Ballast choices - what would you do?

[Tom R]

Hi Franklin

If you are interested in a tar core ballast you can pick up 175w Advance Ballast ( m56 or m57) at any of the electrical wholesalers for about $65. They use a little more electricity and are usually a little noisier.

Tom R

[mark]

Originally Posted by Tom R

Hi Franklin

If you are interested in a tar core ballast you can pick up 175w Advance Ballast ( m56 or m57) at any of the electrical wholesalers for about $65. They use a little more electricity and are usually a little noisier.

Tom R

Have a old Allanson 175w which I imagine is similiar. Haven't myself actually measure but spec input wattage as 210w.

[Jason McK]

I've been very happy with my BlueLine

Also I have run Gallaxy Unfortunatly they do not make a 175 just 150

J

[fkshiu]

Originally Posted by Tom R

Hi Franklin

If you are interested in a tar core ballast you can pick up 175w Advance Ballast ( m56 or m57) at any of the electrical wholesalers for about $65. They use a little more electricity and are usually a little noisier.

Tom R

Thanks Tom, but I am looking at the 175W electronic + Iwasaki 15K combo that will produce more light and use less juice than with a TAR.

[Whatigot]

I have a 48' fixture with 2x 175w 15k iwasaki MH and 2x 40w t8s that Im not using if you want it to test or whatever...
pfo ballasts.

I was actually surprised with how much light this thing gives.

[Myka]

Originally Posted by fkshiu

Thanks Tom, but I am looking at the 175W electronic + Iwasaki 15K combo that will produce more light and use less juice than with a TAR.

This is exactly what I'm looking at too. I'm also wondering the PAR on the Galaxy ballasts, I sure would like to know!!! I do know however that the PFO ballasts look IDENTICAL to the IceCap ballasts when you take them apart. I do not believe they are at all different from eachother, so I would have a hard time paying the extra bucks for an IceCap.

[banditpowdercoat]

Anyone see this site yet?
http://fishneedit.com/index.html

I know they most likely are Chinese, But for the price, wonder what the quality is like? I like the modular design of the fixture too

[parkinsn]

Originally Posted by Tom R

Hi Franklin

If you are interested in a tar core ballast you can pick up 175w Advance Ballast ( m56 or m57) at any of the electrical wholesalers for about $65. They use a little more electricity and are usually a little noisier.

Tom R

If you open up a PFO ballast it is Advanced ballasts inside it. I have this one and there is no noise at all. Sorry to side track this thread.

http://www.jlaquatics.com/product/pf...+2+x+250W.html

[Whatigot]

is it branded as such?
how can you tell?

funny how all this stuff is the same sometimes...lol

[parkinsn]

Ya the ballast says right on it Advanced. kinda made me mad because work for an electrical wholesaler and we sell Advanced could have saved a lot of $$$ putting one together my self.