workhorse 7 ballast
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Equipment
Forum Description: This is the place to ask question about reef equipment.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1055
Printed Date: December 17 2025 at 8:40am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: workhorse 7 ballast
Posted By: David Carroll
Subject: workhorse 7 ballast
Date Posted: September 24 2003 at 7:21pm
|
has any body used a workhorse 7 ballast too run 2 vho
bulbs? if so how did you wire them. |
Replies:
Posted By: jfinch
Date Posted: September 24 2003 at 7:47pm
|
I'm doing it with two 24" vho bulbs. Wire the bulbs in series with three red wires to one end of bulb A. The other end of bulb A wire to one end of bulb B. Wire the other other end of bulb B to the yellow wire. That's it. You should limit this to 48" bulbs or smaller. ------------- Jon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6y_EzjI_ljbIwf2n5uNzTw" rel="nofollow - What I've been doing... |
Posted By: Jake Pehrson
Date Posted: September 24 2003 at 7:58pm
|
The workhorse 7 ballast is only rated for one VHO. The way that Jon is wiring the ballast fools it into thinking that you are using one 48" bulb. As far as I know this is the only way to run 2 VHOs on a workhorse ballast. I do know that the workhorse will light 2 - 4' vhos, but according to Fulham they will not run at full strength. ------------- Jake Pehrson Murray http://coralplanet.com" rel="nofollow - coralplanet.com http://utahbeeranch.com" rel="nofollow - :) |
Posted By: Ryan Willden
Date Posted: September 24 2003 at 7:59pm
|
I'm not sure I agree with what fulham told Jake. I run two 110 watt VHO's ( 46" long each) on a workhorse 7 by running the ground looped to one side of the bulbs, and then run the other side of the bulbs to a pair (each) of the hot leads on the ballast. If you plan on having the ballast in your stand, you may consider the Longhorse 7. You can find the wiring diagram at www.fulham.com
As a side note, I talked to Fulham before connecting mine, and their engineers assured me it was safe to run up to 220 Watts, and it has never failed me in over two years. It is as bright as I have seen any other set of VHO's of similar color and brightness. EXCELLENT Ballast! E-mail me if you want a picture of how bright they are... I ran them for a month without my halides, and my corals (including sps) didn't seem to mind. Wire it just like the Linear diagram in the following link. It's exactly the same way I did mine. http://www.fulham.com/NewFiles/wire11.gif - http://www.fulham.com/NewFiles/wire11.gif |
Posted By: Aquarium Creations
Date Posted: September 24 2003 at 8:20pm
|
the long horse is for a longer distance from the lights i use a wh7 on 2 110w vho with no problem works and lights up bright great ballest ------------- Aquarium Maintenance,Consulting,Custom Built Glass Aquariums Rimless/Euro,24Hr Emergency Service 8015485201 Www.UtahAquariumDoctors.com [email protected] |
Posted By: jfinch
Date Posted: September 24 2003 at 8:29pm
|
I was under the impression that the wh7 can supply 220 watts which is two 48" bulbs. It will fire one 8 ft vho according to fulhams web site. But Jake is correct in that fulham officially does not recommend firing two bulbs with one ballast so do it at your own risk. Ryan, vho requires 1500 ma current (HO 800 ma and NO 425 ma). Fulhams wiring diagrams for NO is one red wire for each bulb, for HO is two red wires per bulb and for vho is three red wires per (single) bulb. That is why I've heard that three wires were needed for vho (500 ma per wire) and trick the ballast into thinking it's one long bulb. I don't really know if that's true or not, did Fulham tell you that you'd get vho output wired that way or did they just say it would be safe? The way you have it wired is for HO bulbs. I don't know if both bulbs fire at vho levels or not (wired either way), but I would like to know. Marcus and I were going to try to test this out, but it never happened. I'm still interested... ------------- Jon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6y_EzjI_ljbIwf2n5uNzTw" rel="nofollow - What I've been doing... |
Posted By: Marcus
Date Posted: September 24 2003 at 9:17pm
| Jon, I never got a hold of a lumen meter to test them. I was waiting on Adam, he said he had one. But then I forgot about it. When I was at TPF, I contacted Fullham about running two VHO's from a WH7. They said exactly what Jon said about needing three red wires to light it. They said it will light if you use two red wires for each bulb but it will not give them the full 110 watts each. Thus, under-powering them and wearing them out faster. The tech at Fullham asked me to get him a spec sheet on URI's bulbs to double check everything but then... and it never happened. |
