VHO ballasts

[vazquez66]

I am wanting to upgrade my lighting.
I know that ice cap ballasts are not made just for the fish industry.
I was wondering if anybody knows what these ballast are called at a pro.electrical supply store.
I ordered an electronic ballast and all i got was a HO tar ballast.
Also what to the ends of VHO fish bulb look like.
Any help would be appreciated.
VAZ

 

[mr . salty]

The ends of an aquraium VHO bulb look just like a standard flourescent bulb.So standard end caps would work,but you really should look into getting waterproof end caps...

 

[fishpoo]

You have to get these ballasts from your local fish store.The ones that hardware stores sell don't put out nearly as much wattage.Ballasts from hardware stores only put out at the most 100 watts.The VHO Icecap puts out 440 watts.You would want the Icecap 660 ballast.They aren't cheap,they will run you on an average of $180 just for the ballast.You should run the Icecap endcaps with them ,but you might be able to run regular ones.But they would void the warranty on the ballast.

 

[downer]

Vazquez, Fishpoo is correct. To be honest the Ice Caps arent much more expenseive than a similar comercial lighting ballast and a comercial ballast runs HOT! A standard ballast would need to be mounted on a metal plate with a heat sink and the buzz is very anoying in a quiet house. Also the energy conservation of the Ice Cap will more than make up for the difference in price. My Ice Cap 660 is 3 years old now and still going stong.

 

[vazquez66]

OK OK OK OK
I'll just spend the money.
No sense being cheap now i didn't get this far in this hobby being cheap.
If any body knows of any good buys let me know.
Thanks
Vaz

 

[jakob4001]

actually; why spend all that extra $$$ on name brand when there are just as good off brand products to chose from that DON'T charge MORE $$$ for getting the rest of the items you NEED to set up the retro light job...
try <a href="http://www.***************.com" target="_blank">www.***************.com</a> that were we got our 440 watt ballast w/ EVERYTHING except the reflector for ONLY $139 at the time including the "preicey namebrand" waterproof endcaps...

 

[lnarobbins]

jakob4001, thanx for the heads up. The price of the lights is whats keeping me from them
now I might be able to talk the wife into them

 

[falcon63]

go 2 any lowes you can by a ballast $37 i have 2 with 4 vho on my 150 with bulbs $160 complete