HMI Bulb Question

C

chris_f

Active member
Hi All,

I recently picked up a 1200watt HMI (Dedolight DLH1200D). And have a bulb related question.

It’s quirky because it takes a G22 base 1200watt bulb and is a hot restrike capable system. The only bulb available with those specs and with hot restrike capability is the OEM one you purchase through Dedolight. This bulb is made to their spec by Koto in Japan. All other G22 base 1200watt bulbs are cold-strike only, but I can source them for half the price.

So the question: is it safe to run a cold-strike only bulb (that otherwise has all of the exact same specs) in a hot restrike capable system? Or could the ballast send through too much voltage (even on a cold start) for the cold strike bulb to handle safely?

Does anyone have experience running a cold-strike only bulb in a hot restrike capable system?

Thanks for any input!

Cheers,
Chris
 
I have OSRAM 1200W bulbs. And maybe some Koto. I don't have Dedo systems. I have, however, done a hot restrike on my 1200W bulbs, though. Sometimes they don't strike correctly but I've never had a long term problem with any type of bulb in any system. I had actually assumed that all of the newer HMI lamps were hot restrike, though.
 
Generally, a hot restrike bulb and ballast do an extra surge to get the lamp going again, and the hot restrike lamp / globe is designed to take it.

If you use a not hot re-trike lamp / globe, what you'll likely end up doing is aging it prematurely, reducing it's life.

If you try to minimise the hot restrict through the day, then you can expect a more regular operating life from the non hot restrike.

As I said, I believe it just means a bigger up front jolt on ignition. Everything else is the same with hot restrike
 
cpreston said:
I have OSRAM 1200W bulbs. And maybe some Koto. I don't have Dedo systems. I have, however, done a hot restrike on my 1200W bulbs, though. Sometimes they don't strike correctly but I've never had a long term problem with any type of bulb in any system. I had actually assumed that all of the newer HMI lamps were hot restrike, though.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that info good to know. True, it seems every hot restrike (HR) capable 1200w bulb is G38 base except the one Dedolight makes with Koto (G22 base).
 
Doug Bee said:
Generally, a hot restrike bulb and ballast do an extra surge to get the lamp going again, and the hot restrike lamp / globe is designed to take it.

If you use a not hot re-trike lamp / globe, what you'll likely end up doing is aging it prematurely, reducing it's life.

If you try to minimise the hot restrict through the day, then you can expect a more regular operating life from the non hot restrike.

As I said, I believe it just means a bigger up front jolt on ignition. Everything else is the same with hot restrike
Click to expand...

Thanks Doug. Appreciate your input.

Just to be clear, I have no intention of using the Hot Restrike feature of the ballast. I was concerned that the HR ballast might be giving the bulb an extra surge even on a completely cold-strike. (Perhaps to speed the process up?).

So, safe to assume that if I am only ever doing a cold strike I shouldn’t have issues with using a cold strike bulb on a HR ballast?

Cheers!
 
Yeah if that function isn’t operating then you’re fine. It’s only ignition that it applies.
 
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