In the US, what the difference between HQI and MH

[andy-hipkiss]

Evening all,

I'm a bit confused over the various standards between Europe and the US (and more importantly the affect on the bulbs we use.)

Now it appears that the majority of the bulbs apart from the MV conversion ones (Iwasaki) used in the hobby are European (e.g. BLV (Ushio), Osram, GE ... (Hungary), is the Belgian one Philips?)

Now according to the Osram site, what you guys call MH is similar but different to what we call HQI. Now obviously these bulbs still work but I am left wondering what the difference is. I guess the obvious one is the bulb voltage (after startup) ... which I guess is 120V for the US members and 220-240 for the Europeans.

Anyway, is anybody up enough in ballast types to shed a little light on the subject (oh dear, I can't believe I typed that [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img] )

TIA

(oh I'm aware that traditionally in the US, HQI's were double ended but this is incorrect as far as I can tell)

------------------
Cheers
Andy
http://www.andy-hipkiss.co.uk

[PerryinCA]

HQI is simply a variance on the gas composition of the lamp. It contains halogens in combination with the standard metal halide gases (predominantly mecury 'Hg').

The HQI come in both single and double ended, the double ended being more sought after for the apparently better output. HQI are also commonly referred to in the lighting community as "color corrected MH". Supposedly (and I am not sure) there is a assumption that the HQI have a broader spectral output compared to the supply store MH, and the HPS.

The main differences I have found in the ballasts is the starting amperage. But, I have no long-term experience with coil ballasts as all I use is Icecap. My Icecaps have lit and burnt litteraly every lamp available to me (except for the Marine Depot brand Aqua Connect 11k, which I haven't tried yet).

------------------
Some call it evolution,
And others call it God.
Each In His Own Tongue (1908)
William Herbert Carruth 1859-1924

[andy-hipkiss]

Thanks Perry,

Not sure I'm any clearer, but when am I ever [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

For those with both the "regular" and an "HQI" ballast ... is there any visible difference (in terms of components)?

------------------
Cheers
Andy
http://www.andy-hipkiss.co.uk