Upgrading my light source, 250HQI or 1000MH?

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mikekniner

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Joined 2003
#1
Hey
Im going to be upgrading my 400W MH setup. Im debating whether or not I should choose a 1000W MH setup providing 110000 inital lumens or a 250W HQI MH setup like the one at DIYLABS.org, he claims its bright enough for daytime viewing.
Thanks tell me what i should go for, i can get the 1000w kit for 160 shipped
 
#2
First of all, you can't claim a bulb is bright enough for daytime viewing without mentioning screen size. A 25w light is bright enough for daytime viewing if your screen is small enough.

Secondly, what type of 1000W MH are you going to use? (Where are you going to get it?) I hear you can't use a grow light or a shop light, because the arc length is too long, and it will not produce a point light source.

Check out the solux thread if you are looking around for something to use as a light. If jbell ever get his solux array built, we may have a perfect solution to lighting.

Would you be willing to sell your 400w metal halide light? If so, how much? and how many hours on it?
 
#3
Hey, I plan on getting it from affordablelighting.com
He said its the same size as a 400w bulb, its the small version of the 1000w but small version
Here is what he said when he quoted me.
the bulb is the standard 3700 kelvin lamp, 300 less than the 400w
total
1000w ballast 85.00
1000w sm. bulb 42.50
mogul socket 8.00 (which I believe yours will work, same base)
shipping 26.00 ( will ship in 2 boxes) ballast weighs 30 - 35 lbs

161.50 or 153.50 without socket
 
#4
jbell just said that he is working on his light array with the solux bulbs. You might want to wait to see the outcome of this array before you go buying things. If it works, we might have something really amazing here.

So would you sell your 400w setup?
I ask because I see you are from Toronto, so there would be no shipping
 
#7
Ok great, I have 400 HQI vs 1000 MH vs Solux Array and everyone has different opinions. Now its more about the fact of $$$$$=lumens
I have a deal for 1000 kit $165 bucks=110000lumens
400 HQI Unknown Price
Solux Array=In testing
Tell me were I can find an 400W HQI so I could do a little shopping around
How is a 1000W to much power?
 
#8
The dude at diylabs.org is kind of bogus if you ask me here's why:

1) saying that the 250W double ended will allow you to watch movies during daytime and yet he hasn't built it yet!

2) He has no reflector whatsoever in his design and post images claiming that it came from his design. I built the same design before and without ANY sort of reflector, even a 400W MH is NOT bright enough!

Just my 2 cents! 🙂

Tommy
 
#9
Yes I noticed that, I have built his design aswell, although I used a reflector I could faintly see in daytime, but unwatchable. I was also questioning how a 250W double ended MH could be brighter than a 400 MH. I'm guessing 1000W would be the best to go since Id have around 700-1000 ASNI lumens. 400 W gives me about 300-400 ANSI lumens. You need over 500 ANSI lumens to see with lights or daytime.
 
#13
I have a salt water reef aquarium and have two 250 MH bulbs running off of a BIG dual magnetic ballast.

Choosing lights for those setups is just as complicated as this but there are many similarities.

First off from what I have learned electronic ballasts are the way to go. Theyre smaller, cooler, consume less power, are more efficient with the power the use, and have a longer bulb life. Yes they are more money, BUT magnetic ballasts are so much heavier by the time you pay for shipping on one, in total you could have paid just a little more for electronic, not to mention the fact you will save money off your electric bill.

Now bulbs are no less complicated. I do believe Alan at DIY Labs when he says the 250 HQI metal halide is just as bright as the standard 400 metal halide because I have heard this from others in the salt water reef aquarium hobby.

A 1000 watt metal halide just seems overkill to me. That is just brute force, my optics suck, lighting alternative for something you want in your living room.

Alan claims it is bright enough for daytime viewing then I believe him. BUT I did not read anywhere he is claiming it is brighter than a 1000 watt metal halide.

If you are upgrading from a 400 watt standard mogul socket metal halide and you want BRIGHTER go with the 1000 watt kit for 160 shipped, that sounds very good to me.

If you were looking to "class up" your system, for example smaller enclosure, maybe a bit brighter, better performance energy wise go with the 250 HQI metal halide.

Its all about sacrifices right? Screen size versus brightness, etc. it seems the jump from 400 standard mogul socket to 1000 is so huge, a 250 HQI seems to be the sweet spot IMO.

Hope this helps and is a good worthy first post on this great forum! :soapbox:
 
#14
Thanks for your input.
Yes the 1000W MH im purchasing is the small version so its the same size as the 400W bulb I have so it will fit in the reflector and socket I currently have for it! This gives me another reason, plus im not intending on moving my projector around so this gives me another reason just to use the 1000W MH.
 
#15
I've got a mogul based T15 (tubular) HQI 400 W bulb that i got on ebay for 50 bucks, and the pulse start ballast for 30$ locally. Since its tubular it has more potential to be used in a reflector....but the arc gap on it is about 1.5 inches......we'll soon see if my reflector helps me out
Bulb

HQI-T 400W/D
 
#16
OK, sorry if it's a bit off-topic

If I undestand correctly the concept of Metal Halide lighting, that means that we can get a 250Watts kit here and replace the existing lamp in our actual OHP right ? That should be sufficient for dim-lit rooms ?

Also, is it mandatory to use a reflector with double-end metal halide lamps ? (I understand that it probably increase efficiency)
Where can we get those reflectors ?

What about UV ? I guess it doesn't matter much because everything wil be fitted inside the OHP enclosure. Right ?

Thank you guys
 
#17
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

This is a crappy idea to retrofit in an OHP.
Reasons:
1) You are replacing an inefficient 400W Halogen bulb with a 250W MH......you almost certainly will loose lumens or it will be a wash

2) This will most definitly be less efficient than the current setup in the OHP....because the OHP has optics alligned to the halogen bulb

This bulb is a nice bulb that you can use to make a stand alone projector if you have the proper reflector....but its not good withoug a nice reflector.

This bulb is nice, but not for a retrofit. This seller has yet to make one. Take a look at the lumens on it.....nice for a 250W bulb, but nothing compared to a 400W halogen or MH
 
#18
mmmm I do think that the amount of lumens send by a 400W halogen are almost the same than the amount sent by a 250W HQI as the energy is much more converted into light...
Also the colour is much better.

That's why I will buy a 250 HQI from Osram and I'll just watch in the full dark room...
 
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