Ballast for 150W Iwasaki?

[Ermin]

Does anyone know where can I get a cheap ballast to run the new 150W 50000k Iwasakis? Cheapest I've seen are electronic ones for about $130 each. Are the Advance ones any cheaper?

I'm going to use two to offset my four 250W 6500K Iwasakis. My VHO actinics aren't strong enough to do much.

[icemark]

Try these guys for a DIY ballast that will run that bulb:

http://www.lightbulbs4sale.com/Light...ideballast.htm

[Ermin]

icemark,

Maybe I missed it....but they don't carry 150w MH ballast. Only 50, 100, 175, 250, 400, 1000, and 1500w.

[Ltspd]

175w ballast should power the 150w (I think its considered close enough)

Check ReefCentral and request Paul Eriks opinion to be sure.

[Ermin]

I think he was the one who posted to NOT use 175w ballast. The extra wattage will "over-burn" the bulb.

[Ltspd]

You are correct, I just found the thread that discusses that.

[Ltspd]

A quick check of Advance transformer's site shows about 8-10 ballast. Key in the info you need and it will tell you the ballast (s) that will power the bulb.

http://www.advancetransformer.com/ecatalog/

[icemark]

Originally posted by Ermin
icemark,

Maybe I missed it....but they don't carry 150w MH ballast. Only 50, 100, 175, 250, 400, 1000, and 1500w.

You gotta send an email or call them, they have it (around $40 as I recall) but it is not listed on their website

[golfish]

Ermin,

How the hec are ya? Hey, let me know when you get the new Iwasaki's going. I'd love to come over and check em out.

[Ermin]

Ltspd,
Ya, I've tried the Advance site. Its great that I can find about 6-8 ballasts that would do the trick. Only draw back is that I don't know the price to them and compare (ie. lower start-up wattage draw ballast cost more; multi voltage ballast cost more) to see which ballast is a better buy for the money. Some will be able to run both 175w and 150w. So I'm not locked into just one bulb wattage. However, like I said, I don't have the price to compare whether this "maybe" bulb changable ballast option is even worth it.

If I just choose the best one and get it at a local electrical shop, I may need to pay more and/or need to special order it. So, the best deal is still whatever online vendors have in stock and will work for my application. I haven't looked through the Grainger catalog yet. The online one is too difficult to find what I need.

Icemark,
I'll definitely email them and see if they carry it or not. Thanks for the tip!

Mark,
I'm really just thinking about it still. But, you'll be the first one to know once I get set up. ;) People say the color looks really nice, no spectrum shift, pretty intense..... that's all I've heard, since it is so new still. As far as I know, it'll be about $100 for two ballasts, $20 sockets, $10 enclosures, $10 wiring, $120 bulbs= $260. If this works out, I'll yanking out the VHOs. They are only for dusk and dawn effect anyways. Maybe I'll replace them with NO actinic bulbs to save some electricity.