Replacing Outer Orbit 150w MH ballast with 250w?

[Crackerballer]

As the title says, I have a 36" Outer orbit light that is a single 150w MH and dual 96w PCs on the side. It is a sweet light, and I got a great deal on it. However, for my 40B, I don't think the 150w will spread the entire 3 feet of the tank very well.

I can buy the standard outer orbit pro ballast (250W) for about $130, so it is alot cheaper than buying a new light, and that leaves my 150w ballast as either a backup for my sunpod or a ballast to let me retro a small pendent for a frag tank or something.

Does anyone know if this can safely be done? I would thing since they offer the same exact fixture with the 250w light and T5s that it would slap in there pretty easy. I just don't want to burn my house down

Thanks

[reef2]

most likely the shell is the same on all of the outer orbits just difrent guts. if u replace the 150 ballast with the 250w ur going to need a new bulb holder. the 150w and 250w r difrent size and the way they sit in the holder is also difrent. u may not get better coverage with the 250 just stronger light. u can raise the light to get better coverage.

[kinktao]

I'm tagging along. I really want to replace my 150 with a 400.

I figure I need to just buy a 400 watt electronic ballast, a new bulb holder and bam that should work. However, I'm not sure if a 400 bulb would fit inside the pendant area. I'm assuming the 400 bulbs are larger than 150 watt bulbs.

[muzz]

From what I understand is, alot of the lighting spread has more to do with the reflectors than the wattages. And the only bad thing is you can not really do anything with those reflectors, as you are limited to space available.

[PSam]

I believe you'd have to replace the sockets as well, 250w bulbs are not same size.

[Crackerballer]

Yea I think that is what everyone means by the bulb holder. I know I wouldn't get MORE coverage, but the area that is covered would be better lit. Like if the 150 spread a little light to the corners, I would think the 250 would spread more light.

I am not worried about covering more area, as that can be accomplished by raising or lowering the light, just better lighting to the area covered. Also as stated, by increasing to 250 I could raise the light a little.

Now I have to find a 250 bulb holder, or I COULD try and find a pendent with a 250 holder and swap out the ends, and still have the pendent for the 150.

[kinktao]

What's so bad about the reflectors in the sunpod? they are aluminum.

Anyway, does anyone have experience replacing the ballast, I swear i remember seeing a sunpod on the for sale forum that was modified.

[Crackerballer]

http://www.hellolights.com/index.asp...ROD&ProdID=172

think that pendent would worK? I could use the 250 bulb sockets out of it and place the 150's back in it. I will have to take apart the outer orbit sometime over the weekend and see what I can do. I didn't even think about trying to put a 400w in there, that could be really serious.

[kinktao]

I have only a 35 gallon tank and I want to go 400 lol. I keep reading about tanks that are 30 gallons with 400 watt's on them so I think it's safe.

Also, 400 watt ballast are everywhere on the RC selling forum.

[Crackerballer]

Scott at HelloLights.com just showed me this. I am going to measure this weekend and order the ballast and this if they will fit and let everyone knows how it turns out.

[Crackerballer]

Yea but Kinktao can you find a 400w that would mount inside the outer orbit? That is the problem I think I would have doing 400w. But to upgrade for $130 for ballast and $25 for the holder, and have a left over 150 ballast and holder, I will def try it.

[DarG]

Ive done it with the dual 150 watt Outer Orbit. You can do it.
You need parts from Current USA. You need the 250 watt reflector (it's different) and a 250 watt socket, from Current Usa. You could do it with the reflector you have and a standard 250 watt DE socket but you'd have to cut the reflector and rig the socket to mount it. Much better to use the parts from Current USA as you would be able to return it to stock. Plus, they will only cost you about 30 bucks and should bolt right up. You can also, probably, fit an ARO electronic ballast inside the fixture itself where the stock ballast sits. You may have to relocate the fan. I fit two ARO 250 watt ballasts inside the 48" outer orbit. That said, you wont increase the spread of that tiny reflector, You will turn an already hot, hot spot into a super hot hot spot. But it is do-able.

