magnetic and electronic

[kevinbullis6]

What is the difference between magnetic and electronic ballast?

thanks,
-Kevin

 

[michaeldaly]

Electro magnetic ballast are much larger and heavier, they are older technology and use coils , like a transformer.

Electronic ballasts are lighter and usually smaller, they run much cooler and can get a longer life span out of your bulbs. They use electronics to transform the current. They are also more expensive, and the magnetic ballasts are generally more reliable

 

[kevinbullis6]

so out of both which is better when running MH?

-Kevin

 

[michaeldaly]

Probably electronic ballasts.

 

[engine]

exactly how are they more reliable?

 

[Henry Bowman]

Electronic Ballasts in general do not produce quite as high PAR levels as the Magnetics. BUT the Electronic ballasts do run more efficiently and are more kind to bulb life.

As far as reliability, I'd go with IceCap ballasts (electronic) they have very good customer service and stand behind their products. Get a great reflector Lumenmax and a good bulb Iwasaki and be done with it...

My 2 cents.

 

[toothman]

check out Sanjay's reef.com he has a amazing comparison. Seems like Pfo Hqi is the way to go. You will notice that some electronic out preform the m 59 magnetic ballast. De bulbs also can burn brighter. As far a par the 10k are the highest. I have m59's with 10k hammys and reeflux.

 

[michaeldaly]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9316598#post9316598 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by engine
exactly how are they more reliable?

Less likely to fail prematurely or burn out.

 

[pjf]

When replacing T12 and T8 lamps with T6 lamps, why is it important that the fixture contain electronic ballasts?

I recently replaced my T12 lamps with T6HO (high output) lamps. The retailer that sold me the lamps insisted that I check to make sure that I had electronic ballasts. Would magnetic ballasts have worked if I was simply replacing T12 lamps with T6NO (normal output) lamps?

Currently, my 55-watt T6HO lamps are being driven by only 40-watt electronic ballasts. I am considering replacing the 40-watt ballasts with 64-watt ballasts to obtain higher light output. I am not aware of any ballasts between 40 and 64 watts. The Fulham ballast website seems to suggest the next higher ballast wattage (64-watt) for the lamp (55-watt).

 

[engine]

Im wanting to put 1 MH in the middle of my 75gallon tank supplemented w/ vho's. since ill only be using 1 mh in the middle, would DE or SE spread the light out better over the 4' area?
also, would luminarc reflector help spread this light out wider than a typical reflector?

 

[Henry Bowman]

Im wanting to put 1 MH in the middle of my 75gallon tank supplemented w/ vho's. since ill only be using 1 mh in the middle, would DE or SE spread the light out better over the 4' area?

The DE lamps have a more even spread since the base of the SE lamps produce a shadow or dimmer spot on that end of the lamp. I would go DE.

As far as the reflector goes, I'd definitely go with a Luminmax reflector. On another thread I was reading where a Reef Club member was using the clubs new par meter, the luminmax reflector beat the pants off many other reflectors in some cases double the par. So, to answer your question, yes it spreads the light better and captures more of the light coming off the back of the bulb to transfer down into the tank.

I'll look around for the other thread and see if I can post a link for you to check out.

 

[the rock...beauty]

I have a Custom Sea Life Ballast and a Hamilton Ballast, both 175 watts. Are these electronic or magnetic?

Thanks.