2x250 HID LAMP ELECTRONIC BALLAST

[WLDSHARK]

This ballast was left behind by the previous owner of my brother's recently purchased home and I will like to know if this thing can be use to power up aquarium quality lights?
There is no brand on the box but there are some marking on the box that reads the following:

FCC CE [MH ¨C 2X250W]

HID LAMP ELECTRONIC BALLAST

RATED VOLTAGE ¨C AC90-260V
IMPUT FREQUENCY ¨C 50-60Hz
POWER FACTOR ¡Ý 0.99
THD - ¡Ý5%
AMBIENT TEMP. -40¡Ã"“ 50 C

<a href="http://s197.photobucket.com/albums/aa141/WLDSHARK/STAPPLER/?action=view&current=250BALLAST-1-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa141/WLDSHARK/STAPPLER/250BALLAST-1-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

ANY ELECTRIC ENGINEER OR ELECTRICIAN THAT COULD HELP?

It looks quite small (10x4x3) compare to my single 175 ballast...

Any imput will be welcome!

 

[ReefWreak]

my Coralvue 250w ballast says nothing but HID Lamp Electronic Ballast as well.. No brand name? Regardless, I'm quite sure it would work just fine, if you're looking for a 250w dual ballast... I would also suggest testing it out with a multimeter or something first too.

 

[ahoyhoy239]

connect it to a socket and bulb!

imo if it says MH 2x250w, assuming it is in working condition, it should fire the bulbs, it may just be small since its an electronic ballast

 

[ReefWreak]

I agree, but I'm gonna wait and hope that either Steve or someone else familiar with electronics chimes in.

 

[WLDSHARK]

Cool!
Thanks for the imput!

 

[CiroFuentes22]

From my electrician experience any mh electronic ballast can be hooked up. just make sure that the ballast is wired for 120v and just wire the other end that says lamp to the module. But if you want to get rid of it ill take it or buy it what ever u want.

 

[carlosngloria]

Lol if that was left behind they might have been growing some green plants there once. So it should be fine.

 

[adrian52492]

hey wild shark what are you going to do with it ?

 

[illal]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12183935#post12183935 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by carlosngloria
Lol if that was left behind they might have been growing some green plants there once. So it should be fine.

lol that was the first thig that crossed my mind too !

 

[Young Frankenstein]

that is a good ballast, High Intensity Discharge lamps "HID". It is a quality ballast, and yes you can power 2 x 250 w mh with it. The best bulb for the money is one of the three. Iwasaki 15k, USHIO aqualine, or AB.

 

[Young Frankenstein]

oh I forgot all electronic ballasts produce RF interference that can trip GFIs or Malfunctioning in electronics. The THD is Total Harmonic Distortion or what we called in the CB days "splash". Thats why I like magnetic ballasts wellllllllll and I get them for free

 

[Young Frankenstein]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12183935#post12183935 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by carlosngloria
Lol if that was left behind they might have been growing some green plants there once. So it should be fine.

gardenias ? :bigeyes:

 

[ReefWreak]

Steve,

Would the RF interference trip a GFI on another circuit nearby, not directly on the lights, especially if the lights are ungrounded right over the tank, and the rest of the tank is on a GFI?

 

[Young Frankenstein]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12184944#post12184944 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReefWreak
Steve,

Would the RF interference trip a GFI on another circuit nearby, not directly on the lights, especially if the lights are ungrounded right over the tank, and the rest of the tank is on a GFI?

Yes it can. Actually one of the biggest manufacturers of ballasts ( Advance Transformer) states that in their web site also.

 

[ReefWreak]

what I'm saying tho is even if they're not on the GFI itself, but just in a nearby circuit (i.e. lights plugged into the wall, gfi on other wall outlet tripping, rest of tank on the GFI

 

[WLDSHARK]

Thanks for the information O Agios and the rest of the crew... for those interested in the ballast, my plan is to test the ballast and make sure it's working properly and use it for the 90G I am working on...

 

[Young Frankenstein]

Yes even if the GFI is not in the same circuit RF can give you a false triger.

 

[CiroFuentes22]

So your not willing to sell it.

 

[WLDSHARK]

Sorry CIroFuentes22 I am keeping the ballast....