Spectral Analysis of 150 Watt DE Lamps: Giesmann, Icecap, Iwasaki and Elos

by | Aug 15, 2008 | 0 comments

This article reviews the last of the 150W double ended metal halide lamps tested for their performance and spectral output. Table 1, provides a complete listing of the lamps and ballast combinations test. Included in the tests in the new electronic ballast, sent to me by Current USA. The Iwasaki Kr85 is often sold listed as 50000K lamp. Double ended lams are recommended to be used in enclosed fixtures with a glass shield. Hence these lamps were tested with and without a glass shield. The Icecap lamps represent the new series of lamps.

Table 1: List of lamps and ballasts tested
150W DE Lamps 150W Ballasts
ELOS 150W 10000K PLUS HQI (M81)
Icecap Electronic
Aromat Electronic
Current USA Electronic
GIESMANN 150W MARINE
GIESMANN 150W DE CORAL
GIESMANN 150W DE BLUE
IWASAKI Kr85 150W DE
ICECAP 150W 10000K
ICECAP 150W 14000K
ICECAP 150W 20000K

Comparison of Lamp Performance Under Different Ballasts

This section presents the results of testing the different lamps using different ballasts. For each lamp tested different ballasts were used to fire the lamp and data is presented.

ELOS 150W 10000K PLUS

Table 2: ELOS 150W 10000K PLUS
Ballast Shielded Power Voltage Current PPFD CCT Efficiency
HQI (M81) N 208 122.8 1.82 76.5 8678 0.36779
HQI (M81) Y 208 122.8 1.82 61.5 7840 0.29567
Icecap Y 158 123 1.37 47.5 8198 0.30063
Icecap N 158 123 1.37 60.2 8869 0.38101
Aromat N 163 122.9 1.42 61.8 9019 0.37914
Aromat Y 163 122.9 1.42 49.2 8116 0.30184
Current USA Y 172 122.6 1.48 50.5 8092 0.29360
Current USA N 172 122.6 1.48 62.8 8819 0.36512
Figure1-elos-10k.jpg

Figure 1: Spectral Plot of the Elos 150W DE Lamp with the different ballasts (Shielded)

Giesmann 150W DE Marine

Table 3: Giesmann 150W DE Marine
Ballast Shielded Power Voltage Current PPFD CCT Efficiency
Current USA N 164 122.4 1.42 60 8251 0.36585
Current USA Y 164 122.4 1.42 48.1 7550 0.29329
Aromat Y 163 122.6 1.42 48.1 7692 0.29509
Aromat N 163 122.6 1.42 60.3 8275 0.36994
Icecap N 158 122.8 1.37 58.4 8251 0.36962
Icecap Y 158 122.8 1.37 47.1 7465 0.29810
HQI (M81) Y 203 122.2 1.79 55.9 7500 0.27537
HQI (M81) N 203 122.2 1.79 76.1 8640 0.37488
Figure2-giesmann-marine.jpg

Figure 2: Spectral Plot of the Giesmann 150W DE Marine Lamp with the different ballasts (shielded)

Giesmann 150W DE Coral

Table 4: Giesmann 150W DE Coral
Ballast Shielded Power Voltage Current PPFD CCT Efficiency
HQI (M81) N 208 122.9 1.82 62.8 8930 0.30192
HQI (M81) Y 208 122.9 1.82 50.6 8113 0.24327
Icecap Y 158 122.3 1.37 39.8 8417 0.25190
Icecap N 158 122.3 1.37 50.2 9035 0.31772
Aromat N 163 122.4 1.43 50.9 8972 0.31227
Aromat Y 163 122.4 1.43 41.5 8134 0.25460
Current USA Y 173 121.6 1.5 43.9 8112 0.25376
Current USA N 173 121.6 1.5 54.3 8832 0.31387
Figure3-giesmann-coral.jpg

Figure 3: Spectral Plot of the Giesmann 150W DE Coral Lamp with the different ballasts (shielded)

