Which VHO ballast?? Help

[cvrle1]

Hey all

I finally have some money now and I want to get VHO lighting on my 33 gallon. I was just wondering which ballast should I get. I wanted to get icecap but if it's same as the once that albrite light is selling or some other lighting companies, and costs less money, then I would buy those once instead.

What shall I do??

Thanks

[reefburnaby]

Hi,

Probably, the easiest way is to get a Workhorse 7 ( www.fulham.com for details and wiring diagram). Its electronic and it will give you full power to your VHOs (and it will also have the 6 month thing too). One ballast per tube -- but only 75% of capacity is used

If you want to reduce the output by a little bit, but increase the life of your tubes....then you can drive the VHOs using the 2xF48HO. One ballast per 2 tubes. In this mode, it is also safe enough to drop in NOs to overdrive them like Icecap.

So...yah. 5 year warranty and they are about $70 each (I think).

The only problem was that I couldn't get Workhorse 7 in November -- they weren't in production yet. BUT...they are suppose to be in this month. So, a Workhorse 7 is basically two Workhorse 5s...so you can do it that way too.

The other problem is that these ballasts are instant start ballasts. So, they won't have the funky starting mechanism that Icecap has...which is suppose to enhance tube life. I expect a 30% life reduction due to instant start (vs Icecap start).

BUT...if I were you I would spring for the Iwasaki setup (1x250W). Instead of getting okay light...you'll get awesome lighting.

Hey...if we continue to do this DIY lighting stuff, we should get an account at Albrite and other stores. Say, we work for the reef club or something. That way we can get some kind of discount. Titus, could we use Canreef to start an account ?

- Victor.

[ 03 January 2002: Message edited by: reefburnaby ]

[titus]

Hello,

It depends. If it's like "Canreef Club" or something along that line than it's okay. But if it's the company name "Canreef Aquatics Ltd.", then no. How about the Vancouver Reef Club, MASV, or something like that?

I think we should get some articles written about lighting technologies. I see that we have a few people on this board who knows how bulbs are driven and how to rig up cheaper DIY wiring diagrams. This can drive more members to buy items from Albright and get better discounts.

[reefburnaby]

Hi,

Hmmm...there are some problems with seting up an account with somebody like Albrite -- regardless of the company name. If somebody say..."yah...I work for MASV", at a store. All their purchases will be charged to MASV's account. This is nice if you pay for your stuff in the future...but we might have some problems if people don't pay back or if people order and they are not part of the club.

As for discounts, I think the only way you can get discounts is through an account. In general, an account tells a business how much stuff you buy from them. Based on how much you buy as a company, you will get a better discount. So, having more members buy stuff from Albrite will not necessarily bring the price down (as we have seen with the actinics 03).

- Victor.

[clintyiu]

Hey!

The workhorse 7 has just arrived at Albright (604-945-9060) last week. Apparently Fulham had promised this product for over a year. The WH7 is $55 and the WH6 is $45+/-. Albright should have 16 WH7 left...they sold two in the past week.

Now if only the bulbs are more affordable.

Clint

[DJ88]

Victor,

By setting up a cash payment account you get around the worry of people not paying the account off.

I had an account like this at Industrial Plastics. Once they see you are serious about making purchases you will start getting the discounts.. unless they start you out with them right away.. [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[Troy F]

Hey Marko! Long time no see/hear.

Victor, the ballast you are suggesting runs VHO, HO and NO? Could you estimate the cost of a 4x110W set up using the WorkHorse? Compare it to the price of a complete IceCap 660 set up with tubes.

You said, "(and it will also have the 6 month thing too)". What do you mean by that?

[StirCrazy]

well Troy, that would be easy.. the 4 bulbs would cost the same but each workhorse 7 will power 220 watts so you would need 2 total cost of 110 + tax. last time I checked a ice cap 660 was almost 300 cdn (for me to get) of course you would need wiring for both (wires and end caps for both) I also suspect the workhorse 7 will power the VHO to the full capacity (maybe if someone in victoria buys one I can check this out) so your bulb life might be shorter.. whare if you are going to run NO bulbs the end result should be the same.

Steve

[DJ88]

Here Troy.. easier this way..

<LI>Icecap 660 - $269.00
<LI>Wiring Harness - $37.95
<LI>End Caps - $63.80($15.95 pr)
<LI>Lamps - $135.80($33.95ea (4xURI Actinics))
Total - $506.55 + $70.92taxes = $577.47

<LI>Icecap 430 - $229.00
<LI>Wiring Harness - $33.95
<LI>End Caps - $63.80($15.95 pr)
<LI>Lamps - $101.85($33.95ea (3xURI Actinics))
Total - $428.60 + $60.00 = $488.60


<LI>Workhorse 7 - $110.00($55.00 ea)
<LI>Wiring Harness - Built in
<LI>End Caps - $63.80($15.95 pr)
<LI>Lamps - $135.80($33.95ea (4xURI Actinics))
Total - $309.60 + $43.34 = $352.94

[One_Divided]

I ordered a workhorse 7 earlier today.. I will experiment with it a bit.. sounds like a pretty versitile ballast.. I'll compare it with my 430..

It's $70 for me though.. what the hell? I guess I'll lie and say it's for my company and pay it there.. Hmm..