Lumenlabs Light Kit (Ushio S400DD)

[bodgy]

https://secure.lumenlab.com/shop/group.php?id=4

The DYS bulb in my ohp has finally died, so I figure time to replace it with a MH.

The plan is to first fit the bulb into the ohp, second then build a box to take my sharp projection panel and ohp optics, third upgrade the optics and finally upgrade to a 15" panel.

Can this ushio bulb be used with a condensor lens? does it need one? Is there a better bulb I should be thinking about? I've kinda got my heart set on 400watts, am I causing myself more heat problems than it is worth?

Can anyone recomend a better bulb? I may just try and find this bulb through a local lighting supplier and hget a cheap magnetic hps ballast to run it? (this bulb is for use with HPS ballasts yeh?) would that work? (ushio S400DD in a non electronic ballast?)

Kinda incoherent post I know... but if anyone can help it would be appreciated.

[Guy Grotke]

I use one of the Ushio 250 Watt retrofit lamps with a standard S50 HPS magnetic core ballast. I get a 92" screen image that is quite watchable from a 15" LCD. If you want a bigger image, then I would go with the 400 Watt version & S51 HPS magnetic core ballast. You should see if you can find the ballast locally, since these ballasts are really heavy. Shipping from the US will cost you more than the ballast does! These should not be hard to find at an electrical supply store that has industrial and commercial lighting. Look in a big city phone book or ask an electrician where he goes. They may even have the Ushio lamps.

If you plan to use a 15" LCD with a 220 mm fl condensor fresnel, then I don't think a pre-condensor lens will make much of a difference: That wide fresnel at such a close distance already captures a lot of light. You should use a good spherical reflector though.

You can also order Ushio SS400DD from:

http://www.atlantalightbulbs.com/eca...HI-S400DDUSHIO

$38 US, plus shipping. The lamp is very light weight, but you could probably save some shipping cost if you can find it closer. I think they make them in Japan.

[bodgy]

This is the cheapest I have seen a ballast for in Australia. ($79au.. about $60us)

http://www.hydroshop.com.au/Products...sp?stockNo=153

It doesnt say if it is S51 or anything, but I'll check on that before I order anything.

Also the bulb holder, is this one suitable for the ushio? there's not much info on the site actually... what do I have to ask them about the bulb holder? (T15 bulb?)

http://www.hydroshop.com.au/Products...sp?stockNo=414

I'll call some Aussie lighting suppliers today. If I can't track one down locally though, will the bulbs at atlantalightbulbs.com work on an aust. 240volt ballast? I mean do ballasts all output the same power regardless of input voltage?

Thanks for the response guy.

btw I've already got a 90mm pre-condensor lens from a 3m ohp so I will be trying it, and I was thinking about one of the quiche molds you found as a reflector.

[Guy Grotke]

S51 is an ANSI type (an American standard), so I'm not sure if they would call it that in Australia. But if that "400W HPS Multipulsed Ignitor Control Box" will run a standard LU400 HPS lamp from your local power, then it should also run a USHIO SS400DD retrofit from Atlanta, Japan, NSW, or anywhere.

The lamp runs on the output of the ballast. It doesn't care what the ballast input voltage is. I have a magnetic core & coil ballast (with capacitor and ignitor) that has four different input taps. I connected the 120 VAC tap to my power cord, but I could have connected the 240 VAC tap instead. But in the US, we have very few 240 VAC outlets in our houses. Just behind the stove and clothes dryer, mostly.

T15 just describes the maximum diameter of the glass. (It means 15/8 inches.) The base is an E39 Mogul base, so you need a socket that fits that. That is the base used on the LU400 HPS lamp I mentioned, since the Ushio retrofit lamps are meant to be screw-in replacements.