ICECAP>>> I think I'am confused please help???

[raymond4133]

I was just browising the RC sponsors and came along That Fish Place that Pet place and well I found this item...

It says it's a Mogul Electronic ballast by icecap....When I think of Electronic ballast by iceap i think of those blue rectangular things...Instead this one seems to be a silver metal casing or housing...


I'am not sure but does Icecap now make their ballast with enclosed housings and pre-wired wires...

here's the link...

http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/product/productInfo.web?infoParam.mode=1&infoParam.itemKey=218605

thanks

Raymond

 

[T-T-Trigger]

your url dont work fyi

 

[raymond4133]

try this link also...

http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/product/productInfo.web?picGroupKey=821

 

[raymond4133]

sorry about that here's another one this one should work too...

This link shows the 175 watt version of the icecap ballast...


http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/product/productInfo.web?&infoParam.itemKey=218605

 

[jlfnjlf]

Raymond,

I suspect it is an IceCap ballast in a pre-wired case. Seems like a reasonable solution if you prefer to not do your own wiring. I have seen other pre-wired IceCap configurations. I am wiring my own IceCap Ballasts this weekend, but I have bit of electrical experience. If you decide to do your own wiring let me know if you need some help.

John

 

[raymond4133]

I just thought this would be a good buy for some novices at electronic wiring expecially since the icecap bare ballast alone is already $105+ at many online stores....

I will let you know though JOHN if I do plan on going that way in wiring...

I was actually planning on swapping out my old m57 ballast for some electronic but that would take some saving up for...(I would need 3 of them)...Or just change out my MH bulbs....

-It's a give and take situation....


-Also if anybody knows....Well it has been a couple of years since the popular T5 came out on market and well have most aquarists put the myth of icecap powered T5 lamps are better than the regular electronic ballast that come with most kits...

-I keep reading about lots of reefers using the icecap ballast instead of the stock E ballasts because icecap are supposedly running the bulbs hotter, brighter, etc....(fact or ficition)???

Any information would be great...

thanks again Raymond

 

[jlfnjlf]

Raymond,

I am running 4 80W T5 bulbs on 2 IceCap 660 ballasts for that exact reason. As for fact or fiction I think the best measure would be to measure the light output from both ballasts on the same bulb. I decided to go for it mostly based on the reliability of the IceCap ballast.

John

 

[raymond4133]

cool thanks dude for the information...


Now I just have to decide on which one I want to get first...Where did you end up buying your 80 watt t5's from and how much were they...So i have a idea...

I wished they made a 6 foot but I gues 5 feet is the max they make right now...

-raymond

 

[jlfnjlf]

Raymond,

I got the T5 retrofit kit from reefgeek.com, and it was $480 with bulbs. They have a good selection of bulbs, and the packaging of the bulbs and reflectors was awesome.

John

 

[brianbigoats]

Ice cap ballest overdrive T5's i have the Aquatinics Solar Flare w/ 6 54w T5's w/ IC ballest they are putting out 84W each if you have any questions you should look up the T5 Q&A thread and ask The Grim Reefer he is the T5 expert on RC

 

[brianbigoats]

here is the T5 Q&A link:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1032804