Inexpensive Metal Halide SE Bulbs on eBay

[Almon]

Please help me out here as I know very little about ballasts and bulbs.

 

 

 

Someone is selling MH bulbs of various temperatures for $19 ($10 + $9 in shipping). The DE bulbs are $2 less. I asked him who the manufacturer was and he replied that the vendor doesn't tell him fearing that this guy will go directly to the manufacturer. What is wrong with these bulbs, other than the anonymous manufacturer? Will any electronic ballast run this bulb? Why is this a bad idea?

 

 

 

 

 

175 Watt Metal Halide Aquarium Bulb

You are bidding the 175 Watt Metal Halide Aquarium Bulb, direct from manufacturer, brand new.

 

The most popular metal halide color temperature available. Duplicates the coloration of the mid-day tropical sun between eight and fifteen feet of water depth. The perfect color temperature for replicating the natural light for the majority of reef inhabitants. Provides a crisp white light that brings out the colors of the reef and it's inhabitants, while producing a crisp, shimmering effect throughout the aquarium. Ideal for shallow and mid-range reef animals. Appearance: Crisp White

 

175 Watt Metal Halide Bulb

10,000 kelvin

T Bulb Shape

E39 Mogul Base

CRI 65

Runs on an M57 Ballast

Horizontal Burn Position

[BeltwayBandit]

These are probably the same 'chineese bulbs' that several members tried a while back. I think the biggest issues with the bulbs was low PAR and poor manufacturing (lots of defective bulbs). Howard would be the best person to ask about the bulbs.

 

BB

[fab]

A seller should have no fear of your going around him. The seller's vendor should not have a similar fear. He is not going to be able to buy from directly from a manufacturer; unless he is a distributor, probably a master distributor at that. Maybe he could buy at a reduced price from a distributor like Hamilton Lighting, PFO, or Champion, if he can do enough volume, but not from the manufacturer.

 

What he may be up against is that the bulbs are "knock-offs" by a minor manufacturer and you would never be able to find the manufacturer if you researched it. There are a lot of private label items in the trade. Some private label knock-offs some private label existing brands. Many private labels and knock-offs are not necessarily bad items, but you might not be able to recognize most of the brands. Some of the knock-offs are very good. ASM, for example, is an American knock-off of the German Euro-Reef, according to some.

 

If you can't get the manufacturer out of the seller, go elsewhere. In fact, he should go elsewhere also and get past the weak story he is hiding behind.

 

... And, by the way, "Kelvin" is always spelled with a capital "K" by anyone who knows his stuff and who is careful about detail.

 

fab

Edited June 8, 2007 by fab