PFO Electronic HQI Ballast or MH Ballast?

ReefObsessor805 · 07/14/2006, 01:54 AM

Should I go with the 175 watt Electronic HQI ballast or just the regular MH ballast with pulse start? Both of them are made by PFO lighting.

Im just confused on the MAIN difference. Will the electronic be more beneficial to my PFO fixture with a 10000k Mogul bulb? Will it run cooler? Last longer?

Thanks.

jdieck · 07/14/2006, 02:01 AM

Electronics run cooler, use a bit less power, prevent flickering and can control certain bulb operations like waiting for it to cool down before atempting to light it up again after a power failure and you have flexibility to use any bulb type you want The cons are that they are more expensive and in some cases their ouput is a bit lower than a magnetic ballast.

HQI ballasts are made for bulbs that need higher amperage & voltage to run like double ended bulbs so it will overdrive single ended mogul bulbs, some aquarist overdrive the bulbs on purpose to get higher intensity but at the expense of bulb life.

ReefObsessor805 · 07/14/2006, 02:02 AM

whoops...

I meant the PFO electronic or the regular PFO MH ballast for a single ended bulb...

The HQI would be for DE.

ReefObsessor805 · 07/14/2006, 02:05 AM

So would would it be a huge drawback to get the PFO magnetic 175 watt ballast for my single ended mogul type bulb?

Or is it worth it that much more to pay about an extra $100?

jdieck · 07/14/2006, 02:25 AM

I run 10 electronic ballasts so I suppose I should recommend them

J/k
I think both are reliable. I just do not like the high heat and the heavy weight of the magnetic.
By the way forgot to mention that magnetic ballasts have more tendency to create magnetic interference Like the effect you see when watching TV and someone turns on the vacuum cleaner.
If you have the money go for electronic although I would prefer the IceCap rather than the PFO.
You may find PFO hoods or pendants with IceCap ballasts at www.premiumaquatics.com

07/14/2006, 01:54 AM	#1
ReefObsessor805 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Westlake Village, CA Posts: 696	PFO Electronic HQI Ballast or MH Ballast? Should I go with the 175 watt Electronic HQI ballast or just the regular MH ballast with pulse start? Both of them are made by PFO lighting. Im just confused on the MAIN difference. Will the electronic be more beneficial to my PFO fixture with a 10000k Mogul bulb? Will it run cooler? Last longer? Thanks.

07/14/2006, 02:01 AM	#2
jdieck Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Maumee, OH Posts: 15,673	Electronics run cooler, use a bit less power, prevent flickering and can control certain bulb operations like waiting for it to cool down before atempting to light it up again after a power failure and you have flexibility to use any bulb type you want The cons are that they are more expensive and in some cases their ouput is a bit lower than a magnetic ballast. HQI ballasts are made for bulbs that need higher amperage & voltage to run like double ended bulbs so it will overdrive single ended mogul bulbs, some aquarist overdrive the bulbs on purpose to get higher intensity but at the expense of bulb life. __________________ Did I write what I wrote? What the heck am I talking about! Well..... Nevermind. Current Tank Info: 225 gal reef, DSB, 40 g sump w/ LRT100 return, 37 g pre-sump, 3 MH 250 W 15K, 4 96 W PC dual actinic,ETS 1500 Skim.w/LRT70, 20 lb Ca R., 40 W UV, 1/3 HP chiller, two 350 W Htrs, Neptune II Cont., 330 P LR/ 330 P LS. 55 gal Refugium

07/14/2006, 02:25 AM	#5
jdieck Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Maumee, OH Posts: 15,673	I run 10 electronic ballasts so I suppose I should recommend them J/k I think both are reliable. I just do not like the high heat and the heavy weight of the magnetic. By the way forgot to mention that magnetic ballasts have more tendency to create magnetic interference Like the effect you see when watching TV and someone turns on the vacuum cleaner. If you have the money go for electronic although I would prefer the IceCap rather than the PFO. You may find PFO hoods or pendants with IceCap ballasts at www.premiumaquatics.com __________________ Did I write what I wrote? What the heck am I talking about! Well..... Nevermind. Current Tank Info: 225 gal reef, DSB, 40 g sump w/ LRT100 return, 37 g pre-sump, 3 MH 250 W 15K, 4 96 W PC dual actinic,ETS 1500 Skim.w/LRT70, 20 lb Ca R., 40 W UV, 1/3 HP chiller, two 350 W Htrs, Neptune II Cont., 330 P LR/ 330 P LS. 55 gal Refugium

07/14/2006, 02:02 AM	#3
ReefObsessor805 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Westlake Village, CA Posts: 696	whoops... I meant the PFO electronic or the regular PFO MH ballast for a single ended bulb... The HQI would be for DE.

07/14/2006, 02:05 AM	#4
ReefObsessor805 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Westlake Village, CA Posts: 696	So would would it be a huge drawback to get the PFO magnetic 175 watt ballast for my single ended mogul type bulb? Or is it worth it that much more to pay about an extra $100?