Giesmann 150W DE Blue

Table 5: Giesmann 150W DE Blue
Ballast Shielded Power Voltage Current PPFD CCT Efficiency
Current USA N 153 122.2 1.34 22.1 0.14444
Current USA Y 153 122.2 1.34 17.5 0.11438
Aromat Y 162 121.2 1.43 19 0.11728
Aromat N 162 121.2 1.43 24 0.14815
Icecap N 158 123.3 1.36 24.1 0.15253
Icecap Y 158 123.3 1.36 18.9 0.11962
HQI (M81) Y 191 121.8 1.71 20.5 0.10733
HQI (M81) N 191 121.8 1.71 25.9 0.13560
Figure4-giesmann-blue.jpg

Figure 4: Spectral Plot of Giesmann 150W DE Coral Lamp with the different ballasts (shielded)

Iwasaki Kr85 150W DE

Table 6: Iwasaki Kr85 150W DE
Ballast Shielded Power Voltage Current PPFD CCT Efficiency
Current USA N 153 122.2 1.34 22.1 na 0.14444
Current USA Y 153 122.2 1.34 17.5 na 0.11438
Aromat Y 162 121.2 1.43 19 na 0.11728
Aromat N 162 121.2 1.43 24 na 0.14815
Icecap N 158 123.3 1.36 24.1 na 0.15253
Icecap Y 158 123.3 1.36 18.9 na 0.11962
HQI (M81) Y 191 121.8 1.71 20.5 na 0.10733
HQI (M81) N 191 121.8 1.71 25.9 na 0.13560
Figure5-Iwasaki-kr85.jpg

Figure 5: Spectral Plot of Iwasaki Kr85 150W DE Lamp with the different ballasts (shielded)

Icecap 150W DE 10000K

Table 7: Icecap 150W DE 10000K
Ballast Shielded Power Voltage Current PPFD CCT Efficiency
Current N 165 122.5 1.44 69.2 5819 0.41939
Current Y 165 122.5 1.44 56.3 5624 0.34121
Aromat Y 163 122.7 1.42 55.6 5765 0.34110
Aromat N 163 122.7 1.42 69.7 5904 0.42761
Icecap N 158 122.4 1.37 67.5 5949 0.42722
Icecap Y 158 122.4 1.37 55.2 4677 0.34937
HQI – M81 Y 198 122.9 1.75 64.9 5679 0.32778
HQI – M81 N 198 122.9 1.75 80.3 6033 0.40556
Figure6-Icecap-10000K.jpg

Figure 6: Spectral Plot of Icecap 150W DE 10000K Lamp with the different ballasts (shielded)

Icecap 150W DE 14000K

Table 8: Icecap 150W DE 14000K
Ballast Shielded Power Voltage Current PPFD CCT Efficiency
HQI – M81 N 203 122.6 1.79 86.7 6415 0.42709
HQI – M81 Y 204 122.6 1.79 69.6 6025 0.34118
Icecap Y 158 123 1.36 56.4 5943 0.35696
Icecap N 158 123 1.36 69.8 6158 0.44177
Aromat N 163 122.4 1.42 72.2 6217 0.44294
Aromat Y 163 122.4 1.42 58.9 5931 0.36135
Current Y 172 122.5 1.48 60.7 5919 0.35291
Current N 172 122.5 1.48 74.7 6036 0.43430
Figure7-Icecap-14000K.jpg

Figure 7: Spectral Plot of Icecap 150W DE 14000K Lamp with the different ballasts (shielded)

Icecap 150W DE 20000K

Table 9: Icecap 150W DE 20000K
Ballast Shielded Power Voltage Current PPFD CCT Efficiency
Current N 158 123.1 1.38 27.2 45956 0.17215
Current Y 158 123.1 1.38 21.6 na 0.13671
Aromat Y 161 122.6 1.41 21.8 27578 0.13540
Aromat N 161 122.6 1.41 26.9 53269 0.16708
Icecap N 158 122.6 1.38 27.6 na 0.17468
Icecap Y 158 122.6 1.38 22.2 35847 0.14051
HQI – M81 Y 184 122.5 1.65 22.8 37148 0.12391
HQI – M81 N 184 122.5 1.65 28.6 58681 0.15543
Figure8-Icecap-20000K.jpg

