IceCap 660 ballast question

[SouthBayPhoto]

Hey there all...

If you have the IceCap 660 ballast running 4 T5 lights (say in a retro kit), then you can't turn two of the lights on at one time and two of them on at another, can you? Don't you have to have a second ballast for that?

If so, might it be a cheaper route to run two IceCap 430 ballasts? or won't the 430 overdrive two 48" T5's enough to handle corals (ultimately overdriving 4 total bulbs with two 430's)? Or would I have to get two 660's to overdrive each of the two 48" T5 sets?

TIA!
Mat

[Poseidon]

Hey Mat, no, it is all or nothing with the 660, unless you get a dimmer... (expensive electronic one.)

2 430's would allow you to do dusk to dawn AND get the bulbs overdriven. I just happened to have an unused workhorse 5 laying around for my 5th bulb.

[Reefland]

Hi Mat,

The 430 will overdrive the bulbs and running two of them would allow you to have the dawn dusk effect. I personally don't use a dawn dusk effect and not running one won't hurt anything. Since you can get a single 660 for much cheaper than 2 430's, you might go that route anyway.

Also, I got your PM. Thanks!!!

[Poseidon]

I think this controller has dimming functions:

GHL ProfiLux Plus II Beginner Plus :: Profilux packages :: GHL / Profilux :: Cherry Corals

Here is the dimmer I was thinking of:

Solar 1000 L1 Dimmer: Premium Aquatics

You can see they are REALLY Expensive, especially for something that is for OUR benefit only...

I agree with Scott on the single 660, if you have to have the D to D then get a workhorse ballast for a single bulb. (They are about $30.)

[SouthBayPhoto]

Wholly crap..you weren't kidding. LOL

Well, it does look like getting one 660 is cheaper. I may have found a local guy that's willing to part with one for about $85. I figure that's about half the price of others I've seen. However, if adding that in with all the rest comes out to be more than a kit, then it's just smarter to wait and get the kit. LOL

I can always do the D to D later by getting one bulb and a separate ballast. Thanks for the info.

Scott - No problem...glad you got the info.