I need some advice on a 175w MH Ballast

flower

flower

Well-Known Member

I have a bad ballast, I need to replace it. I found this online...However the plug is the same type of plug I have on my light, can I get an adaptor that would allow the two to connect?
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
I hate to say this, but when we bought the ballast for my light, even though it was "the same".....my husband had to re-wire

There are some peeps here, shawn, Corey, Posiden.....that I bet you...will be able to help you better....It's Saturday, so giv e them time to see this....or PM them, and I am sure as soon as they can they will respond to you.....can't do much today anyway, cause nothing will ship till Monday
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///forum/thread/380838/i-need-ome-advice-on-a-175w-mh-ballast#post_3315235

I have been on line forever, I don't think such a thing exists.
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
I've never seen a male x male adapter like what you're looking for. Instead you'd probably have to cut one of the ends and install a male quick disconnect end for it to work.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member

Yes I figured as much. I will some day have to purchase another ballast and hire an electrician to rewire it. I have hope that Coralife will replace this one. (I will call on Monday) It was purchased in March so it isn't a year old..this is the second time they had to replace the ballast. So right now I have to put one side of the lights on, then after 5 hours switch and turn the other side on. I can run the actinic 12 hours so that should help them some.
LOL..ever feel the fish tank just knows you have a little cash money...
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
That plug looks very similar to the plug end used on the PFO ballasts.......I know at one time, you could get the from a couple places, but not sure if they are still available....They were sold for people that didn't want to cut into the wiring on the ballast to wire to their reflector sockets....
Flower to the best of my knowledge the IceCap doesn't come standard with that plug end....someone correct me if I'm wrong...I had bought 2 new 1 a year ago from my source and don't have them on hand since I sold them, but they didn't have that plug end. The did have the short black lead as shown, but bare wires at the end. To get it to work with your existing fixture you will probably have to cut the end plug of the fixture and hardwire the 2 together......
Ahhhhh let me hold my horses!!!!!!!
Check the IceCap website....Again this is a couple years and not sure if they ever took off or are still in production, but IceCap there for a time being was building and selling (not directly) I will call them ballast boxes.....The boxes had switches "on/off" on the box, and all the electrical goodies on the outside. You had to mount your IceCap ballasts or what not inside and wire them inside the nifty little housings....I would check their site to see if they are still available, and that might be an option as well....If not PM me and I'll tell you were I might have gotten the plugs from and you can contact them to see if they still carry the parts......It was 1 of 3 places I buy from online, so let me know!!!!!!
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
If it were me I would simply cut the ends off of both of the cords and just splice them together with some butt connectors...weather proof them with some liquid electrical tape and be good to go. That would be a simple DIY rout if ever you find somone locally who would be willing to do that for you.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
+1...of course my husband would do it for me, BUT I BET you can find someone to do this....Supposedly it is a very simple thing to do (LOL) Personally I do not touch electrical or plumbing...
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///forum/thread/380838/i-need-some-advice-on-a-175w-mh-ballast#post_3315247
If it were me I would simply cut the ends off of both of the cords and just splice them together with some butt connectors...weather proof them with some liquid electrical tape and be good to go. That would be a simple DIY rout if ever you find somone locally who would be willing to do that for you.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Very simple DIY project.....only 3 wires......

Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///forum/thread/380838/i-need-some-advice-on-a-175w-mh-ballast#post_3315247
If it were me I would simply cut the ends off of both of the cords and just splice them together with some butt connectors...weather proof them with some liquid electrical tape and be good to go. That would be a simple DIY rout if ever you find somone locally who would be willing to do that for you.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///forum/thread/380838/i-need-some-advice-on-a-175w-mh-ballast#post_3315250
Very simple DIY project.....only 3 wires......


No, its five or six wires and those colors don't match the colors in the box, I peeked and closed it right back up....I will pay a person to do it...I will not do it.
Shawn, if an adaptor exists...please let me know from where..I know I will need one in the future. I am calling Coralife on Monday...but this is the second box in less than a year...not well made to say the least.
 
posiden

posiden

Active Member
I have and like very much, the Lumatek ballast. I have the 250 watt adjustable. It does the 150,175,250,and HQI bulbs. Mine has a small female pig tail on it unlike this shows. Mine would plug right into yours.
http://www.***********.com/Lumatek_250W_120_240V_Dimmable_Multi_Wattage_Ballast_Kit_250_Watt_Metal_Halide_Ballasts-Lumatek-LK1221-FILTACBAMHTF-vi.html
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
WELL....there ya go Flower.....
Quote:
Originally Posted by Posiden http:///forum/thread/380838/i-need-some-advice-on-a-175w-mh-ballast#post_3315346
I have and like very much, the Lumatek ballast. I have the 250 watt adjustable. It does the 150,175,250,and HQI bulbs. Mine has a small female pig tail on it unlike this shows. Mine would plug right into yours.
http://www.***********.com/Lumatek_250W_120_240V_Dimmable_Multi_Wattage_Ballast_Kit_250_Watt_Metal_Halide_Ballasts-Lumatek-LK1221-FILTACBAMHTF-vi.html
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Posiden http:///forum/thread/380838/i-need-some-advice-on-a-175w-mh-ballast#post_3315346
I have and like very much, the Lumatek ballast. I have the 250 watt adjustable. It does the 150,175,250,and HQI bulbs. Mine has a small female pig tail on it unlike this shows. Mine would plug right into yours.
http://www.***********.com/Lumatek_250W_120_240V_Dimmable_Multi_Wattage_Ballast_Kit_250_Watt_Metal_Halide_Ballasts-Lumatek-LK1221-FILTACBAMHTF-vi.html

Fantastic! I savd the site in favorite so I can go back to it. I will check with Coralife tomorrow ad see if th wll replace this thng AGAIN and if not I know where to get a repalcement with out playing with te electric...Thank You so much!

The picture shows the right plug in..
 
posiden

posiden

Active Member
Well I looked at my ballast and I was wrong. My pig tail is solid on the inside except for the prong holes that the bulb cord plugs into. Sorry.
Yes it does however, that end needs to go into the ballast. If you got that setup, you would need to run that wire up to the bulb base and wire it in. It will only be 3 wires. Not sure if your up for that or not?
Can you post a pic of your setup maybe? I myself, am not a lighting expert by any means. So I'm unsure of the different things other companies have done in the past. A pic would help me out a lot.
 
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