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This page reflects data collected from my testing of 250 watt MH lamps and ballasts. The colors of the lamps over my tank can be seen below. Every effort has been made to represent the colors as they truly look over my tank. The information under the ballast section represents the PAR output of the lamp being driven as well as the ballast power consumption. Note the data under the ballast is not the power going to the lamp, rather what the ballast is drawing from the wall outlet.

To see the whole thread this information is taken from please visit Reef Central.

250 watt SE MH lamps compared


These tests were conducted to measure Photsynthetically Available Radiation (PAR) output from 250 watt Metal Halide SE lamps. PAR is the available light between 400-700nm (nanometers). This spectrum is the light spectrum that we, as humans, can see. It is also the area in which photosynthesis occurs in plants. There are considerable discussions to whether the whole PAR spectrum applies to corals or whether just a few narrow bands. So far there is no definitive proof one way or the other. So PAR is still the best measure we presently have of judging how intense the lamps output is in relation to coral usage.

How these tests were conducted.

The lamps tested were burned in at least 120-150 hours. All lamps with the exception of the Ushio, AB and Blueline Super White, were new. The Ushio, AB and Blueline Superwhite had roughly 6 months use on them (aprox 1600hrs). A 2' x 2' square box was constructed, the inside painted flat black. The mogul socket was mounted horizontally aprox 5" from the ceiling of the box. The quantum sensor was place 8" below the center of the arc tube. A voltage regulator was used on power from the wall electrical socket. A watt meter was plugged into the voltage regulator and the ballast plugged into the watt meter. All electrical readings under the ballast section are measurements of the power being drawn by the ballast not the power going to the lamp.

All lamps, before testing, were fired and left to burn for at least 20 minutes before any measurement were performed. After 20 minutes, the sensor was turned on and time was given for a stable reading to be displayed from the meter. Sometime between 2-5 minutes the reading on the meter would stabilize for at least 30 seconds with no movement, at that time readings were recorded.

Equipment used
Apogee Instruments QMSS-ELEC Quantum meter with sensor. Calibrated for electric lamps.
Apogee Instruments leveling plate for the senor
APC LINE-R 600, Voltage regulator/Power Conditioner.
Electronic Educational Devices Watts Up?, Power Analyzer/Watt Meter.
Nikon 995 digital camera used with tripod for pictures.

Actual power to lamp.

Here are some measurements that were taken to see how the ballast actually drive the lamp. On the Radium lamp the Standard PFO ballast would not drive start the lamp, so no information is given.

Measurements were taken using a BK 5390 Multimeter. Measurements for current are TRMS. Both AC and AC+DC were taken as the electronic ballasts seem to use the DC signwave as well. All measurements were taken on the wire between the ballast and lamp. The lamps were first ignited by the ballast then let to burn for 20 minutes, at that time measurements were taken. The first line for the lamp in bold are the manufactures specifications of the lamp, what follows are the reading from running the lamp on different ballasts.

LAMP BALLAST
AC AMP
AC+DC AMP
Volts
kHz
Line watts
Line volts
Radium SPEC
2.80
2.80
95-100
Radium HQI
2.63
2.63
113.50
59.98 Hz
308
117
Radium ARO
3.20
4.79
112.37
76.80
249
117
Radium eballast
2.21
1.95
110.65
80.73
242
121
Radium IceCap
3.20
4.58
109.60
70.47
248
119
Radium CV
2.29
2.01
109.63
67.52
264
119
Radium ReefFanatic
2.28
2.80
131.90
42.03
246
119
Radium EVC
2.37
2.88
115.80
44.68
247
119
           
Ushio SPEC
3.00
3.00
100.00
Ushio ARO
2.94
4.64
125.43
77.95
249
119
Ushio Standard
2.11
2.11
129.34
59.98Hz
273
118
Ushio HQI
2.43
2.43
133.41
59.98Hz
339
118
Ushio eballast
1.80
1.59
123.04
86.68
243
119
Ushio IceCap
2.87
4.40
127.78
73.43
254
119
Ushio CV
1.84
1.62
125.39
72.84
254
121
Ushio ReefFantic
2.62
3.20
116
44.06
246
119
Ushio EVC
2.10
2.42
132.20
41.98
246
120

Lamp heat due to ballasts

Ballasts contribute to the amount of heat produced by the lamp. Temperature measurements were taken at the same distance from the lamp as the sensor, 8". The ballast was turned on with a fan above the lamp pulling heat out. After 35 minutes the temperature at 8" from the lamp was taken then the fan was turned off. After 10 minutes more (for a total of 45), temperature was taken again and recorded.

