WTB MV fixtures

[csnow]

Hi All,

I am just wondering if anyone in Canada here has come across Mercury Vapour fixtures in their travels through their local hardware store? I am planning on putting HID lighting over my tank, and so far I figure it is going to cost me approx. 180 dollars for two 400w mh ballasts, and then another 120 for two 400w iwasaki bulbs. Give or take another 50 dollars for boxes, wires, and sockets.. and I am looking at 350 dollars or so. Now, I understand that the iwasaki bulbs run well on MV ballasts. So i began researching, and I have found several older posting of people in the States at least coming across Merc. Vapour fixtures in their local hardware stores for ~50 usd etc? Has anyone North of the border come across such finds?

csnow

[Dman]

No luck here with the hardware stores, but you could try searching the net for the exact part number you need and then calling someone like Torbram Electric, look under electrical suppliers in the yellow pages. That's how I got my 250 W F-can ballast for my Iwasaki
HTH
Dman
:spin:

[reefburnaby]

Hi,

I would try hydroponics stores and electrical lighting supplies (for industrial use). The residentual lighting supply stores...seem to look like household lamp stores. Something like Acklands-Grainger should carry them too http://www.acklandsgrainger.com )

One note about industrial lighting stores....do some research before you go. These stores sell hundreds of ballasts...it helps to know which one you want (part number). Otherwise....you can easily get ripped off...and worse...get the wrong part. There a couple of web sites that explain which parts you'll need (including part numbers).

The MV lamps that you are referring to...I think they don't have them in the stores anymore. HD used to carry them as security lamps, but they only had MV lamps up to 150W. You can try asking for high intensity security lamps at the hardware stores. I think they are made be Regent.

BTW...MV lamps (like Iwasaki) have fallen out of favour. The new trend is the Radium lamps....which work with the HPS ballast (I think...don't quote me on this one). HPS ballasts are also cheap and available at hydroponic stores.

- Victor.

[Dman]

If you consider Hydroponics stores cheap, most of them around this end of the country are not so. Plus there is the added stigma that you might not be lighting just your reef, if ya know what I mean.
Dman
:spin:

[csnow]

Thanks for the replies guy,

I have checked one `supplier' across the street from my workplace, they are called Wesco (www.wesco.ca or www.wescodirect.ca) They have MH, and HPS. A 400w metal halide ballast (core and coil kit) is approx 90 cdn. An hps ballast I believe, were somewhere around 200-250 for 4## watts, combine this with the cost of a radium bulb in Canada, and thats one expensive solution.

That's actually another thing, anyone have luck contacting distributors for specialty lamps in hopes of purchasing them by case?

I know it has been talked about before, but when I look at the most reasonable source i can find charging 119 cdn for a 6500k Iwasaki, a voice inside me says there must be another way,

csnow

[reefburnaby]

Hi,

Wesco and Westbourne, two big supply stores, are more price friendly to businesses than they are to personal sales.

$200 for a HPS ballast...I think they sell them cheaper at a hydroponics store (western or eastern :) ). Actually, I checked an Ontario hydroponics store and they sell a MH 400W complete setup (ballast, case, cord, mogul..), minus bulb, for about $100. $115 for a 400W HPS. I still think that is cheap for a 400W lighting system. Keep in mind that they might be noisy...so check the noise level before purchasing.

Acklands is a national wide industrial supply store and they sell them for ~$100 for 400W HPS (cap and coil kit) and ~$75 for MH/MV (does both) 400W. Both are CWA ballast from Universal Ballast.

For the Iwasaki bulbs...phone up an Iwasaki distributor and ask them where you can buy an Iwasaki in your area.

http://www.eyelighting.com/othercountries/canada.html

The bulb that you are trying to find is this one :

http://www.eyelighting.com/mhconversioncleanace.html

You might be able to get a better price...especially if you buy a case. Stephane (he's on this board) might be able to help you if you still find the above prices too expensive.

Hope that answers your question.

- Victor.

[Dman]

I haven't been in a Hydroponics store since I stopped growing Tomatoes a few years back, coralmorphian has bought lights from them before, he would know more than I would.
119CDN for the EYE bulbs is about average, I don't recall seeing them much cheaper.
Dman
:spin: