magnetic vs electronic ballast?
- Thread starter hkgar
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bang guy
Moderator
Originally Posted by wax32
So Bang, you'd suggest PFO 400 Watt Single HQI Metal Halide Ballast with a 10000k hamilton bulb is a superior choice?
I really don't know. I use the 250 watt version. Like I said, Golfish is better versed than I am with MH. It's just really obvious to me that the Blueline is not 30% more efficient than a magnetic HQI. The Blueline may keep the bulbs usable longer than the magnetic and that could be a huge difference in favor of the electronic. I have not seen any data about that though. I would love to find some (hint hint).
So Bang, you'd suggest PFO 400 Watt Single HQI Metal Halide Ballast with a 10000k hamilton bulb is a superior choice?
I really don't know. I use the 250 watt version. Like I said, Golfish is better versed than I am with MH. It's just really obvious to me that the Blueline is not 30% more efficient than a magnetic HQI. The Blueline may keep the bulbs usable longer than the magnetic and that could be a huge difference in favor of the electronic. I have not seen any data about that though. I would love to find some (hint hint).
golfish
Active Member
Originally Posted by wax32
So Bang, you'd suggest PFO 400 Watt Single HQI Metal Halide Ballast with a 10000k hamilton bulb is a superior choice?
I use the PFO HQI to fire most 400 watt bulbs. I use the PFO standard balalst to drive my XM bulbs..IMO, the Euro bulbs like the Hamilton, AB, Ushio, OshramRadium burn better on the HQI ballast then any other. The draw back is that some of the bulbs wont last as long as they will on the E ballast or pulseprobe mag ballast. Its all about the look you want and the PPFD...Most of the tests prove Mag ballast are more effecient then the E ballast ( Bang has pointed this out)
Mag ballast burn bulbs closer to spec, their much more reliable and cost less..
So are asian IC ballasts good or not? Sarcasm is tough to read online.
IC used to make their ballast here (NY I think)..these were a lot different then the E ballast you see now....They sold ballast that ran certain bulbs, most people had to send them back to IC for re tuning if they wanted to run a different bulb. Lots of people had to send them back for re tuning to run any bulbs. Lots of problems with those old IC MH ballast (Their VHO balalst are second to none) In the past few years most of the company's have gone to a potted E ballast (made in Asia) their much more reliable then the older models but can't be worked on, if it fails its time to buy a new one. You can buy parts for the Mag ballast all day long.
So Bang, you'd suggest PFO 400 Watt Single HQI Metal Halide Ballast with a 10000k hamilton bulb is a superior choice?
I use the PFO HQI to fire most 400 watt bulbs. I use the PFO standard balalst to drive my XM bulbs..IMO, the Euro bulbs like the Hamilton, AB, Ushio, OshramRadium burn better on the HQI ballast then any other. The draw back is that some of the bulbs wont last as long as they will on the E ballast or pulseprobe mag ballast. Its all about the look you want and the PPFD...Most of the tests prove Mag ballast are more effecient then the E ballast ( Bang has pointed this out)
Mag ballast burn bulbs closer to spec, their much more reliable and cost less..
So are asian IC ballasts good or not? Sarcasm is tough to read online.
IC used to make their ballast here (NY I think)..these were a lot different then the E ballast you see now....They sold ballast that ran certain bulbs, most people had to send them back to IC for re tuning if they wanted to run a different bulb. Lots of people had to send them back for re tuning to run any bulbs. Lots of problems with those old IC MH ballast (Their VHO balalst are second to none) In the past few years most of the company's have gone to a potted E ballast (made in Asia) their much more reliable then the older models but can't be worked on, if it fails its time to buy a new one. You can buy parts for the Mag ballast all day long.
shawnts106
Member
The Blueline may keep the bulbs usable longer than the magnetic and that could be a huge difference in favor of the electronic. I have not seen any data about that though. I would love to find some (hint hint).
The Blueline Ballasts are an EBallast which uses less electricity and is cooler, but does not burn the bulb as bright, or to the efficency of a magnetic ballast... that is why the bulbs last longer and are usable longer.... other than that thats it, so you have this:
Magnetic
Burns bulbs brighter
Bulb Life shortened
Ballast less expensive
Ballasts burn hotter
Ballasts use more electricity
Electronic
Bulb life expanded
Bulbs burn less intense
Ballasts more expensive
Ballasts are cooler
Ballasts use less electricity
so you have a total of
Magnetic = 2 good, 3 bad
Electronic = 3 good, 2 bad
either way, I think that costs balance themselfs out, possibly?
dont know for sure!
you decide!