Posted By: Ryan Willden
Date Posted: September 24 2003 at 9:46pm
Good question... All I know is that they are bright, and the current bulbs have lasted for more than a year. They're still as bright as they were when I connected them. The ballast has been in use for over two years. The fulham engineer I talked to said that there would be no problem running the two lamps with one ballast. Was he not telling me the whole story? Maybe, but my eyes don't decieve me, and I could tell a huge difference between one and two bulbs. Two VHO's running at slightly less than the recommended output is still brighter than one 110 Watt VHO running at full output. Either way you look at it, Two is better then one in my opinion. I originally followed Fulham's recommendation and only connected one bulb to three wires. It wasn't intense enough for me, so I added the second bulb, and it made a HUGE difference. I'll E-mail you a picture tomorrow of the light intensity if you'd like. |
jfinch wrote:Posted By: Marcus
Date Posted: September 24 2003 at 9:57pm
|
Ryan Wilden Wrote:
All I know is that they are bright, and the current bulbs have lasted for more than a year. They're still as bright as they were when I connected them Ryan Wilden, URI recommends changing your bulbs every 3000-5000 running hrs. At 12 hours a day, that's 4380 hours in one year. I have a hard time believing that they would be still as bright even if they were on an Icecap. Since you see these bulbs everyday, you are going to have a hard time noticing the slow dimming of the bulb. I think that if you put some new ones in, you would notice a difference. But, if you have found the miracle cure, then you better buy the rights to it or something. |
Posted By: Ryan Willden
Date Posted: September 24 2003 at 10:09pm
You can't dispute the fact that they are still bright, and that I've been using them for over a year, because I have. I'm not going to give a dime to a company like Icecap when Fulham makes a perfectly sound ballast that will do exactly what I want it to do. And you're right, it is a miracle cure in comparison to a $300 ballast. Ask your buddy Ryan Williams. He's been using this setup about as long as I have with no problems. |
Posted By: jfinch
Date Posted: September 24 2003 at 10:10pm
|
Atinic bulbs loose their "color" very quickly. I've read studies that showed significant lose (50%) in only 2000 - 3000 hrs. It's not necessarily a loss in intensity (or brightness), they just shift in color. Ryan, I have no doubt that two bulbs are brighter then one. Marcus had two 6' vho bulbs fired by one wh7 and the bulbs were pretty bright! I was a bit surprised at just how bright they were! ------------- Jon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6y_EzjI_ljbIwf2n5uNzTw" rel="nofollow - What I've been doing... |
Posted By: Ryan Willden
Date Posted: September 24 2003 at 10:13pm
I will agree that they shift in color after a time, but the intensity seems the same as you have indicated. Even after a year though, the bulbs are a nice blue color, and it made a big difference when running them with my 2- 10K 250 Watt Halides. Much nicer than with just one. I agree with Jon about the power rating as well. I'm certainly not saying that the workhorse 7 will efficiently run two 46" VHO's. The WH7 will only drive 1.82 amps max, or 1800mA, and VHO's do require 1500 as Jon stated. However the question was about whether it would work, and the answer is yes, with minor drawbacks in intended performance. |
Posted By: Marcus
Date Posted: September 24 2003 at 11:25pm
|
Ryan Willden wrote:
That's a typical response I'd expect from you. Be careful... I was just stating facts. However, you can't dispute the fact that they are still bright, and that I've been using them for over a year, because I have. I'm not disputing it, I'm simply stating my skeptisism because of the manufacturer's recommendations. I'm not going to give a dime to a company like Icecap when Fulham makes a perfectly sound ballast that will do exactly what I want it to do. I was not telling you that Icecap would do a better job. All I am saying is that even with a ballast that is rated for more than one VHO bulb, the manufacturer says they need to be replaced every 3000-5000 running hours. And you're right, it is a miracle cure in comparison to a $300 ballast. Ask your buddy Ryan Williams. He's been using this setup about as long as I have with no problems. |
Posted By: scroll
Date Posted: September 25 2003 at 1:16am
|
This talk has reminded me that I need to change my bulbs top to bottom. man that will cost.
