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Chop/Splice/Overdrive - Result?


Grape Nuts

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This is what I have:

 

Coralife E-Z Ballast 2xT8 or 2xT12

 

The E-Z Ballast Aquarium and Terrarium Lighting System comes completely assembled and ready-to-use. Just connect fluorescent lamps and plug it in. It is constructed with rugged Coralife water-resistant endcaps, 9-foot leads and an energy-efficient electronic ballast. For use with two standard output 18" to 48" (15 to 40 watt) fluorescent lamps. The versatile endcaps will accept T-8 (1" Dia.) lamps or T-12 lamps.

 

This is what I want to run:

 

020w T5-R VHO - UVL Aquasun 12"

 

Lamps measure 10-1/8" from pin tip to pin tip.

 

What would happen?

 

Would the light ignite?

Would it shorten life of bulb or ballast?

Would it explode?

 

Ballast says good for 15-40 watt - Bulbs I want to use are 20 watts

 

Any help, tips, warnings appreciated.

post-57427-1296670483.jpg

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I'm not going to say it won't work, but I'm not going to recommend that you do it. T8, T12, and T5 all have different electrical needs. While the bulb may fire, it may not run at the desired wattage, and may shorten the life of the bulb.

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I'm not going to say it won't work, but I'm not going to recommend that you do it. T8, T12, and T5 all have different electrical needs. While the bulb may fire, it may not run at the desired wattage, and may shorten the life of the bulb.

 

Is there any mathematical way to figure this out?

 

 

020w T5-R VHO - UVL 454 12" Buy Now $21.95 $18.95

020w T5-R VHO - UVL Actinic White 12" Buy Now $21.95 $18.95

020w T5-R VHO - UVL Aquasun 12" Buy Now $21.95 $18.95

020w T5-R VHO - UVL Aquasun 12" Buy Now $18.95

020w T5-R VHO - UVL Indigo Sun 12" Buy Now $16.95 $18.95

020w T5-R VHO - UVL Super Actinic 12" Buy Now $21.95 $18.95

 

The ballast is supposed to be pretty forgiving.

Bulbs within the watts requirements.

Just different end caps.

Damn it would be great...

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I'm not going to say it won't work, but...

 

 

By the way, do you guys sell DIY end caps for these bulbs?

 

Well I will either try to do it on an Eclipse 6 AIO hood or...

Put an HQI in the hood and go for a 180-190 water temp...

post-57427-1296671638.jpg

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Is there any mathematical way to figure this out?

 

 

020w T5-R VHO - UVL 454 12" Buy Now $21.95 $18.95

020w T5-R VHO - UVL Actinic White 12" Buy Now $21.95 $18.95

020w T5-R VHO - UVL Aquasun 12" Buy Now $21.95 $18.95

020w T5-R VHO - UVL Aquasun 12" Buy Now $18.95

020w T5-R VHO - UVL Indigo Sun 12" Buy Now $16.95 $18.95

020w T5-R VHO - UVL Super Actinic 12" Buy Now $21.95 $18.95

 

The ballast is supposed to be pretty forgiving.

Bulbs within the watts requirements.

Just different end caps.

Damn it would be great...

It's not a wattage issue. If the ballast has not been designed to specifically run T5HO bulbs, there is no guarantee that it will work right. Like I said before, different bulbs have different electrical requirements, like starting voltage, starting current, steady state voltage, and frequency. Anyway, the only way that you can get to V-HO wattages (20W in this case) is with a ballast that will overdrive the bulb. The only ones that will do that are the Icecap/Coralvue 660, or the Fulham Workhorse 7. That's it.

 

By the way, do you guys sell DIY end caps for these bulbs?

 

http://www.nanotuners.com/product_info.php...products_id=664

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Even if they ok it for T5 use, it still won't drive the bulbs to 20W, if that's what you want.

 

That would be ideal but... Anything is better than the stock 8 watts...

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Something to keep in mind, Fulham Workhorse 5 ballasts are designed for T5HO operation, and are only $30. I know you have the Coralife ballast already, but the WH5 is guaranteed to run T5's.

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