linkfalcon December 23, 2012 Share December 23, 2012 What draws less power lighting 3 40 gallon breeders 6 bulb t5 Or Electronic ballest 175w Thanks guys Or thinking evergrow d120 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott_LM December 24, 2012 Share December 24, 2012 6 T5 at 39W a piece puts you at 234Watts 175W MH puts you at 175 WATTS Now what I don't know is the effiency and power factor of your ballasts. If you look at the label on your ballast it normally identifies input voltage and amperage. P=IE is the equation you are looking for to figure out Watts, Watts = Current x voltage, but the values need to be plugged in from the specs on the ballast, not from the bulb. Generic overview of how you figure it out, if you want to get a more in depth answer you will need to post pics of you ballast labels. HTH Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coral Hind December 24, 2012 Share December 24, 2012 To figure out the power usage just add up the watts. However, in lighting it isn't as simple as just the wattage as to what is best for the corals. You need to look at spectrum, color temperature, and induced heat on the system. Also look into bulb replacement costs for each system. Are you putting 6 bulbs over each of the 40BG's? That's a lot of ligh in my opinion. P=IE is the equation you are looking for to figure out Watts, Watts = Current x voltage, but the values need to be plugged in from the specs on the ballast, not from the bulb. Was that from CDC volume 1? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott_LM December 24, 2012 Share December 24, 2012 The CDCs I took never went over power factor, that is something I had to learn later in life. Are you AF? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coral Hind December 24, 2012 Share December 24, 2012 You forgot! Yeah, used to work with you in the High Voltage shop. You're the one that got me into this club twelve years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linkfalcon December 24, 2012 Author Share December 24, 2012 Looking at Lumatek 250W 120/240V Dimmable /Multi-Wattage Wondering what draws and uses less power Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coral Hind December 24, 2012 Share December 24, 2012 Like we've stated, just add up the wattage and compare or at least give us more info on what types you want to compare. A 250w Lumatek is going to use more than a 175w or the 6x39w T5s. Also, I feel a 250w is too much for a 40GB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linkfalcon December 24, 2012 Author Share December 24, 2012 CoralVue LuXcore Selectable Digital Electronic Metal Halide Ballast Information Settings: 150w, 175w, 250w, 250w Super Lumens Input voltage: 120v Input current: 2.10a~2.30a Input Power: 260w Power Factor: > .99 This is the info that I could find and the unit I'm looking at Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coral Hind December 24, 2012 Share December 24, 2012 And which light do you want to compare it with? Which wattage bulb will you be using with this ballast? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linkfalcon December 24, 2012 Author Share December 24, 2012 Would use a 150w Compare it to a 6 bulb t5. Thanks man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coral Hind December 24, 2012 Share December 24, 2012 If you are doing 6x39w t5 then as Scott mentioned above then that comes to 234w which is good bit over the 150w MH. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linkfalcon December 24, 2012 Author Share December 24, 2012 So the power usage on the mh is less correct I have always read that mh cause high power bills thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trockafella December 24, 2012 Share December 24, 2012 What are you trying to grow? Personally I would probably go with a T5 that is 6 bulb but a 24" unit. If your only going for softies and LPS then a 4 bulb would be fine. I use a 4x39watt on a 48x18x18 tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linkfalcon December 24, 2012 Author Share December 24, 2012 Zoos buttons lps softies mushrooms Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trockafella December 24, 2012 Share December 24, 2012 You can easily get away with a 4x24 or one of those evergrow 120's. Those corals are much less demanding in terms of light requirements. 6x36 would be overkill, and actually could do more harm then good. A lot of LPS thrive in lower light with lower flow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linkfalcon December 24, 2012 Author Share December 24, 2012 Cool thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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