The m58 is a plain Probe start
The m138 is a pulse start ballast.
The m80 is an HQI ballast (pluse start also)
the 138 or M80 will run any MH 250 watt bulb out there with good results. if you go with a 138 you will get longer bulb life from the pulse start which is kinder to the bulb than a probe start.
A M80 will give you the same benifit as the 138 but will also give you increased output as it is running the german design bulbs "properly" you are still pushing the same wattage give or take, but you are getting from different voltage and current combanations that you would in a M58 or 138. the M80 is actualy designed to replicate to out put of the German reactor style ballast but on 120V power instead of the 220V or what ever it is in Europ. Sence the bulbs we use in this hobbie are almost all german or knock offs of german bulbs they run proper on the M80 ballast but it is a little more pricy than a 138 which is more pricy than a 58.
Steve
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 *everything said above is just my opinion, and may or may not reflect the views of this BBS, its Operators, and its Members. If cornered on any “opinion” I post I will totally deny having ever said this in a Court of Law…Unless I am the right one*
Some strive to be perfect.... I just strive.
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