Nipple Nonsense?

[Ltspd]

Ok, just to stir up some conversation on the BB.

I remember a while back 1 of the many discussions on nipple oreintation on halide bulbs. I was told that my double ended bulbs always had the nipples pointing up. I said that the outside nipple was pointing down and that was the only way the bulb could be placed into the fixture.

So here are the AB doulbe ended bulbs, 250w, 10kk. Notice the outside nipple is down, but the inside nipple is not up, but rather horizontal.

Explanation?

[Ltspd]

Try that again

[Ltspd]

He!! I give up. Whats up with posting pictures on the BB?

And I gave wgscott a hard time on the bicycle thread

[golfish]

let me try

[golfish]

you broke it

[Ninong]

Originally posted by Ltspd:
Explanation?

I pointed out this difference between my AB double-ended lamps and my Ushio/BLV double-ended lamps in previous threads when this topic came up. This is NOT a problem. The only problem would be if the inner nipple were pointing down. (Don't you remember the original "nipple nonsense" thread on RC? http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...e&pagenumber=2
Here is an excerpt from one of my replies: "FWIW, since I have both Ushio/BLV and Aqualine Buschke 250w 10,000K HQI DE lamps, I compared them and they are not the same in the orientation of the inner nipples, but neither points down. The Ushio/BLV lamps have the inner nipple pointing up and the AB-10000 lamps have the inner nipple pointing horizontally--at 9 o'clock. You can't make a mistake with DE lamps since they will only go in the socket one way.")


Even the Ushio/BLV double-ended lamps, which have the inner nipple pointing up, word their warning thus: "Double-ended lamps must not be operated with internal exhaust tip in downward position."

What you want to avoid is having the condensing compounds trapped in the little depression, which can make it more difficult for them to reignite evenly. Not all metal halide lamps have a depression on the inside at the inner exhaust tip but many do. The Ushio/BLV double-ended lamps have a very obvious depression but the AB double-ended lamps do not have a very obvious depression. In fact, it is possible that the inside at the exhaust tip is relatively smooth. I have just examined both brands as carefully as I can, I even used a small magnifying glass, but my eyesight is still not good enough to see anything that small very clearly.

[Ltspd]

Originally posted by golfish
you broke it

Did not, you broke it

Ninong, oh come on we need to stir up some action on the BB. How about I disagree ;;

[golfish]

Nenner nenner nennerrrrrr Paul broke the BB

[bowfront]

Originally posted by Ninong
I pointed out this difference between my AB double-ended lamps and my Ushio/BLV double-ended lamps in previous threads when this topic came up.

Not to slight nipples they come in handy sometimes but what is your preference Ninong between these two in DE version?

[Ninong]

I really can't say for sure because I really can't see much difference. Ask PerryinCA this question as he has experience running both.

[bowfront]

Just wondering because recently I have seen several threads on another board where people are pointing others away from Ushio to AB bacically because of this article by Sanjay Joshi. I'm sure you are familar with the article. Within it Sanjay states that the Ushio 10k 400w bulb tested had a PPFD of around 100, wihich is lower than some 250w MH bulbs including Iwaski and his more recent tests with the 250w AB (110 PPFD). I know this doesn't translate directy to DE bulbs but I have seen others make this assumption. In another of his articles Sanjay tested a 250W DE bulb but he didn't state which brand he was using. I have seen some say that it was an Ushio. Does anyone know for sure if it was an Ushio. Just wondering what everyone's thoughts are about this (is AB a better bulb than Ushio?). One thing that struck me strange in the article above is that the Ushio 175W MH tested with 63 PPFD. This seems a little disproportional to the low rating of the 400w.

Paul sorry to side track your thread but I saw an oportunity to bring this up with Ninong's earlier comments.

[Ltspd]

BowFront, here is the HQI comparisions I did a few weeks ago. Not sure if that will help any with your question.
http://www.reefland.com/cgi-bin/foru...&threadid=6294
The diffrence is 250w in the AB and 150w in the Ushio. But from what I can see, is there isnt a huge diffrence. If I didnt know that they were diffrent wattage's I would have a hard time telling you they were by looking at their brightness.

[bowfront]

Paul,

Thanks I saw your pictures several weeks ago. Nice looking tank BTW.
So you are saying that the 150w Ushio looks almost as bright as the 250w AB to your eyes? What about visible color? Is the AB slightly more bluish looking as the rumor goes? I wish there was some published data directly comparing the same wattage/color temperature Ushio and AB bulbs but I don't find any. Sanjay targets Ushio's in one article and AB in the next but never the same wattages. As I mentioned above I think Ushio is taking it on the lip since Sanjay's most recent article which shows the 250w AB with a higher PPFD than the 400w Ushio he previously tested. What does all of this have to do with DE bulbs? Dunno maybe nuthin. It's just that I see a lot of people running around lately saying "don't buy Ushio get AB they are stronger". This is without any qualification of bulb type (mogul or DE) and with very limited hard data to either substantiate or refute this claim. Just wondering what you, Ninong and anyone else thought about this.

Charlie