Like everybody else I started my projectordesign with a halogen bulb, but found out that it was too hot and didn´t give the light output I wanted. So I started looking for HID-bulbs. I found a lot of them in disco-equipmentshops, but to find a ballast, was much harder. So I figured out that a fluorescent-ballast works in the same way a hid-ballast works, you just need more powerful ones. I did a electronic simulation in the computer with parallel 36W ballasts and it gave right voltage and current for the lamp I was going to buy. So I bought a Philips cdm-t 150W bulb and tested my design and it works very well. The best part is that it´s very cheap only $25. I have used this ballastdesign now for 2 months and it still works very good.
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mathis
huh i like this idea and yess the ballasts suck for trying to find one in europe, the trusty old fluro ballasts rock for reliability too and are small, how hot do they run in your setup? and what voltage is the output at the lamp socket? i must say a smart idea u got going there but time will tell if its corect, i supose in this way that u have it we could distripbute the ballasts around in an enclosure to make it smaller too.
Trev
huh i like this idea and yess the ballasts suck for trying to find one in europe, the trusty old fluro ballasts rock for reliability too and are small, how hot do they run in your setup? and what voltage is the output at the lamp socket? i must say a smart idea u got going there but time will tell if its corect, i supose in this way that u have it we could distripbute the ballasts around in an enclosure to make it smaller too.
Trev
very interesting idea and great work!
do you have any design for 250W bulb or 110V power source? would be interested build a DIY ballast in USA 😀
by the way, where did you get CDM-T for $25? the cheapest price I found in US is $44.
do you have any design for 250W bulb or 110V power source? would be interested build a DIY ballast in USA 😀
by the way, where did you get CDM-T for $25? the cheapest price I found in US is $44.
very good idea. just a few days ago i was toying with the idea of putting home made HID lights in my car, only the ballast is too expensive. I have a friend at a ford dealer who can get the HID car bulbs for only $7, but the ballast (per side) is $150 his cost 🙁 very high -- perhaps some of those ballasts you have, running off of a cheapo inverter may do the trick -- even found this ballast for 12v applications, however i think id need 5 or more paralleled for the power/voltage for 2 head lamps. thanks for the info
-chris
-chris
18wheeler
heya bud i think he meant $25 for making the ballast, although i got my bulb cheap somthing like $30 and sockets i can get for like $5 thats a g12 socket, the ballast about the same as the bulb.
Trev
heya bud i think he meant $25 for making the ballast, although i got my bulb cheap somthing like $30 and sockets i can get for like $5 thats a g12 socket, the ballast about the same as the bulb.
Trev
oops. Then where did you get yours? bulb, socket and ballast? I am think of making a rear projector, which will have a smaller screen (60"), better light controll, so a 150W CDM-T sounds like a good choice.
18wheeler
yeah to me the 150w cdm-t is the perfect choice for the rear projection we are looking into, not much heat either and that bulb is a kick *** bulb for colour stability and lm per watt, this is the link i got my gear from , i rang them for prices they are a distributer but sell to the public, u may need to find a ballast in the usa though for your voltage but realy i think this idea of mathis is great so id give that a go. If u ring these guys get a pre paid phone card its cheaper.
http://www.internationallamps.co.uk/new_web/Html/Contents/Philips _dist_subindex.html
Trev
yeah to me the 150w cdm-t is the perfect choice for the rear projection we are looking into, not much heat either and that bulb is a kick *** bulb for colour stability and lm per watt, this is the link i got my gear from , i rang them for prices they are a distributer but sell to the public, u may need to find a ballast in the usa though for your voltage but realy i think this idea of mathis is great so id give that a go. If u ring these guys get a pre paid phone card its cheaper.
http://www.internationallamps.co.uk/new_web/Html/Contents/Philips _dist_subindex.html
Trev
If you want to be sure the ballast works and gives the right voltage and current, you can test it with 3 200W normal bulbs for 230 Volt, that is equal to a 96V 150W bulb. You can use this design for 250W hid bulbs, but you need other values on the ballasts and the voltage and current will be diffrent.
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Aww jeez 🙄 , I just figured out what a "Condensator" is, I kept looking at the symbol and I'm like that LOOKS like a capacitor, and it has a rating in fahrrads, but I've been trying to look up what a condensator is for a while now 
.... So for the english speakers like myself, yes those are Capacitors.
.... So for the english speakers like myself, yes those are Capacitors.
Yes, Condensator is actually Capacitor, I´m sorry for my spelling. I know it´s hard to find a 18 uF / ~300V capacitor, but you don´t need it. But without it, your electricbill will be more expensive.
I don´t think I need to supply any caps, they are pretty easy to find. You can find the 2.2nF capacitor in small fluorescent-lamp, broken powersupplys for computers and in many other things. It doesn´t have to be exactly 2.2nF, I use 3.3nF. I´m working on a electric-ignitor that will be a better choice, and last much longer than the "conventional glow-tube starter" does.
I´m working on a electric-ignitor that will be a better choice, and last much longer than the "conventional glow-tube starter" does.Attachments
mathias
heya bud ok i see your using a different kind of cap, i used to wire up lights and they arent the same ones we used to use nor that are on a fluro light i got here. and yess the type of cap u are using u can get anywhere.
Trev
heya bud ok i see your using a different kind of cap, i used to wire up lights and they arent the same ones we used to use nor that are on a fluro light i got here. and yess the type of cap u are using u can get anywhere.
Trev
Where in US
So where in the U.S. would someone find a handfull of ballasts like that, only made for U.S. 120V?
So where in the U.S. would someone find a handfull of ballasts like that, only made for U.S. 120V?
the ignitor..is a starter right?? tt kind that flickers when u turn it on..so does the HID flicker when u first on it??
And I though almost all starters had a cap internally connected inside...
And I though almost all starters had a cap internally connected inside...
I bought a 400W HQI ballast at www.firstlight.nl for 24 euro. It's not on their website, but I orderd by e-mail.
Regards,
Wes
Regards,
Wes
Re: Where in US
Looks like a standard solid state ballast. You should be able to find them at Home Depot/Lowes or any lighting/electrical shop.
I'd be interested to see someone try this on this side of the pond.
Good work guys!
Tall Shadow
kcsabresfan said:
Looks like a standard solid state ballast. You should be able to find them at Home Depot/Lowes or any lighting/electrical shop.
I'd be interested to see someone try this on this side of the pond.
Good work guys!
Tall Shadow
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