Well, I have finally collected most of the parts I need to put this projector together. The problem is the EYE bulb is no longer in stock and I just don't have the patience to wait any longer. Joe Werb used the UHI-S400DD USHIO in his projector, and the images look incredible. I already have the mogul base and the 400w Electronic Ballast. I was wondering if the mogul base and the ballast are compatible with the USHIO bulb, because if they are I think I'm going to go that route. If anyone knows if they are compatible I'd sure appreciate it. I should have my tempered glass and fan by next week, and I'm looking forward to watching Saving Private Ryan on my 110" big screen this weekend.

I believe it will work fine, let us know.

Brain,

I read in another post somewhere that you have ordered one of these bulbs to test. Have you tried it out yet?

Thanks,
Andy

P.S. I just received my order from LumenLab store!! Still have reflector on order, working on LCD screen, and waiting, waiting, waiting, for the light!

Nope the lamp should be here in a few days

I checked on this bulb. This bulb will not work with neither the old ballast nor the new electronic ballast. It requires a high pressure sodium ballast. I have ordered a ballast and the Ushio bulb from www.atlantalightbulbs.com. They don't have any currently in stock, but they had already placed an order and should have them within a week. Joe Werb uses this bulb in his projector and the pictures look pretty good. He believes that it is a better bulb than the EYE, and judging by his photos I'd have to agree with him. The bulb pumps out pumps 33,000 lumens, has a color temperature of 5200K, and renders color with a 85 CRI rating. The bulb is 9 3/4 inches long, so it will fit in the enclosure, and it can be universally mounted. It uses the same mogul base that we have, so basically all that needs to be changed is the ballast.

Ushio Corp and AtlantaLighting are both quoted as saying the Ushio UHI-S400DD will fire with either a M59 Ballast or S51 Ballast.

Since I dont use your electronic ballast... I can't say.


- JCB

Well that's interesting. I spoke with AtlantaLighting earlier this morning and the guy assured me that the Ushio light bulb would only work with a high pressure sodium ballast. Also, if you visit this web link, http://www.ushio.com/Files/UltraArc0903.pdf, it shows that the only compatible ballast is the S51. I know that the Ushio bulb is a metal halide conversion bulb, but the fact that the Ushio site only lists the S51 ballast leads me to believe that it is the only compatible ballast for this lamp. I don't know this for sure though. I hope it works on the electronic ballast, since the electronic ballast seems to be better than the old one, and probably better than the High Pressure Sodium ballast I already ordered.

I use the S400DD on an S51 ballast... so I dont know first hand, this just want I was told.

A few people have reported that the bulb works fine on an M59 ballast while 1 person has said that his M59 fires the lamp, but not every time.


- JCB

It sure would be nice to know if this bulb works with the new/old electronic ballast. I bought the electronic ballast which is now being replaced, only to find out that the EYE bulb was not available. Based on this thread and others I bought the Ushio bulb, only to "hear" that it is not compatible with that ballast. Now there is another bulb on the way. What's up? Is there a definitive answer? All I really want to know is will the Ushio conversion bulb work with the Lumenlab electronic ballast.

I have one on the way I'll tell you soon.

Received ballast and Ushio bulb and bulb fires. Seems to go to full brightness but won't really know performance until the proj. is built this weekend.

The Ushio fires on the sodium ballast? Did you try it on the electronic one? If anyone has results on using the Ushio with the electronic ballast, I'd greatly appreciate it!

I saw a post somewhere where Brain recommended against using that bulb with the eballast. I'm certain he will clarify once he reads this post. (edit) oops! The answer is right above where faithfulforever says that it dosen't work.

I tried the 250w version of the conversion lamp and I wasn't satisfied. Another report claims the 400w version works fine.