Tar, E, or PFO??
- Thread starter jester
- Start date
krusk
Member
TAR ballasts:
Old magnetic technology for lighting industry.
The least expensive and required few more seconds to start the lamps and often produce a low hum. Lamp's life are shorter and comsumed more electricity. HEAVY & HOT
E-Ballasts:
newer technology, more expensive, lightweight, allow lamps to start intanstly, longer lamp's life and consumed less electricity.
PFO ballasts:
It is magnetic (coil & core) ballast for MH bulbs.
Old magnetic technology for lighting industry.
The least expensive and required few more seconds to start the lamps and often produce a low hum. Lamp's life are shorter and comsumed more electricity. HEAVY & HOT
E-Ballasts:
newer technology, more expensive, lightweight, allow lamps to start intanstly, longer lamp's life and consumed less electricity.
PFO ballasts:
It is magnetic (coil & core) ballast for MH bulbs.
lotr_clown
Member
The coil and core are also heavy right? But they aren't supposed to have that humming sound. I just got the coil and core type myself. They very heavy. If you can afford it, I would really consider electronic ones.
steamboat1569
Member
Don't take this the wrong way Krusk, but everytime a tar ballast is even slightly mentioned, you really do not put out the "Positive Vibe".
Somewhere in your life, a tar ballast hurt you deeply.
I have had one for over two years. It has never had a hum. I put my multipupose Ohm meter to it and it reads 190watts. This is for a 175w light.
Sure, it gets hot.
This does not matter. It is on the wall with insulation, and has no effect whatsoever on the temperature of the tank.
"If it ain't broken, don't fix it."
I have heard several people say that you have to put the ballast under the tank. I don't find any reason for this. Why pay for the expensive kind, when a cheaper and reliable source exists?
Somewhere in your life, a tar ballast hurt you deeply.
I have had one for over two years. It has never had a hum. I put my multipupose Ohm meter to it and it reads 190watts. This is for a 175w light.
Sure, it gets hot.
This does not matter. It is on the wall with insulation, and has no effect whatsoever on the temperature of the tank.
"If it ain't broken, don't fix it."
I have heard several people say that you have to put the ballast under the tank. I don't find any reason for this. Why pay for the expensive kind, when a cheaper and reliable source exists?
krusk
Member
steamboat1569
I would like to take this as an experience sharing here
you are right, not all of the Tar ballasts are making hum noise.
I have run a Tar ballast from Advance to fire 2x110 VHO bulbs in the past. I have to replaced the bulbs every 6 months. Seen after I switched to the e-ballast the light output seem brighter (well I have no prove of such, no light meter) but it's seem that way.
And You are also right on "if it does not brake don't fix it". I'm a programmer, that's what I keep telling my manager and customers
Seen If some one trying to set up a new tank and the cost for the e-ballast are equal or few bucks more expensive than the tar ballast, I/we would recommend the e-ballast, right?
Just for my knowledge
How often do you replace your bulbs? I believed that you are running Tar ballasts to fire MH bulbs.
I also believed that TAR ballast for MH is somewhat better then TAR ballast for VHO. I never have any experience with TAR ballast for MH. I know alot of hobbist out there using them, but not many have experience with e-ballast for MH. It would be great to have your input.
I think, I'm talking about VHO ballast and you are talking about the MH ballast. We are not compare apple to apple here
I would like to take this as an experience sharing here
you are right, not all of the Tar ballasts are making hum noise.
I have run a Tar ballast from Advance to fire 2x110 VHO bulbs in the past. I have to replaced the bulbs every 6 months. Seen after I switched to the e-ballast the light output seem brighter (well I have no prove of such, no light meter) but it's seem that way.
And You are also right on "if it does not brake don't fix it". I'm a programmer, that's what I keep telling my manager and customers
Seen If some one trying to set up a new tank and the cost for the e-ballast are equal or few bucks more expensive than the tar ballast, I/we would recommend the e-ballast, right?
Just for my knowledge
How often do you replace your bulbs? I believed that you are running Tar ballasts to fire MH bulbs.
I also believed that TAR ballast for MH is somewhat better then TAR ballast for VHO. I never have any experience with TAR ballast for MH. I know alot of hobbist out there using them, but not many have experience with e-ballast for MH. It would be great to have your input.
I think, I'm talking about VHO ballast and you are talking about the MH ballast. We are not compare apple to apple here
steamboat1569
Member
Sorry for the mix up. I have had very good luck running this ballast. And it is very reliable. I change lights about every 8 to 9 months, which is probably to soon, but I don't want to take chances on the spectrum changing.
richard rendos
Active Member
I would recommend not getting an E-ballast for MH if you are running a controller. I had E-ballasts and the interference caused my pumps, lights, and everything connected to the controller to turn on and off at random. Other than that, they seemed to work fine. My PFO ballasts seem to burn the same bulbs a little brighter though.
Check this article out...
<a href="http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/s/b/sbj4/aquarium/ballast%20comparison/ballast-comparison.html" target="_blank">DIY lighting...do ballasts make a difference?...Sanjay Joshi</a>
Check this article out...
<a href="http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/s/b/sbj4/aquarium/ballast%20comparison/ballast-comparison.html" target="_blank">DIY lighting...do ballasts make a difference?...Sanjay Joshi</a>