef Aquarium Hobby Part II: Used 400-watt Lamps, Aquarium Frontiers, Jan 1999.
  3. Joshi, S. and Morgan, D. 1999. Spectral Analysis of Metal Halide Lamps Used in the Reef Aquarium Hobby Part III: New and used 250-watt Lamp, Aquarium Frontiers,
  4. Joshi, S. and Morgan D., 2001. “Spectral Analysis of Metal Halide Lamps – Do Ballasts Make a Difference,” 2001 Annual Marine Fish and Reef USA, Fancy Publications. Reprint available here
  5. Joshi, S. 2002, “Spectral Analysis of Recent Metal Halide Lamps: Part IV- 10000K and 12000K lamps,” 2002 Annual Marine Fish and Reef USA, Fancy Publications.
  6. Joshi, S. and Marks, Timothy. 2002. Spectral Analysis of Recent Metal Halide Lamps and Ballasts, Advanced Aquarist, Oct 2002,
  7. Joshi, S. and Marks, Timothy. 2002. Spectral Analysis of 150W Double Ended Metal Halide Lamps and Ballasts, Advanced Aquarist, Nov 2002
  8. Joshi, S. and Marks, Timothy, 2004. Spectral Analysis of 400W Lamps: XM, Radiums, Osram, Sunmaster and PFO, Advanced Aquarist, Feb 2004
  9. Joshi, S. and Marks, Timothy, 2004. Spectral Analysis of 250W Double Ended Lamps and Ballasts, Advanced Aquarist, Feb 2004
  10. Joshi S. More Spectral Analysis of 150W DE Metal Halide Lamps, Advanced Aquarist, May 2004.
  11. Joshi S., Spectral Analysis of 250W Mogul Base Lamps-Part I, Advanced Aquarist, July 2004.
  12. Joshi S., Spectral Analysis of 250W Mogul Base Lamps-Part II, Advanced Aquarist, August 2004.
  • Sanjay Joshi

    Sanjay Joshi in real life is a Professor of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering at Penn State University. He has been a reef addict since 1992, and currently keeps several reef aquariums at home including a 500G SPS coral dominated reef. He also co-manages the 500G aquarium at Penn State. He has published several articles in magazines such as Marine Fish and Reef Annual, Aquarium Frontiers, Aquarium Fish, and Advanced Aquarist. In addition, he has been an invited speaker at several marine aquarium society meetings in the US and Europe. He received the MASNA award in 2006, for his contributions to the marine aquarium hobby.

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