Vho

[firechild]

Are IceCap VHOs the one ones that will use NO tubes? I live in Australia and cannot afford to order VHO tubes from the US due to both price and exchange rate and we cannot buy VHO tubes or ballasts in Australia.

[Rin]

Yes, Icecap 430 and 660 ballasts will run VHO, NO, and PC lights.

[firechild]

Yes, I know that they will run NO tubes but will any other VHO ballasts run them?

[icemark]

Although I once thought that other VHO ballasts would also run VHO and NO, it appears from the latest testing that only the Icecap ballasts will run both successfully.

You can run some NO bulbs on some of the other VHO electronic ballasts, but they are not stable and early bulb failure (in some cases within days) is very common.

Ash on this board might be able to tell you more.

[ASH]

From IceCap:
We're UL approved for that application and two FAMA reviews on the subject are on our site, www.icecapinc.com .
Andy

[dsb1829]

Not to rain on the IC parade, but the Ultra Life Sunseeker ballast will also run NO flourescents. I ran NO on mine for a couple of months. I do not believe it does this as well as IC, nor is the ballast of the same quality as IC. I simply wanted to chime in that there is another ballast that does run both VHO and NO tubes.

For your application firechild I would say that the IC is the way to go. I have two 660 ballasts and they are great. I have 1 Sunseeker and am less than impressed with it.

[CFinney]

Rin,
you say the IC will run PC bulbs as well? i have 2 IC 660s , how many and what wattage bulbs will they run?

thanks
Chris

[ASH]

From IceCap:
This page, http://www.icecapinc.com/wire660-4.htm will show you how to wire 4 X 96-Watt PC bulbs, or two 4-foot VHO's and two PC bulbs on the same ballast. Any combination will work if you stay within our maximum allowed loads.
Andy