New Lighting

I am kind of tired of babying a long my very old lighting system. My actnic ballast looks like it finally crapped out on me this time. I could just get a new ballast I guess, but the connection to the canopy is like nothing I've ever seen. It is like a 9 pin vga connector.

I want to keep my present bulbs(250W 10k Ushios, and 40W Actnics) Just bought them last month.

Does anybody have any suggestions on the best stuff, pricing, location and all. I might be looking to replace the hood and all. Thanks!

Edited by rfoote

If all you're looking at replacing (upgrading) is the actinics, I'd suggest a WH7 ballast.  I can help if you've got wiring questions.

If your looking for a new canopy, I have a friend that will build to suit. He's an excellent carpenter. He built my canopy and is working on the stand now.

Actually right now - I am running them on a M57 Ballast which would be a Magnetic ballast right?

I'm thinking I am just going to go the re-wire option. My canopy/hood is still in good condition and I don't see any reason to spend that extra money. Ok - So workhorse ballast for Actnic or VHO's right? Any suggestions on best MH ballasts?

FLOURESCENT:
The Fulham ballasts (workhorse brand) are electronic flourescent ballasts.  They will drive either normal output (NO), high output or very high output (VHO) bulbs.  Actinic is just a "type" of bulb.  Actinic bulbs come in the VHO variety and the NO variety. 

VHO = more light, higher energy requirements (less efficient)
NO = less light, lower energy requirement (more efficient)

The cost of the bulbs are about the same.  Given the choice, most prefer vho.

METAL HALIDE:
Metal halide bulbs come in two varieties.  Probe start and pulse start.  These bulbs require different ballasts.  Here's the ballast designations:

                                  Probe                 Pulse
                                  start                   start
                            --------------------------------------
175 Watt                     M57                     M137 or M152
250 Watt                     M58                     M138 or M153
400 Watt                     M59                     M135 or M155

The difference is mainly in how the bulb is started.  Probe start is the mainstream MH system in the USA.  Pulse start is more popular in Europe.  The bulbs are not (under most circumstances) compatible with each other.  Pulse start ballast and bulb combination results in a longer bulb life, higher lumen output and better color retention when compared to probe start ballast/bulbs.

The Radium bulbs and all HQI double ended bulbs are pulse start.  Most other reef bulbs are probe start.  The Ushio is a probe start bulb.  The AB bulb is, I think, a pulse start bulb, although some people say it works fine in a probe start ballast.

[edit]  Most electronic MH ballasts will run either bulb.

Edited by jfinch

Kevin,  are those 175 watt bulbs?  I've heard that about those.  I've got 250 watt Ushio 10K's with a probe start ballast without problems. 

The euro bulbs (Ushio, AB, other kockoffs) are a bit of mystery to me.  I think (this is IMO) they're actually pulse start bulbs, but they've incorporated a "probe" into the bulb for USA sale and it's hit and miss, especially with the euro knockoffs, on whether or not a probe start ballast will fire them.

Still no opinions on what Dual MH 250W Ballast to go with? I'm shocked!

I didn't opt to go with a dual ballast.  I'm running 2 Icecap HQI 250 ballasts for my MH lighting.  For the VHO's I have an Icecap 660.  They work great.

I also bought a cooltouchlighting dual ballast. It works great for me. It isn't electronic but it still works wonderfully. I bought mine for 210 but it included a reflector.   As far as the cooltouch ballast yes it is just 2 ballasts in the same box.