Personally, I would probably just do it up right and go DIY. Sell the fixture and apply the funds to one of the full size Lumenarc or lumenmax reflectors (or maybe the new Lumenbrite) which will get you full or near full coverage of the entire tank. You could still add some supplemental T5's (or PC's) and moonlights if you want. Just my 2 cents.

[Crackerballer]

DarG, where did you get the current USA parts from? I like the outer orbit because of the look, and how much I paid for it. I paid 280 shipped for the fixture with with 2 new PC actinic bulbs, the original bulbs and backup 150w MH bulb. So I got 2 sets of bulbs (total of 6 bulbs) I could add $120 and still be under $400 for my entire setup.

[DarG]

It was either Marine and Reef or Marine Depot that I ordered the parts through. I cant remember which dealer it was but it's the one that lists Current USA replacement parts on their website (they dont show the reflectors or sockets on the site). I think that either can actually get the parts. But anyway, Current USA told me to get parts through them, I called them and they just got what I needed from Current. Took less than 2 weeks for me to have the parts in hand eventhough they told me it would probably be 3 weeks.

[kinktao]

Hey DarG, where did you get your outer orbit for that price?

[Crackerballer]

So DarG do you think it would get too hot? I would think since they already sell units that are 2x 250W in a 36" unit that it would be fine.

[DarG]

Originally posted by Crackerballer
So DarG do you think it would get too hot? I would think since they already sell units that are 2x 250W in a 36" unit that it would be fine.

No, because the ballasts dont get all that hot, not much hotter than the stock 150's. So, most of the heat is the bulbs and like you said, they also have 250 watt versions.

[DarG]

Originally posted by kinktao
Hey DarG, where did you get your outer orbit for that price?

You mean to be asking Crackerballer.

[kinktao]

Yea, my bad. So crackerballer, where did you get your lights from?

[Crackerballer]

Oh on here, it was used. I am cleaning it up right now. Its in pretty good shape. The wiring inside these things is not as clean as I would have liked it to be.

The most interesting thing is the middle panel basically comes all the way out. So another route I may take is to see about just ordering another 150w ballast and reflector and bulb holder and find a way to conver this thing to dual 150's.

If I only had some internal pictures of how their dual 150 was set up, I could look at and see where everything is placed. It has got to be a tight squeeze.

[Crackerballer]

I think after looking at the setup I am going to try to rig it up for dual 150s. All I need to do is figure out the fan setup and how they are mounting their ballasts, and I believe I can take care of the rest. I will probably lose my lunar lights, and have to make my own panels, but I don't care.

I think this way I will get not only the extra 50 watts (dual 150 as opposed to 250) I also get better spacing.

[Crackerballer]

I toyed with the idea some more and I don't think dual 150s is going to work. I would need to make panels to cover where the ballast go, and need the glass cover for the reflector and bulb. Not to mention the 150 ballast is $50 more than the 250w ARO. So I think I am sticking to my original plan and upgrading to a 250W.

[DarG]

Originally posted by Crackerballer
I toyed with the idea some more and I don't think dual 150s is going to work. I would need to make panels to cover where the ballast go, and need the glass cover for the reflector and bulb. Not to mention the 150 ballast is $50 more than the 250w ARO. So I think I am sticking to my original plan and upgrading to a 250W.

You can buy the original, stock 150 watt ballast direct from Sunpark for 1/2 the price or less. I think it's about 70 bucks. I think its just www.sunpark.com but if not, do a search for sunpark electronics.

[Crackerballer]

Yea Darg, and I also just found a guy on here who is selling that 150 ballast, the reflector, piece of glass, and 14k bulb for $85. The bulb is brand new. So now I really want to try the dual 150's there are just a few things I have to work out, mainly the fans and metal mounting brackets that go inside the case.

DarG, you don't still happen to have that outer orbit or any parts do you? I was also thinking of using the sunpod LED panels in this light. I need the entire piece though, that will slide into the Outer Orbit.

This is gonna get fun.

[DarG]

It's the Outer Orbit with T5's and I do still have it.
The brackets can be moved anywhere along those little internal "tracks" on the inside top of the fixture housing.