2x250 HPS/MH in one Cool Tube?

[fatigues]

Hi guys,

I've picked up a Galaxy 250w Dual Electronic Ballast. The same ballast can operate 2x250 HIDs at the same time at either 120v or 240v.

The contemplated space this will be installed in is a relatively small cab (assume 36wx24dx72h for now). The specified 36" cab width prevents me from using a 30" cool tube.

The standard length of a 250w HPS or Tubular MH bulb is about 9.75".

Assuming a 24" cool tube, do you think I could rig up a 250w lamp to be mounted in both ends of that 24" Cool Tube? I believe a few IC members have done this, but I have not seen photos of their tube setups to verify or heard reports on their overall success/failures. Adding the length of the base, it seems that it would be a very tight fit, though I might recess the base mounting a bit from the end of either tube with some ingenuity, spit, kleenex and duct tape.

This probably is not something I would bother doing if I had to buy a separate ballast, tube and ducting, but as it stands, all it would require is another cord and base fixture - very cheap - to add in the second light (and the additional bulb and energy to run it if course).

Opinions as to whether there is adequate space in a 24" cool tube to fit in the two lamps + sockets - or any other observations you may have - are welcome.

 

[jump117]

2 in 1

2 in 1

250W HPS + 250W MH in one tube

 

[K.J]

Wow, Jump, that's a kick ass tube. Did you build that one yourself? Any how-to?

 

[vinnythebat]

http://www.hydrofarm.com/pb_detail.php?itemid=8334#

i was going to double a 150 with one of these and a 19 inch cool tube

 

[fatigues]

Thanks for the response!

Could you provide a little more detail on how big the tube is and how the sockets are mounted? Is that a 24" Pyrex Bake a round or something else?

Thanks!

 

[fatigues]

Looking at your gallery, it appears that this is a 6" tube - approximately 20" long, mounted on either end to 6" wide PVC Tubing, with each PVc collar being about 6" inches long. The sockets are mounted to the PVC Tube collar, and the PVC is then vented on either end via normal 6" ducting, which is attached to the PVC collar.

I presume that the whole unit, from the outside edge of one PVC collar to the opposite edge of the other PVC collar, , is about 32" long (81cm). Does that sound about right to you?

At a minimum then, this tube would need about 44" of horizontal space in a cabinet to fit, to accomodate the duct work on both ends of the tube?

Do you remember where you got the 6" tempered glass tube? (I assume it is tempered glass/pyrex of some sort?)

 

[dotblunt]

2-400s in one cool tube in a small box vented by a 6" vortex:

Cheated a bit, had 2 cooltubes so I simply removed the hardware end of the second and plopped it on the empty end of the first and voila, a 2 headed cooltube.

 

[jump117]

Hey K.J !
I've used this my DIY for only once you see dates on pix. It was good. A leaves touch the tube with 250W HPS+250W MH inside.

Airflow intake D100mm duct - PVC drainage D110mm tube/fitting - SIMAX® borosilicate glass tube -D125,0mm / 3,0mm / 400mm - PVC drainage D110mm tube/fitting - D100mm duct -out.
One or two (?) 100mm S&P Silent ventilators.

PVC fitting is drilled 8mm opening to pass a screw-bolt to M8 nut weld on to a 2 1/4" pipe carrier of E40 socket. Another opening is drilled to pass a wires.

The lengths of bulbs and sockets are very significant but variable from a model. You have to figure the common length of bulb and socket to define a position and method of E40 fixation.

Hey vinnythebat !
imo Socket Assembly for Dual Cool Tube is a good ready-made decision.
It's arch thrust type fixation on glass easy to install and to remove.
Weight: 1.5 lbs.
Suggested Retail: $40.00

A little bit of criticism. Wide cross-bar is good for airflow reduction and E40 socket settle is heavy to adjust when needed.

 

[fatigues]

Excellent responses and instructions on construction.

Thanks very much

 

[Tripsick]

Great info

 

[jump117]

Looking at your gallery, it appears that this is a 6" tube - approximately 20" long, mounted on either end to 6" wide PVC Tubing, with each PVc collar being about 6" inches long. The sockets are mounted to the PVC Tube collar, and the PVC is then vented on either end via normal 6" ducting, which is attached to the PVC collar.

I presume that the whole unit, from the outside edge of one PVC collar to the opposite edge of the other PVC collar, , is about 32" long (81cm). Does that sound about right to you?

At a minimum then, this tube would need about 44" of horizontal space in a cabinet to fit, to accomodate the duct work on both ends of the tube?

Do you remember where you got the 6" tempered glass tube? (I assume it is tempered glass/pyrex of some sort?)

Hey fatigues !
Your calculations were perfectly right.
That box was about 32" width and the cool-tube airflow was independant from interior.
Inhale/exhale was organized from/to outside of the chamber without filter of course.
It was working good but was a little complicated in service.
To reduce the length later I've used plastic fittings as 90 degree elbow from round to rectangular duct but I didn't use it with two lamps as early.
Accompanied with 300mm (vs 400mm before) length tube it was permitted to settle the device in more suitable crosswise position.
Since it's offtopic being only one lamp I shouldn't post pix here but you may see it in my album "Gavita ..."

jump