The Blueline Ballasts are an EBallast which uses less electricity and is cooler, but does not burn the bulb as bright, or to the efficency of a magnetic ballast... that is why the bulbs last longer and are usable longer.... other than that thats it, so you have this:
Magnetic
Burns bulbs brighter
Bulb Life shortened
Ballast less expensive
Ballasts burn hotter
Ballasts use more electricity
Electronic
Bulb life expanded
Bulbs burn less intense
Ballasts more expensive
Ballasts are cooler
Ballasts use less electricity
so you have a total of
Magnetic = 2 good, 3 bad
Electronic = 3 good, 2 bad
either way, I think that costs balance themselfs out, possibly?
dont know for sure!
you decide!
shawnts106
Member
Which in your opinion would be a Magnetic or Electronic Ballast?
bang guy
Moderator
Originally Posted by shawnts106
Which in your opinion would be a Magnetic or Electronic Ballast?
I have a 250 watt HQI magnetic ballast that puts out almost as much light as a 400 watt e-ballast. Every case is different but in my case it's a no-brainer because the 250 watt magnetic uses a LOT less electicity than a 400 watt electronic.
You say the bulbs last longer on an e-ballast, I have seen no hard numbers about that. A few hobbiests have said the same thing but offer no evidence. If I saw some numbers it could make a difference but until then it's just hearsay.
Golfish has more experience but my understanding is that it's the number of bulb starts that degrade the bulbs, not the under or over-diving of the bulb. I don't believe the number of starts will change regardless of which ballast you use. I could easily be convinced otherwise with some test results but until then I'm going to remain skeptical.
Which in your opinion would be a Magnetic or Electronic Ballast?
I have a 250 watt HQI magnetic ballast that puts out almost as much light as a 400 watt e-ballast. Every case is different but in my case it's a no-brainer because the 250 watt magnetic uses a LOT less electicity than a 400 watt electronic.
You say the bulbs last longer on an e-ballast, I have seen no hard numbers about that. A few hobbiests have said the same thing but offer no evidence. If I saw some numbers it could make a difference but until then it's just hearsay.
Golfish has more experience but my understanding is that it's the number of bulb starts that degrade the bulbs, not the under or over-diving of the bulb. I don't believe the number of starts will change regardless of which ballast you use. I could easily be convinced otherwise with some test results but until then I'm going to remain skeptical.
shawnts106
Member
You say the bulbs last longer on an e-ballast, I have seen no hard numbers about that. A few hobbiests have said the same thing but offer no evidence.
They retain there spectrum longer because they do not burn so bright as the mag ballast do.
They retain there spectrum longer because they do not burn so bright as the mag ballast do.
shawnts106
Member
BTW: I have decided to go to LOWES and buy 2 175 watt outdoor/indoor MH fixtures and modify them for my reef, 24.98$ a peice! very cheap!
Now, What do you think about the lighting, I want a nice clear white with a good ice blue look that is going to bring out the colors in the corals
so I was thinking of
definatly 14,000K MH, or the new XM 15,000K MH with 2 110watt VHO's either Actinics or 2 50/50's ... what do all you MH experts think?
I am going with the Mag Ballast because they are cheaper and burn brighter, I would like an eballast but I do not have hundreds of dollars to throw out at once!
Now, What do you think about the lighting, I want a nice clear white with a good ice blue look that is going to bring out the colors in the corals
so I was thinking of
definatly 14,000K MH, or the new XM 15,000K MH with 2 110watt VHO's either Actinics or 2 50/50's ... what do all you MH experts think?
I am going with the Mag Ballast because they are cheaper and burn brighter, I would like an eballast but I do not have hundreds of dollars to throw out at once!
bang guy
Moderator
Originally Posted by shawnts106
They retain there spectrum longer because they do not burn so bright as the mag ballast do.
I'm not saying your wrong, but is that an opinion or do you have the analysis somewhere? I've looked for it, I haven't found it. You're probably smarter so maybe you found it. If you did just let me know who did the analysis and then I can probably find it. If it's "Blueline" then I'm probably going to remain skeptical.
They retain there spectrum longer because they do not burn so bright as the mag ballast do.
I'm not saying your wrong, but is that an opinion or do you have the analysis somewhere? I've looked for it, I haven't found it. You're probably smarter so maybe you found it. If you did just let me know who did the analysis and then I can probably find it. If it's "Blueline" then I'm probably going to remain skeptical.
bang guy
Moderator
Originally Posted by shawnts106
BTW: I have decided to go to LOWES and buy 2 175 watt outdoor/indoor MH fixtures and modify them for my reef, 24.98$ a peice! very cheap!
Now, What do you think about the lighting, I want a nice clear white with a good ice blue look that is going to bring out the colors in the corals
Sweet price for sure!
IMO a 10,000K + VHO Actinics makes for a good look + lots of PAR. 14,000K + Actinic might be too blue for me but blue looks cool so you might like it better.
