Looking for NO overdrive info..

[satcom56]

Hello All...
My first post here, lurking for a while tho. Ok I admit it
I'm cheap...I like to try to get the most from the least that
I can (more money left for critters)
What is the most any of you have overdriven NO bulbs with
over the counter electronic ballasts, I have have 2 -20w 24in
running on my bench at 60w each.
What tubes have you found to hold up best and for how long,
does a 6500K tube still give off 6500k when overdriven..it sure
'looks' more blue.
I'd just like to find others that have tried this and how it came
out for them....

[big t]

Welcome Satcom, for a great post on overdriving no's check this post http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/sh...threadid=14020 There may also be more info in the lighting archive which is located in the equipment section of the archives. I have used the method that Jimbo said to use in there to overdrive both no's and to run pc's. Good luck. and too bad Jimbo dosn't post around here any more.

[Geoff]

that is the good link. the problem you are going to have is that you are on the East coast. the replacement ballasts that are used are twice as expensive as the ones on the west coast. the price advantage is seriously compromised with this. it becomes really close to which is cheaper these ballasts or just getting a set of those LN retrofit VHO kits. i was looking into all of this when i was setting up the lighting for Nikki's tank. i finally just went with NO only since it is going to be a FO fro the most part.

G~

[satcom56]

Hello Big T..
Thanks for the welcome, Shame they make you use such a small mug tho(avatar)
That thread was very helpful, I currently have the same ballast running 2-24" bulbs
on the bench to see how it fares.During my years in the electric motor winding business
learned that 'MANY' electrical items are the same ...just with a different label and the
ratings changed,and the price accordingly. What I like to do is take an item (ballast,
bulb,pump,ect.) and see just what it will do ..
I'm currently trying to gather enough data and equipment to see how cheap off the
shelf bulbs react at different stages of overdrive. If a bulb only lasts 6-8 mo overdriven
but only costs 3.00 ..so what tis cheaper than 20.00 a bulb and I can get it downtown!
If a bulb will only last 8 mo it takes me 4 mo to find that out, meanwhile I have a VERY
well lit basement! I just need to gather (bum) what I need to test color temp and par for
various bulb and ballast combos. I'll post a chart as the experiment progresses.

PS: that ballast here is Universal brand and 18.90 local..same number as GE (universal # B432I120rh-a)

In the meantime maybe I can find you a 'respectable size" mug
so you wont have to suffer with that shot glass.......

ST

[big t]

HaHa Satcom, I like you already! I can tell you that I have used the advance ballast from the other thread and the bulbs lasted for over 10 months. They didn't burn out and were significantly brighter than w/ a stock ballast. I don't use them anymore tho since I am using the ballast to run some pc bulbs for my sump. It is good to have another tinkerer around here, never too many of those around

[satcom56]

Thats great to hear that you have had success in the past doing this,do you happen to remember what bulbs you had installed?
(put down teacup....think...) My goal is to see what 'common' bulbs do under these conditions. I find than current ballast have
thermal protection built in and shut down the ballast if they get
too hot. After they cool they reset and life is good again...
BTW do you have a BTA in your tank? I have found that if you go to the
"dollar' store that you can get these super neat and wonderful
page magnifiers that if are placed between the shield on the lights and the bulbs will create a circle of more intense light
that can fe focused where you want the BTA to be. VIOLA..
he finds the spot and you cant make him move! All for a buck..

ps: if you 'want' him to move just slide the fresnel just a lil each
day till he is where you want him.....DON'T do this if you use MH
you will fry him.

please forgive spelling .... shot glass collector..

[Doug1]

I have had good luck overdriving GE and Sylvania 6500K NO on Icecap, but thats a higher $ item than the others

[ricksreef]

i'm overdriving one bulb 4X(40W 6500K sylvania daylight deluxe $4 HD) lasts about 5-6 months. i'm also OD'ing 4 tubes 2X on the
same tank (125G) these generally last me 9-12 months (6500K &
03's).

[satcom56]

Hello ricksreef...
Sounds good,changing bulbs twice a year is not bad when they
are only a few bucks. Do you notice the green tint go away when
the 40w bulbs are overdriven? I found the 20w running next to
the set on a normal ballast dont have that tint,got to run out the
first 100hrs and see.There is an obvious color shift ODing this bulb
I also have a set of Philips 'Alto' daylight running (4 bucks) and see a shift there too.
I'm running all the test bulbs for 11hrs on - 1hr off then back on
for 11hr. This cuts real time testing in half and lets bulbs and ballast cool to room temp between cycles.
So far I like the 'look' of the Philips bulb the best ...

Thanks everybody for the replys so far....still a testin'

[ricksreef]

there's a definite yellow cast until the OD actinics kick in.