t5 electronic ballasts which one?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6957500#post6957500 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by horkn
the workhorse is a great t5ho ballast. in aquarium use you will not see reduced output froma w ballast.

however, not using good reflectors is not a wise decision. aqualus, tek, and icecap reflectors are the tops in the t5ho biz for reflectors.
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Thanks I will use that ballast, as far as reflector, I'm 100% sure what I am going to have manufactured is as good or better. I'm thinking a "W" shaped 100% mirrored s/s #8 finish with Duratek coating so I can scrub the life out of it and it wont scratch even the slightest.

Im submitting plans to my layout guys in portland in the next week hopefully.
 
I'm in a Industrial park and the neighbor is a commercial light distibutor, I am going to see if he sells the wh7, I know he can get everything else that I'm not manufacturing.

ok Im done, didnt mean to hijack the thread, back to topic. Thanks for help.
 
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Rob,

Wow, 5 months and your acros are changing color. That is amazing. That kind of makes bulb replacement expensive. Can you post back here with the ballast you eventually use?

Thanks,
Chris
 
hey, if any of you guys get the ballasts from ballastwise, can you give us a report on your thoughts on them? I'm running my T5s on an IceCap 660 right now, and if the bulb life really is that short, I will want to replace the ballast.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6959322#post6959322 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Nyles
Thanks I will use that ballast, as far as reflector, I'm 100% sure what I am going to have manufactured is as good or better. I'm thinking a "W" shaped 100% mirrored s/s #8 finish with Duratek coating so I can scrub the life out of it and it wont scratch even the slightest.

Im submitting plans to my layout guys in portland in the next week hopefully.
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i have my 3x39w t5ho run by one workhorse5 ballast. 15 months strong, not one issue, nor any sign of " hard start bulb abuse" like i was told would happen if i used a w ballast.


which of these ballastwise ballasts are you guys running?
 
I just ordered three of the 2x54w programmed start ballast. I'll post my thoughts on them when they arrive and I get them up and running.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6960086#post6960086 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CaptainDave
hey, if any of you guys get the ballasts from ballastwise, can you give us a report on your thoughts on them? I'm running my T5s on an IceCap 660 right now, and if the bulb life really is that short, I will want to replace the ballast.
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My dad gave me two ballast from AH Supply PC kit he bought for his tank before he took it down. I has a AH Supply sticker on it but is states "Solid State - Electronic Fluorescent Ballast" "For CFS/4P lamp combinations of 110 Max Watts....". I tried pealing off the sticker but there is nothing under them for further explaination.

I am thinking about replacing my 2 55 watt PCs with T5's. So do you guys think these ballast will run T5's lamps or even VHO's?
 
I have the 96 watt PC kit from A H supply, and I'd bet big money that we have the same ballast, which is a Fulham workhorse 5. A H Supply just puts that big sticker over the top to make it seem like it's their ballast.
 
I have a couple of the AH supply kits. Mine do not have their sticker on them. The 1 X 55w is a workhorse 3 and the 2 X55w is a workhorse 5.

Drew..
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7032635#post7032635 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by robthorn
did anyone get the ballastwise ballasts and hook them up yet? if so what do you think?
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I recieved my three 2-54 w ballast from ballastwise and from what I've seen, they are the same as the Triads. My tank isn't up and running yet, but the light rack was finished last night. I don't have anything to compare it to so I would say the ballast are fine. I ran them for about an hour last night and the ballast weren't even warm to the touch.

I'm used to halides so they don't "seem" as bright as my 250 w XM 10k, but I wasn't looking directly into the reflectors either. I was also running them over just freshwater for the leak test. on the tank Having sonething in the tank (rock sand, etc.) makes a difference as well. I do know when I had the fixture upside down and turned it on, I was almost blinded when the bulbs fired in the Icecap reflectors :eek1: I couldn't see for a few seconds :p
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7115054#post7115054 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by crash519
I recieved my three 2-54 w ballast from ballastwise and from what I've seen, they are the same as the Triads. My tank isn't up and running yet, but the light rack was finished last night. I don't have anything to compare it to so I would say the ballast are fine. I ran them for about an hour last night and the ballast weren't even warm to the touch.

I'm used to halides so they don't "seem" as bright as my 250 w XM 10k, but I wasn't looking directly into the reflectors either. I was also running them over just freshwater for the leak test. on the tank Having sonething in the tank (rock sand, etc.) makes a difference as well. I do know when I had the fixture upside down and turned it on, I was almost blinded when the bulbs fired in the Icecap reflectors :eek1: I couldn't see for a few seconds :p
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sounds like they are good ballasts at a fraction of the cost of the rip off fish stores.
 
Regardless of ballast or light you should always call or look up the spec for the LOAD on the ballast for the lights you are using. I only use workhorse and I just give them a call and right over the phone they will gove me my load %. I have used then commercially for years and now am using them on my tank as well.

For instance I run 4 workhorse 7 ballast's with 2-60" t-5 80 watt bulbs on each ballast at 160 watts the wh7 ballast runs 101% efficient. This is perfect and will give proper light output and will not overload either the ballast or the bulb, causing short lifespans of either or both products.


Nyles-
 
nyles the only problem with using workhorse on t5's is they are not program rapid start as far as I know. if I am wrong please tell me. seems from what I read that they surge the bulb right away. the t5 as far as I have read needs to be warmed then fired which the program start is supposed to do. I went with advance centium ballasts for 8 4 ft bulbs on my 265. 4 actinics and 4 11k k . it looks awesome to me and sps seem to be doing well and growing. the colors are really coming around from the ice cap premature burn out of my other bulbs. I do agree the workhorse is a great ballast I am trying to extend bulb life as much as possible on the t5's .
 
if your lights are on and off all day the rapid is better. If your off on on just a few times you are better off energy wise to go with instand on. the rapids are more for the guys running motion lighting. We replace our lights in a reef about once a year on the t-5 bulbs I use, thus not needing rapid start. You may get a slight more life out of the bulb but once a day instant on is not going to hurt the bulb.
 
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