Figure 8: Spectral Plot of Icecap 150W DE 20000K Lamp with the different ballasts (shielded)

Discussion and Conclusions

Figures 7 and 8, and Tables 10,11 and 12 compare the Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density (PPFD) and Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) of the unshielded lamps tested here against all the 150W DE metal halide lamps tested. The Elos 10000K plus and Giesmann Marine are very similar in output and CCT. The Icecap 10000K lamps have output comparable to the middle range lamps, and generally have higher output than the Giesmann and Elos lamps on comparable ballasts. However, the CCT for the Icecap lamps is lower than the Elos and Giesmann lamps. In the 14000K category, the was only one prior lamp to compare against – the Aquaconnect 14000K. Both the Icecap and Giesmann lamps have higher PPFD, with the Icecap being the highest. However, the high output is at the cost of much lower CCT, in the 6000K range, making these lamps appear more yellowish. In the 20000K category, both the Giesmann and Icecap come out in the low end of PPFD for the 20000K lamps. The Icecap lamp had a PPFD in the 45000K-58000K range indicating that it may be less blue as compared to the other “20000K” rated lamps which have a CCT that cannot be determined due to the predominance of blue. The Iwasaki Kr85 lamp is usually sold in the aquarium hobby as a 50000K lamp. The spectral plot of this lamp indicates that it will appear quite blue, and it differs from the Icecap and Giesmann Blue lamp since it has extra output in the actinic range (420 nm). As for the PPFD output, its is quite low and would place it in the bottom of all the 20000K lamps tested. The Current USA electronic ballast is similar in performance to the other electronic ballasts.

figure9-PPFD-comparisons.jpg

Figure 9: Comparison of the PPFD of the 150W DE lamps tested against all previously tested 150W DE lamps

figure10-PPFD-comparisons.jpg

Figure 10: Comparison of the CCT of the 150W DE lamps tested against all previously tested 150W DE lamps

