Switching from Magnetic to E-ballast in Nova II - Help!

Shroom King · 07/11/2010, 03:25 PM

I am not familiar with magnetic ballasts. I want to switch my Giesemann Nova II pendant to an E-ballast from this stock magnetic one:

I know which wires are positive, negative, ground...that is not the issue. Should I remove this little transformer in the pendant totally and wire direct to the HQI socket wires and ground screw, or do I leave it in there and just splice into it between the E-ballast and the transformer.

I plan to use a 250W Icecap or Lumatec ballast.

Help much appreciated!

Shroom King · 07/11/2010, 06:22 PM

Some of you guys must know this??

Don't let the five input plug on the ballast fool you, two are vacant...it is only 3 conductor wire and there are only 3 wires attached inside the enclosure as would expect.

I guess my question is..does an E-ballast (Icecap or Lumatec) need anything (ie. little transformer box) between it and the basic HQI socket wires (positive & negative to be simple) ?

Thanks

PaulErik · 07/12/2010, 04:20 PM

The small box inside the pendant is the lamp ignitor. You must remove the lamp ignitor inside the pendant. An electronic ballast (IceCap or Lumatek) connects straight to the lamp and must have nothing between the lamp and ballast. The ignitor will fry and/or damage an electronic ballast.

Shroom King · 07/12/2010, 04:29 PM

Thank you so much PaulEriK! That is exactly what I needed to know....

07/11/2010, 03:25 PM	#1
Shroom King Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Midcoast Maine Posts: 133	Switching from Magnetic to E-ballast in Nova II - Help! I am not familiar with magnetic ballasts. I want to switch my Giesemann Nova II pendant to an E-ballast from this stock magnetic one: I know which wires are positive, negative, ground...that is not the issue. Should I remove this little transformer in the pendant totally and wire direct to the HQI socket wires and ground screw, or do I leave it in there and just splice into it between the E-ballast and the transformer. I plan to use a 250W Icecap or Lumatec ballast. Help much appreciated! __________________ Cool Breezes... Joel Current Tank Info: 50G Cube, Mixed Reef

07/11/2010, 06:22 PM	#2
Shroom King Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Midcoast Maine Posts: 133	Some of you guys must know this?? Don't let the five input plug on the ballast fool you, two are vacant...it is only 3 conductor wire and there are only 3 wires attached inside the enclosure as would expect. I guess my question is..does an E-ballast (Icecap or Lumatec) need anything (ie. little transformer box) between it and the basic HQI socket wires (positive & negative to be simple) ? Thanks __________________ Cool Breezes... Joel Current Tank Info: 50G Cube, Mixed Reef

07/12/2010, 04:29 PM	#4
Shroom King Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Midcoast Maine Posts: 133	Thank you so much PaulEriK! That is exactly what I needed to know.... __________________ Cool Breezes... Joel Current Tank Info: 50G Cube, Mixed Reef

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07/12/2010, 04:20 PM	#3
PaulErik Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: North Charleston, SC Posts: 1,703	The small box inside the pendant is the lamp ignitor. You must remove the lamp ignitor inside the pendant. An electronic ballast (IceCap or Lumatek) connects straight to the lamp and must have nothing between the lamp and ballast. The ignitor will fry and/or damage an electronic ballast.