Ballast Lamp
0 Min
35 Min
45 Min/No Fan
PFO Standard Ushio
70.0F
83.2F
90.1F
PFO HQI Ushio
70.3F
87.5F
97.2F
eballast Ushio
70.5F
81.4F
89.5F
Icecap Ushio
70.1F
78.6F
85.2F
CoralVue Ushio
70.3F
82.1F
90.6F
ARO Ushio
70.2F
79.6F
88.3F

Apogee senor accuracy

There were numerous questions as to the accuracy of the apogee sensor used in the test. To answer questions as to the margin of error that this sensor produced, I contacted apogee and discussed this with them. They agreed to send to me two LiCor sensor that they use for in house for testing. The sensors were first calibrated by them and then sent to me. Measurements were then taken using the two LiCor sensor then averaged to produce a value. The reading from the Apogee was then compared to that obtained by the LiCor sensors. The table below shows the margin of error the apogee was off compared to the LiCor. Also shown is a differential factor. If this factor is applied to the apogee reading, it will correct for any deficiencies of the sensor. As all lamps have a slightly different spectral curve it if different for each lamp.

LAMP
Adj factor
Error %
AB10K
1.042700
4.27
XM10K
1.000102
0.01
XM20K
1.054623
5.46
Radium
1.020256
2.03
CV10K
1.014444
1.45
Ushio10K
1.022647
2.26
PFO13K
1.066219
6.62
Iwasaki
1.004403
4.40
BLSW
1.035931
3.59
SUN10K
1.041306
4.13
CV15k
1.062583
6.26
CV20K
1.031709
3.17
BL10K
1.020969
2.10
HM14K
1.041438
4.14
AC14K
1.027771
2.77
SUNBRST
1.025221
2.52
CV12K
1.076923
7.69
SUN14K
1.026404
2.63

Lamps

Picture on the left is with actinics off. Picture on the right is with (2) 140 watt URI VHO actinics on.

AB13KAqualine Buske 13000K



 
 
 
AC14KAquaConnect 14000K



 
 		  
BL10KBlueline 10K 250 watt MH



 
 
 
BLSWBlueline Super White



 
 
 
CV10KCoralVue 10000K



 
 
 
CV12K



 
 		  
CV15KCoralVue 15000K



 
 
 
CV20KCoralVue 20000K



 
 
 
EVC10KEVC 10000K



 
 		  
HM14KHamilton 14K



 
 
 
IwasakiIwasaki 6500K



 
 
 
PFO 13KPFO 13000K



 
 
 
Radium



 
 
 
SBURST12K



 
 		  
SUN10KSun Aquatics 10000K



 
 
 
SUN14K



 
 		  
SUN20K



 
 		  
UshioUshio 10000K MH



 
 
 
XM10KXM 10000K



 
 
 
XM20KXM 20000K



 
 
