M80 Ballast

[Bryan]

Anybody know if there is a mfg replacement for the M80 coil and core ballast required to drive the "HQI" double ended bulbs, according to Advance transformer ballast 71A5880 has been discontinued.

I guess the only option is a electronic ballast or used ?

 

[DarG]

Sunlight Supply makes the Blue Wave ballasts. The Blue wave is available as an ANSI M80 ... Blue Wave 3 is a single, blue Wave 7 is a dual. They do however use chinese components now.

Hamilton still makes them as well.

Im surprised they still show the M81 but not the M80.

You could also check Venture and Universal.

 

[cobbobby]

Who doesn't use the chinese components now. From my research i've found the blue wave 3, 7, PFO and aquamedics ballasts are the only one's that are true m80 hqi ballasts.

 

[DarG]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15514239#post15514239 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cobbobby
Who doesn't use the chinese components now. From my research i've found the blue wave 3, 7, PFO and aquamedics ballasts are the only one's that are true m80 hqi ballasts.

I forgot about the Aquamedic ... there is another one.

Actually PFO is gone now. Sunlight Supply, PFO both used the Advance transformer components. Hamilton atleast used to. Hamilton does still make an M80 last I checked.

Aquamedic claims the cube ballasts to be US made but that doesnt mean they use US components.


Anyway, that makes the Blue Wave, Hamilton, Aquamedic and any leftover PFO's ... as 4 ready mades ... well 3, I doubt youll find a PFO.

Then Venture and Universal to check for raw parts.

If all else fails, contact RC member PaulErik ... he works in the lighting industry. He can tell you exactly what's up with Advance apparently discontinuing their M80 as well as who still makes raw M80 ballast components. The HX-HPF autoformer (core and coil) is signifigantly more expensive than the standard transformers used with pulse start and probe start ballasts so the raw M80 ballasts have always been expensive. I have raw magnetic ballasts in probe start and pulse start for 175 watt - 250 watt but purchased the M81 and M80 as ready-mades (Blue Wave 7 duals) because they were actually less expensive than the raw ballasts that I could find ... I got them both on sale a few years ago when they used the Advance components.

You may also want to check Hellolights.com for raw M80 components. I believe they used to sell them, not sure if they still do.

M80's are definitely still available in some form atleast.

 

[Bryan]

Well, I don't know where the mfg like Hamilton, Bluewave etc are sourcing out raw M80 ballast's for their products. I have looked at the Venture, Universal and Advance catalog's. None make a M80 ballast anymore.

Hellolights has the raw M80 ballasts in their catalog but sold out and imagine they can't bring anymore in.

 

[cobbobby]

If you check there site it says to call for a price. Did you call and see if they are sold out? I'm curious.

 

[RichK]

This si where I got my pulse start (HQI) ballasts for my Radium 400s. I wired them myself and they work great. They show M81s. I take it this is for a 150W bulb?


http://www.1000bulbs.com/150-Watt-Pulse-Start-Ballast/

 

[DarG]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15526288#post15526288 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichK
This si where I got my pulse start (HQI) ballasts for my Radium 400s. I wired them myself and they work great. They show M81s. I take it this is for a 150W bulb?


http://www.1000bulbs.com/150-Watt-Pulse-Start-Ballast/

The 400 watt standard pulse start ballast, ANSI M155 is NOT the same as what is considered the 400 watt "HQI" ballast in North America. The 400 watt "HQI" ballast is actually a 430 watt HPS ballast.

With that said, the M155 is the best ballast, specs -wise, to run the 400 watt Radium.

The M81 is the 150 watt "HQI" ballast.

 

[DarG]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15525824#post15525824 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bryan
Well, I don't know where the mfg like Hamilton, Bluewave etc are sourcing out raw M80 ballast's for their products. I have looked at the Venture, Universal and Advance catalog's. None make a M80 ballast anymore.

Hellolights has the raw M80 ballasts in their catalog but sold out and imagine they can't bring anymore in.

Sunlight Supply began sourcing their M80 components from asia (China) before the Advance components that they used to use were discontinued. I imagine that they are all sourcing from China now if they were using North American components that are no longer being produced.

I understand that you are looking for a raw ballast but if they arent available and you want an M80 ballast, they are available from the manufacturers listed. They would be using the chinese made ballasts. The info I have on the Bluewave M80 is that the chinese ballast meets all the M80 specs. Durability/quality may be another issue.

You can check with Aquamedic on what they are using inside their M80 cube ballasts.

 

[RichK]

Sorry, I guess I was just confused. I just assumed (I know...) that the pulse start ballasts were HQI. The ballasts I have are ANSI 155 pulse start ballasts.

 

[grigsy]

I have been using a Hamilton Technology 250 watt HQI ballast for 6 years.

Still works great.

 

[Bryan]

From the sales rep at Phillips/Advance

"That ballast is being Phase out due to lack of sales with no replacements."