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#1
03-03-2006, 02:32 AM
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Another metal halide lighting thread
is there a difference between a 250 watt ballast from a grow shop vs a 250 watt ballast from an aquarium light manufacturer? other then price that is?
Richard 
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#2
03-03-2006, 02:44 AM
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they'll all be one of the 3: m58, m138, or m80 ballast - from either place...it's probably more common to find the m80 in an aquarium shop though. not sure if different manufactures of m58/m138 would have a price difference.
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a tout le monde, a tous les amis. je vous aime, je dois partir.
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#3
03-03-2006, 12:09 PM
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Quote:
Steve
__________________
 *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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#4
03-03-2006, 06:39 PM
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The m58 is a plain magnetic ballast.
The m138 is a pulse start ballast. The m80 is an HQI ballast So you have to be carefull to match the ballast to the bulb you want to run, then it doesn't matter where you buy the ballast from, all that will change is the encloser it comes with, if any. If you want a nice enclosure, then buy something like PFO, or you can go to the grow shop for the same thing but not as nice of a package, or you can go to a lighting shop and get the pieces, and wire it yourself.
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#5
03-03-2006, 07:37 PM
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all 3 are magnetic
 just incase it comes up, the plain magnetic ballasts are also called probe start ballasts.go for the m80, you will not be disappointed. costs a little more, but runs any bulb you want 
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a tout le monde, a tous les amis. je vous aime, je dois partir.
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#6
03-03-2006, 07:49 PM
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yes, probe! Couldn't remember the name. And those are what I run, should have remembered.
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#7
03-03-2006, 11:11 PM
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sweet thanks
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#8
03-04-2006, 12:28 AM
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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
__________________
*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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