This page reflects data collected from my testing of 250 watt MH lamps and ballasts. The colors of the lamps over my tank can be seen below. Every effort has been made to represent the colors as they truly look over my tank. The information under the ballast section represents the PAR output of the lamp being driven as well as the ballast power consumption. Note the data under the ballast is not the power going to the lamp, rather what the ballast is drawing from the wall outlet.

To see the whole thread this information is taken from please visit Reef Central.

250 watt SE MH lamps compared

These tests were conducted to measure Photsynthetically Available Radiation (PAR) output from 250 watt Metal Halide SE lamps. PAR is the available light between 400-700nm (nanometers). This spectrum is the light spectrum that we, as humans, can see. It is also the area in which photosynthesis occurs in plants. There are considerable discussions to whether the whole PAR spectrum applies to corals or whether just a few narrow bands. So far there is no definitive proof one way or the other. So PAR is still the best measure we presently have of judging how intense the lamps output is in relation to coral usage.

How these tests were conducted.

The lamps tested were burned in at least 120-150 hours. All lamps with the exception of the Ushio, AB and Blueline Super White, were new. The Ushio, AB and Blueline Superwhite had roughly 6 months use on them (aprox 1600hrs). A 2’ x 2’ square box was constructed, the inside painted flat black. The mogul socket was mounted horizontally aprox 5” from the ceiling of the box. The quantum sensor was place 8” below the center of the arc tube. A voltage regulator was used on power from the wall electrical socket. A watt meter was plugged into the voltage regulator and the ballast plugged into the watt meter. All electrical readings under the ballast section are measurements of the power being drawn by the ballast not the power going to the lamp.

All lamps, before testing, were fired and left to burn for at least 20 minutes before any measurement were performed. After 20 minutes, the sensor was turned on and time was given for a stable reading to be displayed from the meter. Sometime between 2-5 minutes the reading on the meter would stabilize for at least 30 seconds with no movement, at that time readings were recorded.

Equipment used
Apogee Instruments QMSS-ELEC Quantum meter with sensor. Calibrated for electric lamps.
Apogee Instruments leveling plate for the senor
APC LINE-R 600, Voltage regulator/Power Conditioner.
Electronic Educational Devices Watts Up?, Power Analyzer/Watt Meter.
Nikon 995 digital camera used with tripod for pictures.

Actual power to lamp.

Here are some measurements that were taken to see how the ballast actually drive the lamp. On the Radium lamp the Standard PFO ballast would not drive start the lamp, so no information is given.

Measurements were taken using a BK 5390 Multimeter. Measurements for current are TRMS. Both AC and AC+DC were taken as the electronic ballasts seem to use the DC signwave as well. All measurements were taken on the wire between the ballast and lamp. The lamps were first ignited by the ballast then let to burn for 20 minutes, at that time measurements were taken. The first line for the lamp in bold are the manufactures specifications of the lamp, what follows are the reading from running the lamp on different ballasts.

LAMP	BALLAST	AC AMP	AC+DC AMP	Volts	kHz	Line watts	Line volts
Radium	SPEC	2.80	2.80	95-100
Radium	HQI	2.63	2.63	113.50	59.98 Hz	308	117
Radium	ARO	3.20	4.79	112.37	76.80	249	117
Radium	eballast	2.21	1.95	110.65	80.73	242	121
Radium	IceCap	3.20	4.58	109.60	70.47	248	119
Radium	CV	2.29	2.01	109.63	67.52	264	119
Radium	ReefFanatic	2.28	2.80	131.90	42.03	246	119
Radium	EVC	2.37	2.88	115.80	44.68	247	119
Ushio	SPEC	3.00	3.00	100.00
Ushio	ARO	2.94	4.64	125.43	77.95	249	119
Ushio	Standard	2.11	2.11	129.34	59.98Hz	273	118
Ushio	HQI	2.43	2.43	133.41	59.98Hz	339	118
Ushio	eballast	1.80	1.59	123.04	86.68	243	119
Ushio	IceCap	2.87	4.40	127.78	73.43	254	119
Ushio	CV	1.84	1.62	125.39	72.84	254	121
Ushio	ReefFantic	2.62	3.20	116	44.06	246	119
Ushio	EVC	2.10	2.42	132.20	41.98	246	120

Lamp heat due to ballasts

Ballasts contribute to the amount of heat produced by the lamp. Temperature measurements were taken at the same distance from the lamp as the sensor, 8". The ballast was turned on with a fan above the lamp pulling heat out. After 35 minutes the temperature at 8" from the lamp was taken then the fan was turned off. After 10 minutes more (for a total of 45), temperature was taken again and recorded.