Table 9: Icecap 150W DE 20000K
Lamp Name Ballast Name PPFD CCT Power Volts Amps EFF
1 Sylvania Aqua Arc 150W 10000K DE 1 LampsNow 150W /175W Electronic 95 8153 178 120 1.68 0.5337
2 HIT(BLV) 150W 10000K DE 1 PFO 150W HQI (M81) 83 9128 228 122 1.89 0.364
3 Icecap 150W 10000K DE 1 (new) PFO 150W HQI (M81) 80 6033 198 122 1.75 0.4056
4 Aqualine Buschke 150W 10000K DE 1 LampsNow 150W /175W Electronic 79 12871 175 119 1.72 0.4514
5 XDE 150W 10000K DE 1 PFO 150W HQI (M81) 77 9445 202 122 1.75 0.3812
6 Icecap 150W 10000K DE 1 PFO 150W HQI (M81) 77 9117 212 120 1.89 0.3632
7 Sylvania Aqua Arc 150W 10000K DE 1 PFO 150W HQI (M81) 77 7844 196 121 1.77 0.3929
8 Giesemann 150W 10000K DE 1 PFO 150W HQI (M81) 76 9519 215 123 1.82 0.3535
9 Elos 150W 10000K Plus DE 1 PFO 150W HQI (M81) 76 8678 208 122 1.82 0.3678
10 Giesmann 150W Marine DE 1 PFO 150W HQI (M81) 76 8640 203 122 1.79 0.3749
11 Ushio 150W 10000K DE 1 LampsNow 150W /175W Electronic 75 5994 179 119 1.74 0.419
12 Sylvania Aqua Arc 150W 10000K DE 1 Icecap 150W Electronic 75 8338 172 119 1.53 0.436
13 Sylvania Aqua Arc 150W 10000K DE 1 Reliable 150W Electronic 74 8380 168 120 1.53 0.4405
14 Ushio 150W 10000K DE 1 PFO 150W HQI (M81) 72 6462 202 119 1.83 0.3564
15 Icecap 150W 10000K DE 1 LampsNow 150W /175W Electronic 72 8595 178 119 1.71 0.4045
16 Sylvania Aqua Arc 150W 10000K DE 1 Aromat 150W Electronic 72 8427 163 120 1.48 0.4417
17 Icecap 150W 10000K DE 1 (new) Current USA 150W Electronic 69 5819 165 122 1.44 0.4194
18 Icecap 150W 10000K DE 1 (new) Aromat 150W Electronic 69 5904 163 122 1.42 0.4276
19 XDE 150W 10000K DE 1 Icecap 150W Electronic 68 9031 175 121 1.49 0.3886
20 XDE 150W 10000K DE 1 Giesemann 150W Electronic 67 8894 173 122 1.47 0.3873
21 Icecap 150W 10000K DE 1 (new) Icecap 150W Electronic 67 5949 158 122 1.37 0.4272
22 Aqualine Buschke 150W 10000K DE 1 Reliable 150W Electronic 66 13033 168 119 1.53 0.3929
23 Aqualine Buschke 150W 10000K DE 1 Icecap 150W Electronic 66 12479 172 119 1.54 0.3837
24 Aqualine Buschke 150W 10000K DE 1 Aromat 150W Electronic 64 13155 163 120 1.47 0.3926
25 Ushio 150W 10000K DE 1 Reliable 150W Electronic 64 6487 168 120 1.52 0.381
26 Aqualine Buschke 150W 10000K DE 1 PFO 150W HQI (M81) 63 12229 191 120 1.74 0.3298
27 Ushio 150W 10000K DE 1 Icecap 150W Electronic 63 6462 168 120 1.49 0.375
28 Ushio 150W 10000K DE 1 Aromat 150W Electronic 62 6526 164 120 1.48 0.378
29 Elos 150W 10000K Plus DE 1 Current USA 150W Electronic 62 8819 172 122 1.48 0.3651
30 Icecap 150W 10000K DE 1 Reliable 150W Electronic 61 9195 167 119 1.51 0.3653
31 Icecap 150W 10000K DE 1 Icecap 150W Electronic 61 8996 168 120 1.51 0.3631
32 Elos 150W 10000K Plus DE 1 Aromat 150W Electronic 61 9019 163 122 1.42 0.3791
33 HIT(BLV) 150W 10000K DE 1 Icecap 150W Electronic 60 8502 168 123 1.45 0.3571
34 Giesemann 150W 10000K DE 1 Giesemann 150W Electronic 60 9844 175 120 1.5 0.3429
35 Elos 150W 10000K Plus DE 1 Icecap 150W Electronic 60 8869 158 123 1.37 0.381
36 Giesmann 150W Marine DE 1 Current USA 150W Electronic 60 8251 164 122 1.42 0.3659
37 Giesmann 150W Marine DE 1 Aromat 150W Electronic 60 8275 163 122 1.42 0.3699
38 HIT(BLV) 150W 10000K DE 1 Giesemann 150W Electronic 59 8822 174 122 1.48 0.3391
39 Giesemann 150W 10000K DE 1 Icecap 150W Electronic 59 9742 170 123 1.44 0.3471
40 Icecap 150W 10000K DE 1 Aromat 150W Electronic 59 8902 164 121 1.47 0.3598
41 Giesmann 150W Marine DE 1 Icecap 150W Electronic 58 8251 158 122 1.37 0.3696
Table 11: Comparison of the 150W 140000K DE lamps tested against all 150W DE 14000K lamps
