Does anyone know why a Workhorse7 could not run 4x24w t5ho?
 

I was looking at Ocean Aquatics info page on Workhorse ballasts and noticed the following:
(From http://oceanaquatics.com/store/produ...-5-T5-Ballast/ )

Could anyone speculate why a WH7 couldn't drive 4 24w t5's when a WH5 could? I happen to have an unused WH7 and was hoping to use it for this purpose, so I'm a little disappointed to find this nugget of information .. I'm hoping it's just an oversight and that I could just run the ballast to run the lights.

It should still work, it just may overdrive them. Can you hook it up and see if it works?

I could, I'll have to order some lights and sockets first mind you. I checked Fulham's website and indeed they'll point you to a WH5 if you want to run 4x24w, and a WH8 if you want to run 6x24w. Both the 7 and 8 are 220W but I guess the 8 has an extra set of red leads. The 7 can do 4x39 or 4x54 though. So it seems I have just a little bit too much ballast for what I want to do, or "not quite enough" ballast (ie., I want to run 8 24w anyhow so running the 6 lamp config would be OK but seems I'd still have to buy a second ballast anyhow so maybe the trick is sell the 7 and pick up two 5's.) :neutral:

You should be able to use the WH7 you just have to put two 24watt bullbs in series....then you will have 48 watts per red Wire.....with this configuration you can run 8 24W T5's

This has worked for me in the past with a different ballast....worth a try....and tony if you want to get some WH5's let me know I can get them cheaper with my company!!

Oh ok do each pair in series, I see. Actually wouldn't this still technically overdrive the lamps slightly, since the ballast is 220W, and 8x24 (or 4x48) is only 192W?

Dang, I might have to try this. Ok, I'm totally ordering 8 reflectors and 16 sockets now. :lol: At least it would be an economical way to get 8 t5's going, if it's better to move to 2xWH5's, I could make that move down the road.