Ballast	Lamp	0 Min	35 Min	45 Min/No Fan
PFO Standard	Ushio	70.0F	83.2F	90.1F
PFO HQI	Ushio	70.3F	87.5F	97.2F
eballast	Ushio	70.5F	81.4F	89.5F
Icecap	Ushio	70.1F	78.6F	85.2F
CoralVue	Ushio	70.3F	82.1F	90.6F
ARO	Ushio	70.2F	79.6F	88.3F

Apogee senor accuracy

There were numerous questions as to the accuracy of the apogee sensor used in the test. To answer questions as to the margin of error that this sensor produced, I contacted apogee and discussed this with them. They agreed to send to me two LiCor sensor that they use for in house for testing. The sensors were first calibrated by them and then sent to me. Measurements were then taken using the two LiCor sensor then averaged to produce a value. The reading from the Apogee was then compared to that obtained by the LiCor sensors. The table below shows the margin of error the apogee was off compared to the LiCor. Also shown is a differential factor. If this factor is applied to the apogee reading, it will correct for any deficiencies of the sensor. As all lamps have a slightly different spectral curve it if different for each lamp.

LAMP	Adj factor	Error %
AB10K	1.042700	4.27
XM10K	1.000102	0.01
XM20K	1.054623	5.46
Radium	1.020256	2.03
CV10K	1.014444	1.45
Ushio10K	1.022647	2.26
PFO13K	1.066219	6.62
Iwasaki	1.004403	4.40
BLSW	1.035931	3.59
SUN10K	1.041306	4.13
CV15k	1.062583	6.26
CV20K	1.031709	3.17
BL10K	1.020969	2.10
HM14K	1.041438	4.14
AC14K	1.027771	2.77
SUNBRST	1.025221	2.52
CV12K	1.076923	7.69
SUN14K	1.026404	2.63

Picture on the left is with actinics off. Picture on the right is with (2) 140 watt URI VHO actinics on.

AB13K: Aqualine Buske 13000K

AC14K: AquaConnect 14000K

BL10K: Blueline 10K 250 watt MH

BLSW: Blueline Super White

CV10K: CoralVue 10000K

CV12K:

CV15K: CoralVue 15000K

CV20K: CoralVue 20000K

EVC10K: EVC 10000K

HM14K: Hamilton 14K

Iwasaki: Iwasaki 6500K

PFO 13K: PFO 13000K

Radium:

SBURST12K:

SUN10K: Sun Aquatics 10000K

SUN14K:

SUN20K:

