Ballast question

Ptahkeem · 02-14-2004, 12:01 AM

I was wondering if you could use a Fulham Workhorse 5 ballast to power 1 55watt power compact bulb and 1 24watt t5 bulb. According to the specs on the ballast it can power t5 bulbs but I dont know if you can mix and match. Here are the specs for the ballast.
Specifications of WorkHorse 5
Maximum Power 128 Watts
Maximum Current (120vac) 1.15 AMP
Operating Voltage 120 VAC ± 10%
Black/White Wires Long Case - 18"
Red/Yellow Wires Long Case - 36"
Ballast Case Size Long Case - H 1", W 1.72", L 9.5"
Ballast Weight 14 OZ
High Power Factor > .90
Ballast Min. Operating Temp. -20° F (-30º C)
Ballast Maximum case Temp. 158º F (70º C)
Ballast Lamp Starting Mode Instant Start
Class P (Thermal) Sound Rating - A
Regulatory Approvals UL & cUL Listed
Lamp Type Lamp Quantity
22.5" 25W T5HO 4
34.5" 39W T5HO 3
46.5" 54W T5HO 2
58.5" 80W T5HO 1
28W PC 2
36W PC 2
55W PC 2
65W PC 2
96W PC 1

Rex Grigg · 02-14-2004, 12:45 AM

As far as I know the two bulbs have to have equal wattage.

salito718 · 02-14-2004, 12:55 AM

you cant mix and match bulbs.............you have to use the same type and wattage of bulbs

BOTIA · 02-15-2004, 08:42 AM

Hi I have a fulham workhorse 7 ballast on my 70. I talked to fulham about this type of setup.They told me all bulbs must be the same or the lower wattage bulb will be overdriven to some extent depending on wattage. My setup uses 3 40watt P&A lights and 1 6500k T8. In my setup the 6500k T8 bulb ends up overdriven by a factor of 2(because it is running on 400ma instead on 200ma) so I get 6000 lumens instead of 3000. The bulb won't last as long but at 3$ a bulb I don't care cause I get 184watts that way.I have also done 2x40watt+2 T8 at 64 watts each so 208 watts total but the ballast runs warmer than I like. I have 34 cfm fan on my hood that keeps ambient temp at 82 degrees which makes my bulbs last longer. Better to get mutilple ballasts for separate CF lights. Next time I will get two ballasts on separate timers to simulate morning,high noon and dusk.Should ease the stress for the fish having a more natural light cycle...
Fulhams are cheap and high quality a good bargain. I f you get the longhorse version it is remote, so you could install it in a box with heatsink and a fan to increase eff..

Rolo · 02-18-2004, 10:20 PM

As far as I know, you cannot only mix NO with PC, but the bulbs need to be the same wattage too.

02-15-2004, 08:42 AM	#4
BOTIA Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Beautiful British Columbia (North Vancouver) Posts: 369	Hi I have a fulham workhorse 7 ballast on my 70. I talked to fulham about this type of setup.They told me all bulbs must be the same or the lower wattage bulb will be overdriven to some extent depending on wattage. My setup uses 3 40watt P&A lights and 1 6500k T8. In my setup the 6500k T8 bulb ends up overdriven by a factor of 2(because it is running on 400ma instead on 200ma) so I get 6000 lumens instead of 3000. The bulb won't last as long but at 3$ a bulb I don't care cause I get 184watts that way.I have also done 2x40watt+2 T8 at 64 watts each so 208 watts total but the ballast runs warmer than I like. I have 34 cfm fan on my hood that keeps ambient temp at 82 degrees which makes my bulbs last longer. Better to get mutilple ballasts for separate CF lights. Next time I will get two ballasts on separate timers to simulate morning,high noon and dusk.Should ease the stress for the fish having a more natural light cycle... Fulhams are cheap and high quality a good bargain. I f you get the longhorse version it is remote, so you could install it in a box with heatsink and a fan to increase eff.. __________________ 15 tall with pressurized c02 jebo 828 , 9w turbotwist uv. up-aqua co2 atomizer16/22 & small yoyo and striata loaches and praecox rainbows.

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02-14-2004, 12:01 AM	#1
Ptahkeem Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 164	I was wondering if you could use a Fulham Workhorse 5 ballast to power 1 55watt power compact bulb and 1 24watt t5 bulb. According to the specs on the ballast it can power t5 bulbs but I dont know if you can mix and match. Here are the specs for the ballast. Specifications of WorkHorse 5 Maximum Power 128 Watts Maximum Current (120vac) 1.15 AMP Operating Voltage 120 VAC ± 10% Black/White Wires Long Case - 18" Red/Yellow Wires Long Case - 36" Ballast Case Size Long Case - H 1", W 1.72", L 9.5" Ballast Weight 14 OZ High Power Factor > .90 Ballast Min. Operating Temp. -20° F (-30º C) Ballast Maximum case Temp. 158º F (70º C) Ballast Lamp Starting Mode Instant Start Class P (Thermal) Sound Rating - A Regulatory Approvals UL & cUL Listed Lamp Type Lamp Quantity 22.5" 25W T5HO 4 34.5" 39W T5HO 3 46.5" 54W T5HO 2 58.5" 80W T5HO 1 28W PC 2 36W PC 2 55W PC 2 65W PC 2 96W PC 1

02-14-2004, 12:45 AM	#2
Rex Grigg Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (65/100%) Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Portland Orygun Posts: 9,600	As far as I know the two bulbs have to have equal wattage.

02-14-2004, 12:55 AM	#3
salito718 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Rahway, NJ Posts: 111	you cant mix and match bulbs.............you have to use the same type and wattage of bulbs

02-18-2004, 10:20 PM	#5
Rolo Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota Posts: 1,716	As far as I know, you cannot only mix NO with PC, but the bulbs need to be the same wattage too.