I need 2 mh250w 10k 3 160w vho act 1 160w vho white that will be like $400 maybe I should just save up and do a space light. ------------- just my 3 cents shy of a nickel. Ryan 897-2000 1 125 gallon reef 1 120 gallon reef tank and stand custom built by MSM |
Posted By: Aquarium Creations
Date Posted: September 25 2003 at 8:46am
|
Ryan Goto Hellolights.com it would only cost you about 200.00 for that! ------------- Aquarium Maintenance,Consulting,Custom Built Glass Aquariums Rimless/Euro,24Hr Emergency Service 8015485201 Www.UtahAquariumDoctors.com [email protected] |
Posted By: Ryan Willden
Date Posted: September 25 2003 at 11:56am
Sucks doesn't it?  I know how you feel though. I just replaced my two halides, and I got them cheap. It still cost me $140 though.
By the way Marcus, I wasn't intentionally trying to offend you, but sometimes your remarks tend to be a bit condescending. Come to think of it, that's why I stopped shopping at MSM. It would be nice if every comment on this board was about being right, but it's not. There's more than one way to skin a cat. That's all I was trying to say. By the way, out of curiousity, I called URI and they assured me that underdriving the bulbs (as I am with the WH7) will actually extend the life of the bulbs, and that overdriving them will shorten their life. That is the only side effect from running them off of the WH7 ballast. And I'll take extending the life of the bulbs at the intensity they are at any day of the week. |
Posted By: Aquarium Creations
Date Posted: September 25 2003 at 1:24pm
WOW......... ------------- Aquarium Maintenance,Consulting,Custom Built Glass Aquariums Rimless/Euro,24Hr Emergency Service 8015485201 Www.UtahAquariumDoctors.com [email protected] |
Posted By: jfinch
Date Posted: September 25 2003 at 2:40pm
|
Thanks Ryan! Good info. ------------- Jon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6y_EzjI_ljbIwf2n5uNzTw" rel="nofollow - What I've been doing... |
Posted By: Ryan Willden
Date Posted: September 25 2003 at 9:09pm
| Thank you Jon. That was an intriguing topic, and I learned something from you about amperage that I didn't know before. |
Posted By: Aquarium Creations
Date Posted: September 25 2003 at 9:41pm
|
Hey willden, Kirk (AKA Kuhuna) came and saw my lights you can ask him what he thought of them since you never came over
------------- Aquarium Maintenance,Consulting,Custom Built Glass Aquariums Rimless/Euro,24Hr Emergency Service 8015485201 Www.UtahAquariumDoctors.com [email protected] |
let me know when you want to .....Posted By: scroll
Date Posted: September 26 2003 at 12:21am
|
somthing to think about with the workhorse ballasts they are electronic wich means they adjust to what bulbs you run. wich means a workhorse 7 is rated at 220w if you run 4 20w bulbs on it the bulbs will not just change to 55w each. the balast will not overrun the bulbs it will run them more efficently wich means max preformance and max life. But on the other hand if you put 2 110w vho's on it eventhough you are not supposed to it will run them optimal because it adjusts. But watch your heat on the ballast because if it gets to hot you shouldn't be running it the way you are.
