[Trapper]

I read the other day that icecap ballast's get the extended life out of bulb's by reducing there output . Has anyone else read any corresponding data?

[wastedincome420]

Well I do own two IceCap ballast But I cant vow for your comment.
If anything I "heard that they fire the bulbs "brighter"

[PerryinCA]

The Icecap ballasts actually run the lamps more efficiently, and due to their increased efficiency they should last longer. Some people have shown it has an output higher (up to 50%) than the standard magnetic ballast (info from Richard Harker 's past tests which can be found on compuserve). Its more efficent because it uses a high frequency approach to firing the lamp. The ballast constantly adjusts the input to the lamp for greatest efficiency.

I know there are going to be people who claim that Sanjays test's showed a lowered output (which it ultimately did) however according to his article, and backup by Icecap, that individual ballast was 'de-tuned' to lower output, but make it fire more consistently. Since then, the lamp firing issues have supposedly been solved, and the new ballast will fire all lamps without flicker, and should keep the benefits of properly working past models.

From what I can tell the LN looks like it may be a similar product, although I am not sure. Anyone know what frequency the LN operates at?

-Perry

[bowfront]

Richard Harker's tests were done with a 175w IC ballast and Sanjay's were done with a 250w ICI, which is tuned specifically for an Iwasaki bulb. The Harker test showed a significant increase in PAR with the IC over the magnetic while using the same bulb. IC is about to offer a revised 250w version and new 150w and 400w models. The 150w model is just hitting the market but the other two haven't yet. According to Andy at IC they are still going to offer the 250w ICI model so I'm not sure whether the other new version will fire Iwasaki's or not. It is supposed to fire HQI DE bulbs as well as everything other than Iwasaki w/o any special tuning. It also has some other improvements as well as a different footprint. You might want to take a look at this thread and then post any specific questions about IC on there bb where that thead exists. IC will usually get back to you within a day with an answer. It's a good company IMO but I think they have had some problems with at least some of their MH ballasts in the past. Hopefully the new versions will be even better.

[Ltspd]

I have seen good reviews on the lampsnow VHO ballast and I use the LN on my haldies and love them, no retuning required to swap bulbs.

Here is another VHO/PC ballast that was posted the other day. The price is right on these, around 33.00 each. I do not know how well they work.
http://www.fulham.com/wh7.html

Here is the original thread.
Cheap electronic pc/vho ballast

They also sell a e-ballast for halides but I dont beleive it will power the HQI's like the LN ballast will.

[myreef]

I sent my 250w ICI ballast back to Ice Cap last week to have it tuned, since the bulb was flickering. I told Andy that I was also considering running a 20k radium bulb, so they tuned it to run either the Iwasaki or the Radium. Not sure if this will be the "new" version or not. I am running the Iwasaki now and it burns pretty white, but looks really good with my LN VHO actinic supplement. I like the LN VHO ballast. It is top notch for a fraction of the IC ballasts.

[bowfront]

Andy,

I don't think your's is the new version unless it looks completely different. They are a different size and everything. According to Andy at IC they are supposed to start shipping the new 250w next week. They sound good anyway - supposed to fire everything from Iwasaki to 10K HQI DE without any tuning. That's cool that IC can tune the ICI for Iwasaki and something else I didn't know that.