ARO Ballast

[avgjoe]

Does anyone have data that shows an electronic ballast to be more power efficient than a magnetic? Yes, in therory electronic ballast should be more efficient, but so far real world data/test prove otherwise (Or at least a insignificant difference).

This may be a bit off topic but if someone could clarify then power efficiency will be one less factory hckycoz has to consider when making his purchase. If this is the case then heat and longevity will be the about the only thing that sets magnetic apart from electronic. i.e magetic ballast produce massive heat but tend to be more durable and less picky of input voltages than electronic ballast.

 

[avgjoe]

As far as DE bulbs vs. SE bulbs. The sentiment I got from reading many post from users that use both is... 1. That DE offers no real benefit over SE. 2. DE bulb cost more 3. There are much better reflectors for SE bulbs than DE.

So its basically a toss up.

 

[gath2]

The reflector makes a huge difference in my opinion. DE bulbs have to be run in reflectors with a glass shielding. The reflectors are expensive, but are great at what they do, reflecting light into the tank. SE bulbs can be run in all kinds of reflectors and cheap ones, so you can save a lot of money. However, you need to spend the cash and get good SE reflectors if you want them to compare to DE as far as getting the light into the tank.

 

[DrBDC]

Here is a great article on reflectors:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/mar2003/feature.htm

 

[Shooter7]

Speaking of ARO ballasts, now on sale:

http://www.hellolights.com/aroelba.html

 

[chadfarmer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7301563#post7301563 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by avgjoe
You'll want to check out this site. http://www.cnidarianreef.com/lamps.cfm
i.e

Par/Watt = Effeciency

The following ballast results using the same XM10K bulb.

Icecap Electronic Ballast
252 Watts = 2.1

ARO Electronic Ballast
250 Watts = 2.1

PFO Standard Ballast
268 Watts = 2.2

PFO HQI
340 Watts = 2.45

M59 (tar) ballast run the bulb harder that is why the watts is more, a hqi is a smaller bulb and the refector are made that you get coverage in one area more of a dirrect pattern

(the thing about metal halide is that the hqi and SE(single end bulb will not last the normal life)

hockey the icecap will run a lot of bulbs and has softstart to give the bulb more life (aro is a copy of the icecap)

also remember that customer service is another stand part

well for the 14k Hamilton that bulb is a waste of time

(if i were you go with the icecap 250w and the pheniox 14k (high par and good color )(cant remember how shooters looked)

 

[chadfarmer]

go with anything if you want

the blue wave is nice also what number are you going with 1,3,7

and the pendant reef optics are nice also 1,2,3


these are plug and play

also the hqi or double ended bulbs need glass under them to filter out the uv that comes of the light


(also the aro and the icecap ballast need some wiring to get them to work (nothing major but figure you didnt know or not)