BTW: I have decided to go to LOWES and buy 2 175 watt outdoor/indoor MH fixtures and modify them for my reef, 24.98$ a peice! very cheap!
Now, What do you think about the lighting, I want a nice clear white with a good ice blue look that is going to bring out the colors in the corals
Sweet price for sure!
IMO a 10,000K + VHO Actinics makes for a good look + lots of PAR. 14,000K + Actinic might be too blue for me but blue looks cool so you might like it better.
shawnts106
Member
I dont want the BLUE TANK look, I want a nice crisp white light with a touch of Ice Blue to it... thats why I said the 14,000K MH and 50/50 VHOS, what do you think bang?
BTW: I do not remember where I read that info at, It wasnt blueline, I think it was from Champion Lighting?... darn I forget!
I have heard this, but I have not validated it completly!
so maybe you can do this somhow?
BTW: I do not remember where I read that info at, It wasnt blueline, I think it was from Champion Lighting?... darn I forget!
I have heard this, but I have not validated it completly!
so maybe you can do this somhow?
golfish
Active Member
Originally Posted by Bang Guy
Golfish has more experience but my understanding is that it's the number of bulb starts that degrade the bulbs, not the under or over-diving of the bulb. I don't believe the number of starts will change regardless of which ballast you use. I could easily be convinced otherwise with some test results but until then I'm going to remain skeptical.
The 400 watt HQI ballast (430 watt Son agro) has been around for a long time..The 400 watt DE bulbs have not. I've never been able to figure out just what this ballast was really made for.. Some people tell me it was made for the SE Radium only. This ballast does over drive SE bulbs and shorten their life a little, well, except for the Radium, it shortens the life a lot on that bulb..I still think its a good ballast for some bulbs..
From what I have read, the 250 watt HQI (M80) ballast draws more amps on startup then the 400 watt HQI ballast does on startup. I don't think I'd want to run SE bulbs on the ballast
Golfish has more experience but my understanding is that it's the number of bulb starts that degrade the bulbs, not the under or over-diving of the bulb. I don't believe the number of starts will change regardless of which ballast you use. I could easily be convinced otherwise with some test results but until then I'm going to remain skeptical.
The 400 watt HQI ballast (430 watt Son agro) has been around for a long time..The 400 watt DE bulbs have not. I've never been able to figure out just what this ballast was really made for.. Some people tell me it was made for the SE Radium only. This ballast does over drive SE bulbs and shorten their life a little, well, except for the Radium, it shortens the life a lot on that bulb..I still think its a good ballast for some bulbs..
From what I have read, the 250 watt HQI (M80) ballast draws more amps on startup then the 400 watt HQI ballast does on startup. I don't think I'd want to run SE bulbs on the ballast
shawnts106
Member
... oh ok! I GET IT! :notsure:
anyway! lol!!!!
I have decieded to go with Mag Ballasts, just bought the first outdoor Mercury Vapor fixture at LOWES 22.96 now!!!, and Im going to make my own, using two of these fixtures and some more stuff there is a website on it... anyway, and I have some questions for goldfish/whoever knows what they are talking about!!!
the Ballast says Pulse blah blah blah on it, (note: without the blah's) I am assuming that this means that it is a Pulse start ballast? now... what kind of MH bulbs can I use when this thing is up and running??? I wanted to use Hamilton or Blueline 14,000K's
is this ok?
please help me understand and put it in as simple terms as possible, of course dont say yes or no, say yes or no and elaborate for me! thanks a bunch!!!
anyway! lol!!!!
I have decieded to go with Mag Ballasts, just bought the first outdoor Mercury Vapor fixture at LOWES 22.96 now!!!
, and Im going to make my own, using two of these fixtures and some more stuff there is a website on it... anyway, and I have some questions for goldfish/whoever knows what they are talking about!!!the Ballast says Pulse blah blah blah on it, (note: without the blah's) I am assuming that this means that it is a Pulse start ballast? now... what kind of MH bulbs can I use when this thing is up and running??? I wanted to use Hamilton or Blueline 14,000K's
is this ok?
please help me understand and put it in as simple terms as possible, of course dont say yes or no, say yes or no and elaborate for me! thanks a bunch!!!
shawnts106
Member
well I dont know if im ok to post this but here goes nothing!!!
Posting links is a violation of your user agreement
there, he explains all about it!
I believe he used a MV ballast, concidering that Lowes and Home depot do not sell MH ballasts that I know of!!!
Posting links is a violation of your user agreement
there, he explains all about it!
I believe he used a MV ballast, concidering that Lowes and Home depot do not sell MH ballasts that I know of!!!
golfish
Active Member
you can buy the raw ballast online..but its not going to save you much. When you consider the cost of the heat sink, wire, switches and other stuff you'll need to build it. I think its nice to say you built your own ballast but you wont save much, plus you wont have much of a warranty and heat sink