New Coralvue MH Ballast In

[BumpinTJ24]

I just got my ballast in and I want to wire it to a plug. I was told just to buy a computer power cord and snip the end off and wire it. My question is, on the computer cord their is a black, white, and green wire. What is what? Another question is, can I use a reagent halogen pendent as the housing and just install a 250 DE socket in place. I really don't want to spend alot of money for a pendant. Should I get a 250SE or a 250 DE, I have a 40 gallon JEBO that's about 29" long, 18 deep and 17 high. Any suggestions or comments help. Right now I have 300W VHO and an Icecap660 that will be used as supplements. I should be able to house anything no matter which way I go right?

[BumpinTJ24]

bump

[jjmg]

If your talking about the electronic 250 w ballast, the input power that runs to the wall outlet is tan to black, blue to white, and yellow/green to green.

Yes, I think you'll be able to keep just about anything under either the se or de along with 300 watts of VHO although it seems like it might get a little crowded over the tank. The de will give you more light output.

I hope I understood your wiring question correctly. If not let me know. I hooked up the same ballast on Monday.

[BumpinTJ24]

cool, yea, it's right.Thanks. What do you mean crowded? I built a custom canopy that will house them. What about a pendent, could I use a regent fixture and just change the socket?

[jjmg]

I've heard of people using the regent fixture, but I've never seen one used. By crowded I was thinking that the tank was 12" deep instead of 18, just misread.

I hope you like your ballast as much as I like mine. Seems to work great so far.

[jim.l]

If you don't want to cut up a computer power cord, Home Depot has replacement cords for power tools in the electrical section.. Cheap and nothing to cut, 20 A rated. Thats what I wired up my IC ballasts with.

[jjmg]

Also for the lamp end you can cut an extention cord in half and wire it so the two ends are together to disconnect the ballast from the pendent if you need to move stuff around

[AZDesertRat]

My 2 Coralvue 250w electronic ballasts came with power cords! Whats the difference? Is one newer or older?

[jjmg]

I received mine earlier this week. I'm guessing it's the newest one. No cords at all.

[AZDesertRat]

I just got mine yesterday direct from Vue Technology.

[BumpinTJ24]

is it small in size. My new one i just got two days ago is the new one that lights both SE and DE bulbs is about the size of my palm. Either way, Jjmg, what kind of bulb do you have. Do you have any pics?

[jjmg]

I have the CV 250 10K se. No pics yet. The bulb is still pretty blue and I'm hoping it gets whiter as it burns in. Mine is small also and runs both se & de. I got mine from Premiumaquatics.

[BumpinTJ24]

i just saw some hamilton SE and DE bulbs for 53 and 64. What should I go with, SE or DE?

[jjmg]

Some things you just have to decide on your own. I think either would do the job for you.

[BumpinTJ24]

i'm thinking a DE b/c i read somewhere that a 250 DE would put out as much par as a 400 watt SE