Electric vs Tar

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by Chad

Electric vs Tar. Is one better than the other? Can someone explain this?

Thank You.

go with a Pluse start tar ballat. at canadian utility costs it would take about 10 years to start saving you money. both electric ballast and pluse start start the bulb the same way, but using a normal northamerican ballast will just use open line curent and rely on the probe in the bulb to start the light. pulse start, electric and HQI (real HQI) all use the same method for starting the bulb which is a high voltage low amprage pulsing current. this provides a smoother faster ignition which is easyer on the bulb.

so the only benifit of a electronic ballast is a little bit less power consumption due to less power being given off as heat. but at 0.0055/KWH it will take a long long time for the power savings to offset the extra cost.

oh one other thing is every electronic ballast out there seams to kinda under drive the bulb which mean you are not getting all the possable light you should out of your bulb, where the 250 watt HQI consistantly gives you the highers PAR numbers which also extending the life of the bulb by virtue of running it properly.

Steve