So by saying that the workhorse will underpower the bulb is false. they run as far as 110w vho's go just as good ase Ice Caps do.( I can say this because Eric and I did alot of testing on lighting every different way to hook up ballasts for best needs for our customers. Ryan Willden you told me that you quit going to MSM about 5 months before Marcus started there. I would personaly say that the main reason imo on why people of this forem don't go to MSM is the because of the trash that people talk on them with no reason. I could name I am sure a hand full of people whom I don't really like and that I would never buy anything from. And I am sure that there are people who would never buy anything from me. But it is for personal reasons. And most of us have more respect for people than to trash talk them or there bussiness expecialy on an open forem. If you have a problem with someone or somthing they have done that is what the PM button is for. And yes I may be called a hipacrit for posting this on an open forem insted of calling you or PMing you. but you have alredy made it other peoples bussiness. plus by PMing you can talk directly to the person and get it resolved without making anyone look bad because usualy people are not mad at eachother for ever. And you don't look stupid or feel like an idiot when you decide that friendship is worth more than how bright your lights are. I am not saying that everyone should have the same opinion but I am saying it wouldn't be worth it to me to fight over. And by the way I am an kind of an electrical wizard so if anyone needs any help feel free to contact me. just have you credit cards ready  jk. I am allways here to help and if it has to do with wiring I can get it figured out.
Eric what lights are you talking about. Are they new and if so what are they and do they look good. ------------- just my 3 cents shy of a nickel. Ryan 897-2000 1 125 gallon reef 1 120 gallon reef tank and stand custom built by MSM |
Posted By: Ryan Willden
Date Posted: September 26 2003 at 2:58am
| Edited for content. |
Posted By: Aquarium Creations
Date Posted: September 26 2003 at 8:32am
|
Um........ my 20k xm bulbs look great!!! Looks like i walked right into a battle field ( starts running for the bunkers) ------------- Aquarium Maintenance,Consulting,Custom Built Glass Aquariums Rimless/Euro,24Hr Emergency Service 8015485201 Www.UtahAquariumDoctors.com [email protected] |
Posted By: scroll
Date Posted: September 26 2003 at 10:30am
|
here is the thing shop were you want to and let everyone make there own decisions. All of the LPS in town and out are great. they all have there ups and downs. I have my own opinion on where to shop. Maybe it would be better if people kept there opinions to them selves so you wont have to tell them they are wrong.
Oh' and making a phone call dosn't mean reasearch. this isn't like pluging in a Tv. and I know you don't want to argue wiring with me. It would just be a losing battle for you. Sorry everyone for my bluntness I realy don't care who arguments come from sometimes they are fun to watch. But in arguing somtimes people including myself lose track of what this site is about. I hate to say this but somtimes helping people has its costs 2. Ryan try feading my post again the only reason why I didn't PM you is because you already made it public. And as far as Marcus goes of couse he is going to be pro the store he works for. I know when people come to the shop I work at I don't tell them to go somewhere else or online to buy things. That would be aquick way to lose a job and a paycheck. On the subject again thanks Eric you say 20xm bulbs is xm a manufacturer or the type. How long have they been on the market for. And because I know you probably checked what is the average bulb life and what will the 20K change to after about three weaks. Because I know some bulbs do change. ------------- just my 3 cents shy of a nickel. Ryan 897-2000 1 125 gallon reef 1 120 gallon reef tank and stand custom built by MSM |
Posted By: Marcus
Date Posted: September 26 2003 at 6:16pm
| Ryan Willden, you are the one that started this argument by saying, "That is exactly the reply I would expect from you." You are correct about me saying that I not going to post anymore a while back, then I got many PM's and phone calls asking me why I stopped so I started again. Well, I am only here to help people, not myself. I have no reason to continue on this forum if I am going to be treated this way. Good luck to all... |
Posted By: Aquarium Creations
Date Posted: September 26 2003 at 7:17pm
