LF M80 ballast

[pells61]

My ballast in my 72" coralife 250 hqi fixture and I heard an M80 ballast can replace my existing one with one exception, I have to hard wire the light to my ballast.

Has anyone had experience in this problem and is it as simple as it seems?

If anyone has a fitting ballast they would like to get ride of we would be grateful.

 

[ChipE]

Hamilton technology is about the only place you will find a new M80 ballast.
I think their 30% off coupon still works, BF13
They make quality products.

 

[Timber77]

wiring is easy its only 3 wires white to white, black to black, green to green...disclaimer for reference only- technically you should consult an electrician before you hook up the 3 wires.. m80 are nice but really any ballast of the same wattage will work.

 

[pells61]

If it's only my capacitor that is broken should I still get a full replacement ballast?

 

[Timber77]

well i hate to give advice which could lead to your house burning down , etc.
ya its probably a cheap fix to swap out the capacitor thats the main thing that ages in most electronics, but if your not familiar do read up on it though, the amperage is what will kill you not the wall voltage and even an old seeming dead capacitor can still be packing lethal amperage, in HS i worked on tv's and stereos in the 1980's back , the capacitor is most likely your problem but really for safety sake don't play with it if you are not familiar.
Instead keep looking for used i have some ice cap 250's (not hi)laying around i posted for like $25 dollars and nobody wanted them, well a guy in NYC bought a couple but i have a few more if you don't need hqi... however you should be able to find a m80 or a 250 hqi ballast used, maybe try your favorite lfs since the led craze i would think a lot of used mh gear should be out there

 

[pells61]

Thanks for the info. I have an electriction friend who doesn't know it yet but will be replacing my cap in my ballast. I would take a crack at it but like you said if I don't do it correctly I can burn the place down. Considering my tank is in Naperville north high school where I teach it would be a mark against me if that happened.