Xref: utzoo sci.electronics:3197 sci.physics:3689 rec.pets:2949 misc.wanted:2519 misc.consumers:5541
Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!lll-tis!ames!pacbell!att!ihnp4!ihlpf!straka
From: straka@ihlpf.ATT.COM (Straka)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics,sci.physics,rec.pets,misc.wanted,misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Need information about metal halide lights
Keywords: Metal halide lights
Message-ID: <5164@ihlpf.ATT.COM>
Date: 30 Jun 88 12:47:52 GMT
References: <523@rbdc.UUCP>
Reply-To: straka@ihlpf.UUCP (55223-Straka,R.J.)
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories - Naperville, Illinois
Lines: 18

In article <523@rbdc.UUCP> andy@rbdc.UUCP (Andy Pitts) writes:
>
>I want to build a light hood for a marine aquarium.  This requires intense
>light with a spectrum that closely matches the sun.  The best results seem
>to be with metal halide arc lamps.  Commercially available units sell for
...
>1) Mercury vapor street lights can be had at very reasonable prices. Can

As I recall, mercury vapor lamps have VERY strong spectral lines.  This
spectrum is VERY unrepresentative of sunlight.  However, your typical
fluorescent lamp (which uses a mercury vapor discharge, too) gives you a
better shot at a wide spectrum because of the phoshor coating which
fluoresces at some range of longer wavelengths.  Try comparing standard cool
white, warm white, and other specialty phosphor coatings.  One of them or a
combination of 2 of more different lamps may get you what you want.
-- 
Rich Straka     ihnp4!ihlpf!straka

Avoid BrainDamage: MSDOS - just say no!