IceCap 250w metal halide ballast

[aquamn1999]

I was wanting to know your comments on these ballast.If anyone is using these ballast please respond. I have only been able to find 2 articles about them and they were on the IceCapinc. website.
Thanks,
Andy

[golfish]

Hi Andy,
I know Perry is a big fan of the IC ballast. I'm not but then I have never used one. I have read many threads from people who have had lots of problems with these ballast. Many of them have to be sent back to the manufacturer for some kind of tweeking. People complain about TV static, lights flikering, Noise, hair falling out and or turning grey ;)

When people get them to work they work as good or better then most ballast. They claim to use less electricity and burn bulbs brighter. I have seen them in action and can say that the IC ballasts I saw DID NOT burn the bulbs brighter, In fact is was just the opposite.

Here's a thread to read http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...ce+Cap+Ballast

[Ironreef]

I like IC vho but every single person I know has sent them back to return. Some still flicker. Not normal. Some ppl like them they are nice that they are small but I prefer magnetic for halides. There really isn't to much saving with halides. They will burn brighter and use more power. Burn not as bright and use less power/ Each ballast performs different with each bulb. When they burn brighter its said you may lose life of the bulb? maybe not proven but do a search on all the bboards and take your own poll.

[icemark]

After a lot of digging around on the internet and the real world, I came to the conclusion that electronic ballasts for MH have quarks.

Sometimes you can live with them, sometimes you can't. As Golfish says

People complain about TV static, lights flikering, Noise, hair falling out and or turning grey

that's pretty accurate.

You never hear of a problem with the PFO ballasts, and although they may or may not suck more juice, they seem to work everytime with a minimum of hassles.

[golfish]

Yeah, you really can't beat a PFO ballast, although they did make my hair turn grey

[icemark]

Originally posted by golfish
Yeah, you really can't beat a PFO ballast, although they did make my hair turn grey

Yeah my ex wife did that too me:eek3:

[billzie]

Check out this thread I started on RC: http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...threadid=32376
Thanks, Bill.

[Ltspd]

I use the LN elec ballast for my 250w mh's. I currently use the 6500k Iwasaki's but have just ordered the 10kk HQI's which I am DIY a setup. These ballast power both bulb types. I cant say how well they run the HQI's yet ;)

I have had NO problems with the ballast. The only complaint is that if you have a power flicker sometimes you have to unplug the ballast to reset it. Or wait until the power is off for more than 10-15 min before they restart the bulbs. This has only happend 2x in the 4 months they have been running.

[DukeDog]

Ok I'll be the odd ball. I have 2 250 watt IC ballasts and a 660 vho. I have never had a problem. They work everytime and came with the restart feature which is great here in Florida with all our power outages. They have flickered but not regularly. No heat and small enough to hide . I have never owned pfo so I can not say anything bad about them. I almost bought pfo but at the end went with IC and have no complaints. To each their own.
Jeff

[aquamn1999]

Thanks for the great replies.I think that I will give the IC 250w a try.The IC 660 that I use to have worked great.I'm just wandering if their is any more positive feed on these ballast.To often we only here the bad things.
Andy

[DukeDog]

I dont know if you go to Reef Central but go to there search and type in "Ice Cap" see what you get. Should be alot of good info for ya.
http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...der=descending
Jeff

[PerryinCA]

I use Icecap and LOVE them! (as was said )

I have sent some back to be retuned, I won't lie, but it wasn't to stop any flickering or the like. Once, water got on one somehow and blew the transformer. it was replaced at no cost. The other was sent to retune and see what types of lighting I could run on it. To my surprise, every lamp I have thrown on my 3 ballasts has lit an run perfectly. My experience has been the opposite of golfish's. I have use my Icecap next to custom sea life (standard magnetic ballast) and found the Icecap to burn noticably brighter. Personally I love the size and heat factors more than anything. They are tiny, light, and run just slightly warm to the touch. On top of that the service is unparalleled.

They have come a long way with the ballasts in the last year. I haven't heard complaints about thier ballasts for a while.

From what I have heard, PFO has goo service as well as a solid product. Personally I use nothing but IC. Chomping at the bit to get some of the 400w ones when they come out!

-Perry

[tendar]

Ive had 2 different IC 250 eye ballast and both have run perfect from the start.
I have not owned any other MH ballast to compare to.
I have been very happy with both of Ice cap ballasts not a problem to report yet in a year.