Ushio: Ushio 10000K MH

XM10K: XM 10000K

XM20K: XM 20000K

ARO (Hellolights) Electronic Ballast
Lamp	PAR	Watts	MaxWatts	Amps	MaxAmp
Iwasaki	605	250	253	2.11	2.19
XM10K	526	250	251	2.16	2.37
BLSW	465	250	254	2.16	2.2
EVC10K	463	249	256	2.16	2.19
SUN10K	461	248	256	2.14	2.23
AB13K	434	252	254	2.15	2.51
Ushio	408	251	269	2.14	2.61
AC14K	391	253	258	2.23	2.33
CV10K	360	249	251	2.11	2.15
HM14K	338	249	253	2.17	2.63
Radium	327	249	252	2.18	2.23
SBURST12K	302	250	270	2.18	2.5
CV20K	286	249	265	2.16	2.55
XM20K	270	250	253	2.16	2.41
SUN14K	259	249	255	2.15	2.37
CV12K	258	250	273	2.17	2.48
BL10K	253	246	250	2.14	2.19
CV15K	243	250	252	2.16	2.22
SUN20K	227	246	278	2.17	2.53
PFO 13K	206	251	252	2.16	2.19
XM15K	171	252	256	2.2	2.27
CoralVue Electronic Ballast
Lamp	PAR	Watts	MaxWatts	Amps	MaxAmp
Iwasaki	569	247	266	2.0	2.36
XM10K	541	257	270	2.12	2.5
BLSW	480	252	270	2.02	2.2
CV10K	430	262	265	2.1	2.13
AB13K	368	224	268	1.8	2.39
HM14K	363	258	268	2.09	2.49
Ushio	363	255	265	2.08	2.38
Radium	337	260	269	2.13	2.89
CV20K	316	260	265	2.09	2.22
CV15K	311	260	265	2.1	2.16
BL10K	265	256	261	2.09	2.12
XM20K	257	248	269	2.01	2.19
PFO 13K	203	244	268	1.97	2.17
Blueline E-Ballast Electronic Ballast
Lamp	PAR	Watts	MaxWatts	Amps	MaxAmp
Iwasaki	558	244	247	1.99	2.14
XM10K	521	243	244	2.0	2.03
BLSW	474	246	250	1.99	2.11
EVC10K	468	245	249	1.99	2.05
SUN10K	468	244	245	1.99	2.0
Ushio	430	245	247	2.0	2.03
AB13K	428	246	249	1.99	2.09
AC14K	390	246	247	2.0	2.03
Radium	343	243	244	1.98	2.0
CV10K	341	242	243	1.95	1.96
CV20K	340	242	244	1.93	2.0
HM14K	323	242	243	1.95	2.05
SUN14K	266	240	241	1.93	1.95
BL10K	261	240	242	1.93	2.71
CV12K	243	242	268	1.98	2.52
CV15K	238	242	243	1.95	2.21
SUN20K	234	240	240	1.92	2.64
XM20K	228	244	250	1.99	2.12
XM15K	194	248	249	2.0	2.24
PFO 13K	178	244	245	1.97	1.99
EVC Ballast
Lamp	PAR	Watts	MaxWatts	Amps	MaxAmp
XM10K	559	246	249	2.03	2.8
Iwasaki	517	247	250	2.03	2.87
AC14K	438	250	254	2.03	2.1
SUN10K	425	247	248	2.01	3.29
BLSW	423	247	249	2.0	3.2
EVC10K	412	246	248	2.01	2.08
Ushio	394	247	248	2.02	3.65
HM14K	350	246	250	2.01	2.06
Radium	294	247	248	2.03	2.59
SBURST12K	291	246	251	2.01	3.66
BL10K	290	247	248	1.98	2.37
SUN14K	261	246	248	2.0	3.33
CV12K	257	246	294	1.97	2.02
XM20K	254	246	247	2.0	2.59
SUN20K	241	247	248	2.01	2.14
XM15K	211	252	256	2.07	2.12
PFO 13K	184	246	248	2.0	2.4
IceCap Electronic Ballast
Lamp	PAR	Watts	MaxWatts	Amps	MaxAmp
Iwasaki	651	252	275	2.17	2.45
XM10K	530	252	254	2.2	2.82
SUN10K	494	252	255	2.14	3.86
BLSW	494	252	254	2.15	2.83
EVC10K	492	252	254	2.15	2.96
AB13K	422	254	257	2.17	2.3
Ushio	414	252	258	2.19	3.41
AC14K	406	252	264	2.17	2.32
CV10K	387	250	251	2.17	2.46
HM14K	352	251	252	2.17	2.29
Radium	330	252	275	2.19	3.56
CV20K	307	251	253	2.2	2.25
SBURST12K	304	253	284	2.17	2.61
XM20K	270	252	301	2.17	2.81
BL10K	263	248	250	2.18	3.68
CV12K	259	251	253	2.17	3.32
SUN14K	253	251	308	2.18	2.79
CV15K	242	251	252	2.2	3.85
PFO 13K	227	251	268	2.18	2.86
SUN20K	224	247	249	2.2	3.0
XM15K	187	252	254	2.17	2.83
PFO HQI
Lamp	PAR	Watts	MaxWatts	Amps	MaxAmp
Iwasaki	950	355	384	3.02	4.79
XM10K	835	340	341	2.93	4.07
BLSW	702	349	359	3.0	5.72
EVC10K	700	345	350	2.99	3.87
SUN10K	699	342	346	2.95	3.36
AB13K	659	341	349	2.96	4.55
Ushio	617	349	360	3.0	7.42
CV10K	457	333	335	2.87	3.25
AC14K	453	311	313	2.85	4.74
HM14K	420	317	361	2.79	6.86
Radium	395	311	315	2.75	3.28
SBURST12K	378	311	698	2.79	14.27
CV20K	355	321	330	2.79	5.18
CV15K	336	317	322	2.76	4.55
CV12K	328	310	314	2.73	4.45
XM15K	318	312	847	2.79	16.33
XM20K	314	327	337	2.85	3.94
SUN14K	314	327	490	2.92	8.69
PFO 13K	308	311	418	2.76	8.08
BL10K	292	310	385	2.83	10.03
SUN20K	232	292	393	2.81	10.65
PFO Standard
Lamp	PAR	Watts	MaxWatts	Amps	MaxAmp
Iwasaki	691	286	331	2.53	6.86
XM10K	600	268	269	2.47	3.39
AB13K	566	301	303	2.64	3.81
BLSW	514	273	274	2.49	5.47
EVC10K	512	271	278	2.5	3.12
SUN10K	510	270	277	2.51	2.69
Ushio	485	284	285	2.53	4.57
CV10K	324	231	233	2.32	4.03
SBURST12K	309	269	269	2.51	6.01
Radium	283	231	232	2.38	6.81
CV20K	275	226	261	2.3	7.93
XM15K	264	265	267	2.55	7.42
PFO 13K	248	257	258	2.5	6.8
XM20K	242	285	285	2.57	3.75
CV15K	242	227	239	2.35	4.14
AC14K	228	212	274	2.33	8.29
SUN14K	228	224	228	2.32	4.08
HM14K	214	219	220	2.3	7.12
CV12K	190	230	230	2.38	3.54
SUN20K	148	198	199	2.25	6.11
Reef Fanatic
Lamp	PAR	Watts	MaxWatts	Amps	MaxAmp
XM10K	571	247	248	2.03	2.77
Iwasaki	523	247	248	2.03	3.3
BLSW	454	246	247	2.0	3.75
AC14K	441	247	249	2.03	2.62
SUN10K	420	246	249	1.98	3.68
EVC10K	417	247	248	2.01	3.44
Ushio	383	246	248	2.04	2.67
HM14K	350	247	248	2.03	2.6
BL10K	294	246	247	1.94	2.7
SBURST12K	283	247	250	2.01	2.21
SUN14K	257	246	247	2.01	2.15
CV12K	252	246	248	2.0	2.92
XM20K	246	246	334	2.03	3.31
SUN20K	239	246	247	2.0	2.02
XM15K	209	251	253	2.07	2.09
PFO 13K	185	246	248	2.0	3.35