I have been reading on and off about ODNO (over-driven normal output) lighting for over a year now, and find that there are questions that are never asked or answered. In the hopes of reaching a level of understanding i can be comfortable with to apply this technique, i'd appreciate help from anyone who knows the answers!
First of all is the common statement that you can put 18", 15W T8s onto an electronic ballast and overdrive them. As i look around (for example, bulbs.com), the only 18" T8s that i see are 'preheat' tubes intended for use in the old cheap-o desk lamps and under-counter lamps that use magnetic ballasts (the annoying ones that require you to hold down the starter button for a few seconds). Furthermore, these tubes are rated at significantly lower lumens and lifetime than the slightly more power-consuming 24" version (F17T8). When people talk about overdriving F15T8s, are they talking about these preheat bulbs, or some intended for instant start electronic ballasts? If these are the bulbs that people are using, then does using an electronic ballast increase the lifetime and output of the bulbs (without overdriving)? In other words, is the large difference in ratings between the F17 and F15 simply because one is intended for magnetic ballasts, and the other for electronic?
Second, i know that the modern T5 lamps are intended to be used only on special ballasts with "end-of-life" circuitry. Are PC lamps (bent T5s, after all) exempt from that need?
- If so, can i pick up a 40W or 36W four-pin PC lamp, plug it into a 2G11 socket (where would i get one), and hook it up to a 4xF32T8 ballast, and have it work according to spec?
- If not, does that mean i can run linear T5s from a 4xF32T8 ballast?
Finally (and unrelated), does anyone sell nice reflectors (similar to AHsupply's) a la carte? Perhaps by the foot? If not, why the heck not?
I'm trying to figure out how to light a new 10gallon tank, and the approach i take depends a lot on these questions, so thanks in advance for your help.
First of all is the common statement that you can put 18", 15W T8s onto an electronic ballast and overdrive them. As i look around (for example, bulbs.com), the only 18" T8s that i see are 'preheat' tubes intended for use in the old cheap-o desk lamps and under-counter lamps that use magnetic ballasts (the annoying ones that require you to hold down the starter button for a few seconds). Furthermore, these tubes are rated at significantly lower lumens and lifetime than the slightly more power-consuming 24" version (F17T8). When people talk about overdriving F15T8s, are they talking about these preheat bulbs, or some intended for instant start electronic ballasts? If these are the bulbs that people are using, then does using an electronic ballast increase the lifetime and output of the bulbs (without overdriving)? In other words, is the large difference in ratings between the F17 and F15 simply because one is intended for magnetic ballasts, and the other for electronic?
Second, i know that the modern T5 lamps are intended to be used only on special ballasts with "end-of-life" circuitry. Are PC lamps (bent T5s, after all) exempt from that need?
- If so, can i pick up a 40W or 36W four-pin PC lamp, plug it into a 2G11 socket (where would i get one), and hook it up to a 4xF32T8 ballast, and have it work according to spec?
- If not, does that mean i can run linear T5s from a 4xF32T8 ballast?
Finally (and unrelated), does anyone sell nice reflectors (similar to AHsupply's) a la carte? Perhaps by the foot? If not, why the heck not?
I'm trying to figure out how to light a new 10gallon tank, and the approach i take depends a lot on these questions, so thanks in advance for your help.