Xref: utzoo sci.electronics:3209 sci.physics:3714 rec.pets:2987 misc.wanted:2531 misc.consumers:5570
Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!mailrus!ames!killer!gladys!rbdc!andy
From: andy@rbdc.UUCP (Andy Pitts)
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: <525@rbdc.UUCP>
Date: 3 Jul 88 01:33:33 GMT
References: <523@rbdc.UUCP> <5164@ihlpf.ATT.COM>
Organization: Red Barn Data Center
Lines: 33

In article <5164@ihlpf.ATT.COM>, straka@ihlpf.ATT.COM (Straka) writes:
> 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.

I know that mercury vapor lamps have a bad spectra for my purpose.  However 
the question was, will 175 Watt metal halides (which have a very nice spectra)
operate with a 175 watt mercury vapor ballast (which can be bought cheep).  I
have had one person tell me that the lamps are interchangable in some ballasts
which are labeled for use with either type of lamp.  A lot of old street lamps
have ballasts with little or no labeling and I still would like to know
if metal halides will work with these ballasts.  I have had several people
kindly offer suggestions about using flourescent lamps (and I may do that)
and others wanting to know if I found out any thing.  One person has even given
me the numbers for the lamps and ballasts (Thanks, that will help), but so
far no one has answered my questions. There must be someone on the net who
knows something about metal halide lighting.

Please direct follow ups to sci.electronics of reply to me directly.

Thanks in advance.
-- 
Andy Pitts andy@rbdc.UUCP  : "The giant Gorf was hit in  one eye  by a stone,
att    \                   : and that eye  turned  inward  so  that it looked
kd4nc   !gladys!rbdc!andy  : into his mind and he died of what he saw there."
pacbell/                   :   --_The Forgotten Beast of Eld_, McKillip--