ballast life expectancies

Gary Majchrzak · 06/23/2007, 07:18 AM

does anyone know if there's any data available on the life expectancies of ballasts

Snook65 · 06/23/2007, 08:59 AM

I've had my hamilton 250 watt going for around 6 years. Just had a capacitor go out on one, but the ballasts are still running okay. Did you have one go out on your system? How old is it?

Gary Majchrzak · 06/23/2007, 09:09 AM

my ballasts are 6 year old Blueline eballasts. One ballast causes a flickering in any lamp hooked up to it. After the first 30 minutes of operation the flickering stops.
I've had tar ballasts start humming loudly after 5 or 6 years. I replaced them before they died completely. This leads me to wonder about usable life expectancies...

dc_909 · 06/23/2007, 09:22 AM

I would think that "cooling" the ballasts will prolong life.

Gary Majchrzak · 06/23/2007, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dc_909
I would think that "cooling" the ballasts will prolong life.

agreed. My ballasts have always been well vented and never kept in a hot enclosed area.

Gary Majchrzak · 06/30/2007, 04:29 AM

ttt ^

SCR · 06/30/2007, 07:12 AM

I'am using some ballasts that came out of an old "Scotty" store, they must be at lease 15 yr. old and still going strong. They are the High Bay light fixtures that you see hanging from the ceiling in warehouses.

06/23/2007, 07:18 AM	#1
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	ballast life expectancies does anyone know if there's any data available on the life expectancies of ballasts __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

06/23/2007, 09:09 AM	#3
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	my ballasts are 6 year old Blueline eballasts. One ballast causes a flickering in any lamp hooked up to it. After the first 30 minutes of operation the flickering stops. I've had tar ballasts start humming loudly after 5 or 6 years. I replaced them before they died completely. This leads me to wonder about usable life expectancies... __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

06/30/2007, 04:29 AM	#6
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	ttt ^ __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

06/23/2007, 08:59 AM	#2
Snook65 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 289	I've had my hamilton 250 watt going for around 6 years. Just had a capacitor go out on one, but the ballasts are still running okay. Did you have one go out on your system? How old is it?

06/23/2007, 09:22 AM	#4
dc_909 Moved On Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Murrieta, CA Posts: 3,260	I would think that "cooling" the ballasts will prolong life.

06/30/2007, 07:12 AM	#7
SCR Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Central, Fl Posts: 708	I'am using some ballasts that came out of an old "Scotty" store, they must be at lease 15 yr. old and still going strong. They are the High Bay light fixtures that you see hanging from the ceiling in warehouses.