Lamp Name Ballast Name PPFD CCT Power Volts Amps EFF
1 Icecap 150W 14000K DE 1 (new) PFO 150W HQI (M81) 86 6415 203 122 1.79 0.4271
2 Icecap 150W 14000K DE 1 (new) Current USA 150W Electronic 74 6036 172 122 1.48 0.4343
3 Icecap 150W 14000K DE 1 (new) Aromat 150W Electronic 72 6217 163 122 1.42 0.4429
4 Icecap 150W 14000K DE 1 (new) Icecap 150W Electronic 69 6158 158 123 1.36 0.4418
5 Giesmann 150W Coral DE 1 PFO 150W HQI (M81) 62 8930 208 122 1.82 0.3019
6 Giesmann 150W Coral DE 1 Current USA 150W Electronic 54 8832 173 121 1.5 0.3139
7 Giesmann 150W Coral DE 1 Icecap 150W Electronic 50 9035 158 122 1.37 0.3177
8 Giesmann 150W Coral DE 1 Aromat 150W Electronic 50 8972 163 122 1.43 0.3123
9 Aquaconnect 150W 14000K DE 1 PFO 150W HQI (M81) 46 0 195 122 1.7 0.2359
10 Aquaconnect 150W 14000K DE 1 Giesemann 150W Electronic 46 0 166 122 1.41 0.2771
11 Aquaconnect 150W 14000K DE 1 Icecap 150W Electronic 45 0 174 122 1.48 0.2586
Table 12: Comparison of the 150W 20000K DE lamps tested against all 150W DE 20000K lamps
Lamp Name Ballast Name PPFD CCT Power Volts Amps EFF
1 Radium 150W 20000K DE 1 PFO 150W HQI (M81) 58 0 228 122 1.98 0.2544
2 Radium 150W 20000K DE 1 Giesemann 150W Electronic 46 0 173 123 1.48 0.2659
3 Radium 150W 20000K DE 1 Icecap 150W Electronic 44 0 166 121 1.45 0.2651
4 Coralvue 150W 20000K DE 1 Icecap 150W Electronic 37 0 174 122 1.45 0.2126
5 Coralvue 150W 20000K DE 1 PFO 150W HQI (M81) 36 0 198 123 1.71 0.1818
6 Coralvue 150W 20000K DE 1 Giesemann 150W Electronic 36 0 178 123 1.45 0.2022
7 HIT(BLV) 150W Colorlite 20000K DE 1 PFO 150W HQI (M81) 35 0 202 121 1.82 0.1733
8 HIT(BLV) 150W Colorlite 20000K DE 1 LampsNow 150W /175W Electronic 34 0 175 120 1.7 0.1943
9 XDE 150W 20000K DE 1 Icecap 150W Electronic 32 0 173 123 1.45 0.185
10 HIT(BLV) 150W Colorlite 20000K DE 1 Icecap 150W Electronic 32 0 172 119 1.52 0.186
11 HIT(BLV) 150W Colorlite 20000K DE 1 Aromat 150W Electronic 31 0 164 121 1.48 0.189
12 XDE 150W 20000K DE 1 Giesemann 150W Electronic 30 0 168 120 1.42 0.1786
13 HIT(BLV) 150W Colorlite 20000K DE 1 Reliable 150W Electronic 30 0 168 119 1.54 0.1786
14 XDE 150W 20000K DE 1 PFO 150W HQI (M81) 28 0 181 123 1.61 0.1547
15 Icecap 150W 20000K DE 1 (new) PFO 150W HQI (M81) 28 58681 184 122 1.65 0.1554
16 Icecap 150W 20000K DE 1 (new) Current USA 150W Electronic 27 45956 158 123 1.38 0.1722
17 Icecap 150W 20000K DE 1 (new) Icecap 150W Electronic 27 0 158 122 1.38 0.1747
18 Icecap 150W 20000K DE 1 (new) Aromat 150W Electronic 26 53269 161 122 1.41 0.1671
19 Giesmann 150W Blue DE 1 PFO 150W HQI (M81) 25 0 191 121 1.71 0.1356
20 Giesmann 150W Blue DE 1 Aromat 150W Electronic 24 0 162 121 1.43 0.1481
21 Giesmann 150W Blue DE 1 Icecap 150W Electronic 24 0 158 123 1.36 0.1525
22 Giesmann 150W Blue DE 1 Current USA 150W Electronic 22 0 153 122 1.34 0.1444
  • Sanjay Joshi

    Sanjay Joshi in real life is a Professor of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering at Penn State University. He has been a reef addict since 1992, and currently keeps several reef aquariums at home including a 500G SPS coral dominated reef. He also co-manages the 500G aquarium at Penn State. He has published several articles in magazines such as Marine Fish and Reef Annual, Aquarium Frontiers, Aquarium Fish, and Advanced Aquarist. In addition, he has been an invited speaker at several marine aquarium society meetings in the US and Europe. He received the MASNA award in 2006, for his contributions to the marine aquarium hobby.

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