 
Ballasts

ARO (Hellolights) Electronic Ballast
LampPARWattsMaxWattsAmpsMaxAmp
Iwasaki 605250253 2.11 2.19
XM10K 526250251 2.16 2.37
BLSW 465250254 2.16 2.2
EVC10K 463249256 2.16 2.19
SUN10K 461248256 2.14 2.23
AB13K 434252254 2.15 2.51
Ushio 408251269 2.14 2.61
AC14K 391253258 2.23 2.33
CV10K 360249251 2.11 2.15
HM14K 338249253 2.17 2.63
Radium 327249252 2.18 2.23
AMX14K 310252277 2.19 2.49
SBURST12K 302250270 2.18 2.5
CV20K 286249265 2.16 2.55
XM20K 270250253 2.16 2.41
SUN14K 259249255 2.15 2.37
CV12K 258250273 2.17 2.48
BL10K 253246250 2.14 2.19
CV15K 243250252 2.16 2.22
SUN20K 227246278 2.17 2.53
PFO 13K 206251252 2.16 2.19
XM15K 171252256 2.2 2.27
CoralVue Electronic Ballast
LampPARWattsMaxWattsAmpsMaxAmp
Iwasaki 569247266 2 2.36
XM10K 541257270 2.12 2.5
BLSW 480252270 2.02 2.2
CV10K 430262265 2.1 2.13
AB13K 368224268 1.8 2.39
HM14K 363258268 2.09 2.49
Ushio 363255265 2.08 2.38
Radium 337260269 2.13 2.89
CV20K 316260265 2.09 2.22
CV15K 311260265 2.1 2.16
BL10K 265256261 2.09 2.12
XM20K 257248269 2.01 2.19
PFO 13K 203244268 1.97 2.17
Blueline E-Ballast Electronic Ballast
LampPARWattsMaxWattsAmpsMaxAmp
Iwasaki 558244247 1.99 2.14
XM10K 521243244 2 2.03
BLSW 474246250 1.99 2.11
SUN10K 468244245 1.99 2
EVC10K 468245249 1.99 2.05
Ushio 430245247 2 2.03
AB13K 428246249 1.99 2.09
AC14K 390246247 2 2.03
Radium 343243244 1.98 2
CV10K 341242243 1.95 1.96
CV20K 340242244 1.93 2
HM14K 323242243 1.95 2.05
AMX14K 318247248 2 2.18
SUN14K 266240241 1.93 1.95
BL10K 261240242 1.93 2.71
CV12K 243242268 1.98 2.52
CV15K 238242243 1.95 2.21
SUN20K 234240240 1.92 2.64
XM20K 228244250 1.99 2.12
XM15K 194248249 2 2.24
PFO 13K 178244245 1.97 1.99
EVC Ballast
LampPARWattsMaxWattsAmpsMaxAmp
XM10K 559246249 2.03 2.8
Iwasaki 517247250 2.03 2.87
AC14K 438250254 2.03 2.1
SUN10K 425247248 2.01 3.29
BLSW 423247249 2 3.2
EVC10K 412246248 2.01 2.08
Ushio 394247248 2.02 3.65
HM14K 350246250 2.01 2.06
AMX14K 316246250 2.03 2.51
Radium 294247248 2.03 2.59
SBURST12K 291246251 2.01 3.66
BL10K 290247248 1.98 2.37
SUN14K 261246248 2 3.33
CV12K 257246294 1.97 2.02
XM20K 254246247 2 2.59
SUN20K 241247248 2.01 2.14
XM15K 211252256 2.07 2.12
PFO 13K 184246248 2 2.4
IceCap Electronic Ballast
LampPARWattsMaxWattsAmpsMaxAmp
Iwasaki 651252275 2.17 2.45
XM10K 530252254 2.2 2.82
SUN10K 494252255 2.14 3.86
BLSW 494252254 2.15 2.83
EVC10K 492252254 2.15 2.96
AB13K 422254257 2.17 2.3
Ushio 414252258 2.19 3.41
AC14K 406252264 2.17 2.32
CV10K 387250251 2.17 2.46
HM14K 352251252 2.17 2.29
Radium 330252275 2.19 3.56
AMX14K 308252275 2.19 2.5
CV20K 307251253 2.2 2.25
SBURST12K 304253284 2.17 2.61
XM20K 270252301 2.17 2.81
BL10K 263248250 2.18 3.68
CV12K 259251253 2.17 3.32
SUN14K 253251308 2.18 2.79
CV15K 242251252 2.2 3.85
PFO 13K 227251268 2.18 2.86
SUN20K 224247249 2.2 3
XM15K 187252254 2.17 2.83
PFO HQI
LampPARWattsMaxWattsAmpsMaxAmp
Iwasaki 950355384 3.02 4.79
XM10K 835340341 2.93 4.07
BLSW 702349359 3 5.72
EVC10K 700345350 2.99 3.87
SUN10K 699342346 2.95 3.36
AB13K 659341349 2.96 4.55
Ushio 617349360 3 7.42
CV10K 457333335 2.87 3.25
AC14K 453311313 2.85 4.74
HM14K 420317361 2.79 6.86
Radium 395311315 2.75 3.28
SBURST12K 378311698 2.79 14.27
AMX14K 366322400 2.89 11.34
CV20K 355321330 2.79 5.18
CV15K 336317322 2.76 4.55
CV12K 328310314 2.73 4.45
XM15K 318312847 2.79 16.33
SUN14K 314327490 2.92 8.69
XM20K 314327337 2.85 3.94
PFO 13K 308311418 2.76 8.08
BL10K 292310385 2.83 10.03
SUN20K 232292393 2.81 10.65
PFO Standard
LampPARWattsMaxWattsAmpsMaxAmp
Iwasaki 691286331 2.53 6.86
XM10K 600268269 2.47 3.39
AB13K 566301303 2.64 3.81
BLSW 514273274 2.49 5.47
EVC10K 512271278 2.5 3.12
SUN10K 510270277 2.51 2.69
Ushio 485284285 2.53 4.57
CV10K 324231233 2.32 4.03
SBURST12K 309269269 2.51 6.01
Radium 283231232 2.38 6.81
AMX14K 276247253 2.49 5.05
CV20K 275226261 2.3 7.93
XM15K 264265267 2.55 7.42
PFO 13K 248257258 2.5 6.8
CV15K 242227239 2.35 4.14
XM20K 242285285 2.57 3.75
AC14K 228212274 2.33 8.29
SUN14K 228224228 2.32 4.08
HM14K 214219220 2.3 7.12
CV12K 190230230 2.38 3.54
SUN20K 148198199 2.25 6.11
Reef Fanatic
LampPARWattsMaxWattsAmpsMaxAmp
XM10K 571247248 2.03 2.77
Iwasaki 523247248 2.03 3.3
BLSW 454246247 2 3.75
AC14K 441247249 2.03 2.62
SUN10K 420246249 1.98 3.68
EVC10K 417247248 2.01 3.44
Ushio 383246248 2.04 2.67
HM14K 350247248 2.03 2.6
AMX14K 315247248 2.04 2.64
BL10K 294246247 1.94 2.7
SBURST12K 283247250 2.01 2.21
SUN14K 257246247 2.01 2.15
CV12K 252246248 2 2.92
XM20K 246246334 2.03 3.31
SUN20K 239246247 2 2.02
XM15K 209251253 2.07 2.09
PFO 13K 185246248 2 3.35