pbnj Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 (edited) I'm looking forward and contemplating lighting for my 240g (96x24x24). My initial plan was for two 48" 2X250W+T5s Outer Orbit fixtures, especially since I already have one fixture. My ideal plan is five Hamilton Cayman Sun 400W HQI Systems with LED lights and Hamilton 400W HQI ballasts. I'm not concerned about the electric bill, but I am concerned about the amps needs to run all these 400Ws. On average, how many amps is required for a single 400W bulb/ballast? I guess I can contact Hamilton Technology, but I thought I'd throw it out there. I know I have 20 amp circuits and the room has four available outlets, but I haven't checked to see if the outlets are on one or more circuits. I'll play with the breaker switches and find out. Edited November 25, 2009 by pbnj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+mcallahan Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 Just put 2x1000 MH's and justify the expense of getting some dedicated circuits put in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diabeetus Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 idk spanish, sorry bud Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbnj Posted November 25, 2009 Author Share Posted November 25, 2009 idk spanish, sorry bud Qué? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbnj Posted November 25, 2009 Author Share Posted November 25, 2009 (edited) Ooooo, maybe this is the way to go! http://www.eco-lamps.com/pdf/KR92%20leaflet.pdf Edited November 25, 2009 by pbnj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doktorstick Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 About 4A per 400W HQI ballast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonSequitur Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 Ooooo, maybe this is the way to go! http://www.eco-lamps...2%20leaflet.pdf From what I've been reading, LED lamps cost quite a bit more than MH initially (unless you DIY), but can pay for themselves over time in power savings and lamp replacement costs. If you haven't already, you may want to talk with Dena, her husband built a LED setup for one of their tanks and showed it off at the last meeting. It looked pretty impressive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefman Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 doktorstick, Would a 660-09 ballast be about the same. Would the amp draw be on the data plate? I looked on the Icecap site and couldn't find amp information anywhere on any of the ballasts. Also, are most newer houses have 20 amp circuits? How could you find that info out? Stephen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doktorstick Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 The 660-09 ballast depends on the lamp configuration, but it's max is 4.4A. In a related note, you may find this interesting as it compares ballasts and their effective energy consumption. I thought each circuit was 15A, but your "newer house" question makes me doubt my answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doktorstick Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 From what I've been reading, LED lamps cost quite a bit more than MH initially (unless you DIY), but can pay for themselves over time in power savings and lamp replacement costs. If you haven't already, you may want to talk with Dena, her husband built a LED setup for one of their tanks and showed it off at the last meeting. It looked pretty impressive Dena's man-toy did do a DIY LED lighting, but I was the one that gave the demonstration of my LED build at the last meeting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonSequitur Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 It really depends.. a lot of houses use 15a circuits, but lately more are going with 20a circuits and heavier wiring (with 15a receptacles, probably to keep from confusing people when they see a "sideways" slot on their plug) to keep up with our power-hungry society. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbnj Posted November 25, 2009 Author Share Posted November 25, 2009 By no means am I an electrician, but just going by what I read online, it should say right on the breaker switches. All of my swicthes have 20's on them, so I'm assuming they're all 20 amps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefman Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 pbnj, I'll check my breakers and see what they say. dockorstick, I called Marine Depot tech spt and asked them about the Icecap 400W ballast. They said it pulls 5.4 amps. Also asked them about the 660-09, and they said the same as you have 4.4 amps. Thanks for the link on ballast performance, I'll read it. Stephen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbnj Posted November 28, 2009 Author Share Posted November 28, 2009 (edited) Looks like I will have to go a different route after all. Just read that Current USA disconstinued their line of Outer Orbit fixtures. Edited November 28, 2009 by pbnj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefman Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 Makes sense, I saw those fixtures at huge dioscounts on a site yesterday. It was either AquaCave or Marine Depot. Stephen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbnj Posted November 28, 2009 Author Share Posted November 28, 2009 I'm liking the Hamiltion 400W BELIZE SUN - 48" HQI + High Output T5 + LED Lighting Systems (Electronic Ballasts): BELIZE SUN 48" HQI +T5 + LED Lighting System by Hamilton Technology* - AquaCave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caferacermike Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 That is a really nice light system. Looks exactly like the one I hand built for myself. Wish there had been one like this at this price point when I got in the hobby. All you could get was dodgy Coralife fixtures without bulbs for about that price or Maristar fixtures for about $1,500. Hamilton used to not sell a nice fixture like this as they were hand built wooden canopies. I might even consider replacing my fixture as it is getting on about 5 years old now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbnj Posted November 29, 2009 Author Share Posted November 29, 2009 (edited) Looks like my power issue have been solved. Today I tested the circuit breaker switches to see what was what. The bad news is that all of the outlets (4) and lights in the tank/living room are all on one 20A circuit. The good news is that on the other side of one of the living room walls is the laundry room, which has three outlets that are all on separate 20A circuits: one for the washer, one for the dryer, and a third outlet that's designed for a secondary freezer. I just need to run an extension cord (rated for 20A, of course) through the wall to that outlet, which even accepts the perpendicular blades that a lot of 20A extension cords have. So, I should have at least 35 amps in total to work with safely. Assuming even 22 amps for 4x400W MH lights/ballasts and 7 amps for the 1/3 HP chiller, that leaves another 6 amps or so for the pumps, powerheads, and anything else. Edited November 29, 2009 by pbnj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbnj Posted November 29, 2009 Author Share Posted November 29, 2009 (edited) Just read that Aquatinics is planning on releasing a new T5/LED hybrid lighting fixture (72" fixture only). This would truly be a great combo. All of the efficiencies of the T5s (reduced heat/power) and a slight shimmer effect from the LEDs that MH people prefer/require. Edited November 29, 2009 by pbnj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.