 The sad faces arent ment to be rude it i may not agree with what some people say and some stuff i might not like at all but again this is a open forum this is why we live in America to be able to have a forum like this i hope marcus reconsiders leaving.............------------- Aquarium Maintenance,Consulting,Custom Built Glass Aquariums Rimless/Euro,24Hr Emergency Service 8015485201 Www.UtahAquariumDoctors.com [email protected] |
Posted By: scroll
Date Posted: September 26 2003 at 7:33pm
|
I think it would be a good idea if personal problems were left off of this site. Because I think people should form there own opinions on subjects and not have to wade through all the bull**** and bickering that we have portrayed on this thread. I personaly appologize for even hafting to read my coments to Ryan Willden. this doesn't mean I don't feel the way I do. I think that the way Ryan Willden and even I portrayed ourselves is very poor at best and hopfully he relizes this as I have. Thanks Ryan Williams ------------- just my 3 cents shy of a nickel. Ryan 897-2000 1 125 gallon reef 1 120 gallon reef tank and stand custom built by MSM |
Posted By: jfinch
Date Posted: September 26 2003 at 9:25pm
I've got a few questions (and I'm not fanning any flames, I'm truly looking for clarification) Have you taken a fulham ballast apart to look at it? Are you saying that it does not matter how the bulbs are wired, that the ballast will automatically compensate? Not all electronic ballasts are built the same. All ballasts are essentually current limiting devices. Electronic ballasts have circuitry that senses current and adjust the output accordingly. Magnetic ones use a big fixed inductor to do the same thing. That is one of the nice things about electronic ballasts... many of them will fire different kinds of bulbs. Current is (mainly) what determines wire size. Two (or three) wires will safely carry more current then one. This is the reason (I think) that fullam uses one wire for NO, two wires for HO and three wires for VHO. I'm assuming that Ice Cap ballasts don't "sense" what bulbs are attached because they advertise that their ballast can overdrive NO bulbs to VHO output: http://www.icecapinc.com/rev1.htm - http://www.icecapinc.com/rev1.htm Marcus, Ryan and Ryan... If I have a recall vote I vote to keep you all here... I have a role for you in my next Terminator movie. ------------- Jon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6y_EzjI_ljbIwf2n5uNzTw" rel="nofollow - What I've been doing... |
Posted By: jfinch
Date Posted: September 26 2003 at 10:27pm
|
BTW, I found a thread at reefcentral with quotes from fulham engineering regarding doing this. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=168784 - http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=168784 Here's the good stuff if you don't want to trudge through the reefcentral thread: *quote* Lon, *end quote* ------------- Jon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6y_EzjI_ljbIwf2n5uNzTw" rel="nofollow - What I've been doing... |
Posted By: David Carroll
Date Posted: September 26 2003 at 10:31pm
|
I talked too tom woods at fulham he stated the work
horse 7 ballast does not provide enough current too start 2 vho bulb. low current at start up will reduce life of bulb and did not recomend running 2 bulbs. wiring 2 red wires too each bulb inparrell circuit will only power bulbs as H.O. bulbs. wiring both bulbs in a series curcuit 3 red to one end and yellow to the other end is the proper way for vho output but did not recomend. |
Posted By: scroll
Date Posted: September 27 2003 at 2:40am
|
Jon I totaly understand what you are saying. I actually did not state how to wire the ballast because there is fact and also opinion in what I have posted. So I don't think it would be right to give out the info on wiring and why it should work without any flaws. + I am a slow typer thats why I allways tell people to give me a ring.
Also if you up the guage of wire about 2 inches out of the ballast It can cary more current wich should help in underpowering problems. It would be just like an amp inside of them is usually about 14g wire or leads up to the terminal but out of the terminal if you only run 14g wire you will underpower the speakers. but if you run 10g you will let the energy provided by the amp make it to its destination without much loss. Whould you agree this may be a simular issue Marcus, Ryan and Ryan... If I have a recall vote I vote to keep you all here... I have a role for you in my next Terminator movie. I also am overjoyed that you say that. And can I play the Terminator I will do a great job. ------------- just my 3 cents shy of a nickel. Ryan 897-2000 1 125 gallon reef 1 120 gallon reef tank and stand custom built by MSM |
Posted By: Suzy
Date Posted: September 27 2003 at 7:18am
|
OMH! Jon is into politics! I knew I liked you! And their governor can beat up our governor!
