Can you replace a metal halide bulb with LED?
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Can you replace a metal halide bulb with LED?
Light-emitting diode (LED) technology advancements now allow you to retrofit your metal halide lamps with a simple bulb change. LEDs can give you comparable lumens at a fraction of the energy cost. They are also longer-lived and show a lower reduction of performance over their service life.
How often should you change metal halide bulbs?
MH (Metal Halide) bulbs need to be replaced every 8 months on a 18 hour on 6 hour off cycle. MH bulbs lose 40% output in a year, so you lose around 40% yield. Problems like the light going on & off with power outages make the life of the bulb even shorter.
Is there a difference in metal halide bulbs?
Metal halide lights are 3-5 times as efficient as incandescent bulbs and produce a much higher quality light. In many cases, and depending on the particular mix of metal halides, they have a very high color temperature (up to 5500K).
What causes a metal halide to go off?
With metal halide lamps, the effect is generally noticed in the startup period when the lamp ignites, starts to warm up and then extinguishes (cycling). This may be caused by improper voltage/current relationships delivered by ballast. Under certain conditions new lamps may “cycle”.
How do I identify a metal halide lamp?
The metal halide lamps used in the aquarium hobby are typically characterized and sold based on different attributes, such as:
- the manufacturer’s/lamp’s name;
- the lamp’s nominal wattage;
- the type of method used to mount the lamp, along with the number of ends in the sockets used to mount the lamps and;
Do metal halide bulbs need ballast?
Metal halide (MH) ballasts are required to start the lamp, regulate the lamp starting and lamp operating currents, and provide appropriate sustaining supply voltage.
What is the LED equivalent of 400W halogen?
LED equivalents to metal halide lighting
| Metal Halide Light Bulb Wattage | LED Equivalent Wattage |
|---|---|
| 400 Watt | 200 Watt |
| 250 Watt | 100 Watt |
| 150 Watt | 80 Watt |
| 100 Watt | 30 Watt |
Why is my metal halide bulb flickering?
With mercury lamps, improper ballasting can cause flickering or erratic operation. With metal halide lamps, the effect is generally noticed in the startup period when the lamp ignites, starts to warm up and then extinguishes (cycling). This may be caused by improper voltage/current relationships delivered by ballast.
How long does a metal halide ballast last?
Three years is about right, maybe a bit long for HID lamps. If you look in the lamp catalogs, for example it will list 15,000 hours. This is the average life, and at that life you will have 50% failure, of course depending on the burn time.
Are HPS and MH bulbs interchangeable?
The primary visual difference between them is that metal halide light is white and the light emitted from a High Pressure Sodium bulb is amber orange. These bulbs cannot be interchanged without changing their ballast, the regulating element in all light bulbs.
What is the difference between MH and HPS bulbs?
MH lamps provide a more natural appearance in color and are typically the choice for plants that have little to no natural light available. High Pressure Sodium (HPS) lamps provide more yellow/red spectrum, which is ideal for most plants that are actively fruiting and flowering.
