Icecap ballasts

[scubasteve]

Im sure this has been covered before, but.....
Has anyone gone from a "typical" ballast to an icecap? And if so would you remommend the icecaps over the others?

 

[69vette]

How could you justify the cost?

 

[69vette]

Originally posted by Kip4130
ice caps run bulbs at their full potential at less energy usage
No they don't. They underdrive the bulbs. Besides that, they cost 4-5 times what other ballasts cost. It'll take many, many years to recoup the extra cost just from electricity savings.

 

[bang guy]

Actually, they cost about 10 times what a regular ballast costs. If you run 4 bulbs the break even point is about 2 years. It's a choice.
My lux meter didn't show any difference in light output. I hear that they use significantly less power. I don't have any way of testing that but I've heard it from several sources that have tested it. The ballasts stay cool so I know they must use less power.
If I had a choice of free regular ballasts or a $200 IceCap 660 I would spend the $200. Actually, I have... several times.

 

[scubasteve]

I found a retrofit kit online for around $260 that includes the icecap ballast, socket and reflector, bulb, and power cord. Doesn't seem outrageous to me :notsure:

 

[robchuck]

What wattage? If you're looking at 250W, then $260 isn't bad for that combo.
I currently run 175W Ice Cap MH ballasts, but will use a dual PFO magnetic ballast on my new tank. I did a test run of the PFO ballast I acquired for the new tank over my current tank, and the lights appeared much brighter running off the PFO than the Ice Cap. Though the Ice Caps have their advantages (run cooler, more electrically efficient).

 

[thedogofwa]

we're talking about VHO's?
You know you can overdrive NO bulbs to near VHO specs with an IC and get 3 years out of them right.?
oh and the new ballast made for URI by icecap is a bit cheaper, it lacks the dimming capabilities and thats it. Champion lighting carries them

 

[thedogofwa]

Originally posted by RobChuck
What wattage? If you're looking at 250W, then $260 isn't bad for that combo.
I currently run 175W Ice Cap MH ballasts, but will use a dual PFO magnetic ballast on my new tank. I did a test run of the PFO ballast I acquired for the new tank over my current tank, and the lights appeared much brighter running off the PFO than the Ice Cap. Though the Ice Caps have their advantages (run cooler, more electrically efficient).
The PFO magnetic kicks the crap out of an IC on most MH bulbs.
heres a great comparo for MH
http://www.cnidarianreef.com/lamps.cfm

 

[saltynewbie]

Originally posted by TheDogofWa
we're talking about VHO's?
You know you can overdrive NO bulbs to near VHO specs with an IC and get 3 years out of them right.? ...
i skimmed an article about this in one of the magazines i get... dont know if i quite understood it... can anyone explain it to me? :thinking:

 

[bang guy]

Now that you mention it, I don't know if we're talking MH or Flourescent. I was referring to flourescent. If we're discussing MH then just disregard what I said. I don't know anything at all about the IceCap MH ballasts.
SaltyNewbie - Start a new thread. I've got a bit of experience with that and I'll gladly answer in another thread.

 

[scubasteve]

I thought i had it in my first post, but i guess i didn't. I was actually asking about MH ballasts. The research article TheDog referenced was very informative. Thanks for all the input.