M58 250w MH ballast

XburningempiresX · 02-13-2004, 02:51 PM

i have a M58 250w MH ballast i won on ebay. i was hoping to use it on my tank.

1. does anybody know if it can power MH bulbs?
2. what bulbs would it power?
3. i need a mogul socket for it. are they specific to bulb type or wattage?

it is a ISB Sola Basic M58 250w MH ballast.

it basically looks like this. minus the socket (which i need)
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...oduct=MH250DIY

any thoughts if it will work?

thanks,
Steve

CR NC · 02-13-2004, 04:15 PM

Hi Steve,

To answer your questions:
1) Yes. M58 is the ANSI code for a standard 250W MH ballast.
2) Many. If you're looking at a particular bulb check the manufacturers website for spec's, or some vendors websites as some will have the info. you're looking for.
3) A mogul is a mogul.

IOW, any mogul bulb(SE) will fit any mogul socket regardless of wattage.

Eric P · 02-13-2004, 04:26 PM

You can get a mogul base @ any electrical supply house.

Eric...

Geoff · 02-13-2004, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CR NC
Hi Steve,

To answer your questions:
1) Yes. M58 is the ANSI code for a standard 250W MH ballast.
2) Many. If you're looking at a particular bulb check the manufacturers website for spec's, or some vendors websites as some will have the info. you're looking for.
3) A mogul is a mogul. IOW, any mogul bulb(SE) will fit any mogul socket regardless of wattage.

ditto

CR-NC-Welcome to TRT!!!

great to see another NC reefer in the area.

G~

CR NC · 02-13-2004, 05:11 PM

Hi Geoff

, and thanks for the welcome!

XburningempiresX · 02-13-2004, 05:19 PM

excellent. i won it on ebay for $40. so i was hoping i could use it. Eric P, CR NC and Geoff.. this is the best news i have had all week. now i have to find which bulb i want. i was thinkin of something in the 10-20K range. my friend said he recently saw a tank with 20k Coralvue bulb with no Actintic and it look beautiful.

thanks all

Steve

XburningempiresX · 02-13-2004, 05:35 PM

excellent. i won it on ebay for $40. so i was hoping i could use it. Eric P, CR NC and Geoff.. this is the best news i have had all week. now i have to find which bulb i want. i was thinkin of something in the 10-20K range. my friend said he recently saw a tank with 20k Coralvue bulb with no Actintic and it look beautiful.

thanks all

Steve

Eric P · 02-13-2004, 06:05 PM

Steve, Just keep in mind some of the 20k bulbs are not nearly as bright as lower kelvin bulbs. I run 10k's. I would like to try a 14 or 20k but I would need to find them cheap just in case I don't like them.

Eric...

XburningempiresX · 02-13-2004, 06:07 PM

Eric,

yea i was hoping for 14k-15k. my friend has 10k (uh Ushio?) and thinks they are a little too yellow. however i know the choice in the 12-15K range are less.

Eric P · 02-13-2004, 06:20 PM

check ebay, do a search for metal halide bulb. Some good deals to be had.

Eric...

XburningempiresX · 02-13-2004, 06:29 PM

Eric,

i do search Ebay regularly. the M58 ballast i got was actually listed in a different section.. commercial lighting i think.

i did find this site though.
http://www.aquarium-lighting-guide.c...al-halide-ansi

shows what ballast are needed for what bulb, but i don't know how strict that is.... but good info to have.

thanks,
Steve

Eric P · 02-13-2004, 06:38 PM

Thanks for that, it is nice to have.

Eric...

Geoff · 02-14-2004, 12:32 AM

try looking into the coralvue 10k's. they have a lot of colour to them. a touch to blue for me, but i seem to be the wierd one on this. i will warn you, i have had a lot of problems reliabilty wise with these bulbs, but they come with a one month full warranty, and so far i have used it 3 times. i use 400's.

G~

XburningempiresX · 02-14-2004, 12:45 AM

hmm. i do want blue tones to my lighting look. i am overdriving NO bulbs right now. 2 ballasts 4 bulbs. i was thinking of using the ballasts to run single VHO bulbs wit actintics. so 2 ballasts, 2 bulbs..... it help help give blue to some of the lower Kelvin bulbs

just a thought,
Steve