Changing PC Bulbs Question

[Bcollins111900]

I am currently running 220 Watts of PC's over my 55 gallon (4 watts per gallon). It is getting close to the time where I need to order new bulbs for the tank. I was wondering if I could upragde them to 65 watts? Anyone think there would be a problem? It would give me an extra 40 watts of light for the tank, is it really worth it if I can use the bulbs in my current fixture to spend the extra few bucks?

[bencozzy]

have you checked the ballast in your current fixture to see if it would run them?

other wise i would see a problem with it

[Bcollins111900]

Bad part is I will have to tear apart the whole light fixutre to find out the ballast specs, was hoping I did not have to do that...

[bencozzy]

do you think the manufacture would tell you??

[Bcollins111900]

highly doubt it, there was a $40 diff between the price of the 55watt x 4 and 65 watt x 4 fixture. I will probally just end of opening it up.

[bencozzy]

well have fun and good luck

[CaveManNOhio]

I'm guessing the ballast wont work. You know they wouldn't make it easy on you.

[thebrian]

I actually think it would work. Wattage with PCs is a strange game. The wattage is determined by the length of the bulb's tube and the ballast that drives it. The issue you might run into is that I believe the 55's might be strait pin, and the 65's might be square pin, or vice versa. They might make both wattages in both pin configurations though...not sure.

~Brian

[thebrian]

BTW, what model light is it?

[Bcollins111900]

JEBO, yeah flame me but I have had no problems out of the light fixture at all. I have easily got my money out of it. I think I will probally just order a whole new light fixture, not to much more...

[thebrian]

Nah...I think lights are lights. Generic brands may not be quite perfect quality, but I think you get more for your money definately. Maybe someone here has an old 65-watt bulb you could try on it...

[Bcollins111900]

not the bulbs I am worried about really it is the ballast. I will probally just play it safe and get a new fixture and keep he current one for the up and coming project...

[mcox33]

it will run the 65's but don't bother just go to ebay and get more jebo 55 bulbs they are better than most get half actinic blue and half 10K as in say 2 bulbs blue 2 bulbs 10K works better than 50/50 bulbs. I tried the all-glass bulbs never again. the 10K looks like 6500K

But yes they will run 65 I actually have had 65's in mine they worked fine.

[thebrian]

From Hello Lights:

*** FAQ:
Q. Are these bulbs 55W or 65W?
A. (Note: This applies to both Compact Fluorescent and Fluorescent bulbs only.) Actual wattage to the lamp is primarily a factor of the lamp electrical characteristics and the ballast driving the lamp. Without getting too technical, the wattage marking on the lamp does not necessarily determine the actual wattage to the lamp. (i.e. you could have 100W to a lamp that is marked 55W!!) Fixtures with different ballast will have different wattage to the lamp and as such the wattage marking on the lamp is for reference only.
Actual wattage to the lamp operated by electronic ballast can only be measured using special high frequency wattage measuring equipment. Input wattage to the ballast is not a direct indication of wattage to the lamp.
Simply put, 55W and 65W lamps have same or similar electrical characteristics and therefore if one replaces either lamp into a given fixture (either a 55W or 65W system) then the wattage to the lamps will be driven by the ballast(s) of such system. Wattage to the lamp determines lumen output or total light output of the lamp.
Conclusion: Lamps marked 55W or 65W can be interchanged with similar or equivalent light output performance. The ballast drives the bulb.


So pretty much you could put 65w bulbs in, but it would probably look the same.

~Brian

[porky]

Yeah I have a small fuge/pod tank, that I run a 65W PC bulb in a 55W strcuture no problem but I can't say it's any brighter than the 55W. I'm thinking the ballast will only drive it to 55W???

[Bcollins111900]

Thanks for all the help guys.