coralvue 14k 250 watt de's

[Reef bloke]

Hiya Rob
Could you please confirm that these lamps will light correctly in an Arcadia series 3 unit as i had probs with the Coralvue Reeflux lamps with the ends melting and not firing.
Many thanks Tony

[Fastlight Distributors]

Hi Tony

Your avatar makes me smile each time i see it.:D

The Reeflux lamp has been designed to strike and run correctly with an electronic ballast. That said they will work and work well with newish magnetic control gear. The problem we have experienced is with older magnetic control gear (over 3 yrs old) where the lamp will not initially strike due to the age and general performance deterioraion of aged control gear. We have overcome the problem for a few clients by initially switching and running the lamp for approx. 20 minutes on an electronic ballast and this appears to work well. The problem is when you install a new lamp and it does not strike immediately the control gear continues to put a high current to one of the lampholders which caused a heat build up and damage to wiring and other components. When you realise, not you Tony, it's too late and damage could have been cause to your light unit. A new replacemant lamp, either run for a while or new, will not solve the problem as it will be too late.
I think this is a case of new technology crossing the boundary of old technology and we are still, well some companies, in the middle arena. The new Arcadia Series 4 has a magnetic ballast to run the halide lamps, hopefully the Series 5 will have all electronic control gear.
I hope this helps, oh!! we have a deal on Electronic Ballasts to UR members at the moment but you probably know that.:whistling:

Regards

Rob

[Reef bloke]

so this applies to the coralvue as well as the cv reeflux? Cheers Tony

[Fastlight Distributors]

Hi Tony

The standard Coralvue lamp can be used with both Electronic and Magnetic Ballasts without problems.

Regards

Rob

[Reef bloke]

cheers Rob!