I'm thinking you guys should TP each others houses.... |
Posted By: jfinch
Date Posted: September 27 2003 at 8:36am
It may be similar, but I don't know, that's why I'm asking questions. I am from the future and I'm looking for Sacramento. Do you know how to get to Sacramento? Oh what a circus that is! ------------- Jon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6y_EzjI_ljbIwf2n5uNzTw" rel="nofollow - What I've been doing... |
Posted By: Will Spencer
Date Posted: September 27 2003 at 11:51am
|
Now for a simple question. If one wanted to get a Workhorse 7 Ballast where would one start looking? Is this something you find only at LFS or online, or is this a Home Depot, Lowes type product? Hopefully I will be putting some more lighting in my tank at the office and this could be one option though I'm still leaning toward MH. |
Posted By: jfinch
Date Posted: September 27 2003 at 12:00pm
|
Try:
I've heard they carry fulham ballasts, but it's saturday and they're not open to call. Fulham makes the WH7, which is a very good, inexpensive (approx. $35) electronic ballast. ------------- Jon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6y_EzjI_ljbIwf2n5uNzTw" rel="nofollow - What I've been doing... |
Posted By: David Carroll
Date Posted: September 27 2003 at 1:32pm
|
WH 7 ballast is 41.67 with tax at commecial lighting
supply inc. |
Posted By: Ryan Willden
Date Posted: September 29 2003 at 1:32pm
| Edited in hindsight. |
Posted By: Carl
Date Posted: September 29 2003 at 2:18pm
|
Confucius say, "Sometime it better to shut pie hole". I know it took me a long time to find this forum, and I hope that crap like this doesn't happen often. How hard is it to just say nothing instead of defending one's self? ------------- In Syracuse "I believe that forgiving them is God's function. Our job is simply to arrange the meeting." - Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: September 29 2003 at 9:25pm
|
Is Randy "bad mouthing" me behind my back!
Oh my goodness!  And I thought he was complaining just to me, about others!
Regarding the flaring tempers here in this thread, I've been there and back. It's not pretty. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
|
Posted By: scroll
Date Posted: September 30 2003 at 1:42am
|
bad mouthing is usually earned. I know I have been talked about and maybe done the same. But I am sure it is never without due cause in some way or another.
and also 2nd year apr. wow try asking next time before making assumtions. ------------- just my 3 cents shy of a nickel. Ryan 897-2000 1 125 gallon reef 1 120 gallon reef tank and stand custom built by MSM |
Posted By: Ryan Willden
Date Posted: September 30 2003 at 7:54pm
?????? Anyway, I think we've all had a chance to vent our frustrations in this post. I hope that in the future that these disputes can be resolved by private messaging, or in this case by picking up the phone and calling "an old friend." Mark, give me a call if you want to know what was said at MSM. If you're like me, you probably have considered "the source" and don't care to know anyway. |
Posted By: Ryan Willden
Date Posted: September 30 2003 at 7:58pm
|
Carl, we're glad you found this board. I just hope that this forum would be a place where people like you can come to express your views without being trampled on, and insulted.
Sometimes you have to defend yourself, because noone else will. I hope you enjoy the plethera of information (both biased and unbiased) on this board, and decide what will work best for you. Welcome. |
Posted By: Carl
Date Posted: October 01 2003 at 7:53am
|
Ryan, I do look forward to the information and insight that I can gain from participation on this board. But personally, I have issues with these little back and forth virtual pi**ing matches. I just don't see the reason for them and it's discouraging to "witness". It drives people away, diminishes interest in the forum and discredits those participating as well as the forum as a whole. If someone disagrees with something that is said or insinuates something about you... so what? If you go back and read through it, you'll see that noone won that "virtual argument". The only true outcome was that Marcus left. Hopefully he doesn't have any information that would have saved someone's pets. Just my opinion Ryan. Don't take it personal. ------------- In Syracuse "I believe that forgiving them is God's function. Our job is simply to arrange the meeting." - Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf |