whats better to have?

[iceman0032935]

magnetic or electronic ballast for halides? is there anythin else that i need to look for in them?

 

[bertoni]

The magnetic might be be a bit noisier. The electronic are sometimes said to be more efficient, but I haven't seen much data to back that up. There's a lot of data here:

http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/

 

[george81]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11616876#post11616876 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bertoni
The magnetic might be be a bit noisier. The electronic are sometimes said to be more efficient, but I haven't seen much data to back that up. There's a lot of data here:

http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/

umm....have you seen how much heat an magnetic ballast produces? lots...have you seen how much heat and electronic ballast produces? none...there is you re efficency answer..
that heat comes from somewhere...which is lost watts...

 

[Zoophile]

I love my magnetic ballast. After 2 minutes of painful grinding noises, the left halide starts up. Another a couple more minutes and some flickering, the right bulb sputters to life. Thank God the ballast is remote or my water would reach 120 degrees by noon. Once everything gets going, it's quiet but HOT!

 

[bertoni]

There's some data on the efficiency of ballast types at the web site I quoted. My electronic ballasts get quite warm, too.