Anyone Ever Use this 250w Ballast?

b_vanfossen · 05/28/2008, 06:02 PM

There is a Dual 250 Watt Electronic Metal Halide Ballast that is being sold very cheap on ebay. Does anyone know anything about it?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...:B:WNA:US:1123

Thanks

b_vanfossen · 05/28/2008, 10:04 PM

anyone???

twon8 · 05/29/2008, 12:25 AM

i wouldn't trust those to not cause a fire.

Paul_PSU · 05/29/2008, 04:39 AM

I have that exact ballast! It has been running for 6 mos and no issues. It is bare bones though, no switch, no plugs, nothing. It has a fan on the unit. Never runs hot either, so far so good. I run 2 250w 14k de bulbs off of it. I ended up getting it for $65 + $30 for shipping from China. Not bad for a dual 250w mh ballast. I just went to HD and bought some wire and plugs and made my own quick disconnects.

Paul

b_vanfossen · 05/29/2008, 11:12 AM

thanks for your insight paul.... I'm still on the fence to try it though...

Paul_PSU · 05/29/2008, 11:24 AM

I got my entire 2X250w MH setup off of ebay for $210 with shipping. I looked at it this way, I could alway change out the ballast, bulbs or reflectors if I was unhappy with them down the road. The bulbs are the only thing I am not crazy about. I got 14k and they are too white for me.

jdieck · 05/29/2008, 11:38 AM

I would say that the claim that it reduces current by 60% and saves 30% power are not true. No ballast (electronic or otherwise) will be able to run, less to start up a MH bulb under those conditions.

carlso63 · 05/29/2008, 05:56 PM

I am wondering if this advertised dual 250w ballast is not "underpowered" like the Odyssea 250 ballasts turned out to be...?

And ends up (in reality) only sending like 160 watts to each bulb (like the Odysseas do)...

The price is tempting if you are on a budget, but if you search locally and in the "Buy / Sell" section here you could pick up used "name brand" ballasts for not that much more. You figure this one is around $100 w/ shipping for a dual; I've seen single Coralvues or IceCaps used around $60 - $70 apiece (or $120 to $140 for 2) - and on those at least you know you're really getting all 250 watts to the bulb.

b_vanfossen · 05/29/2008, 06:40 PM

ya- it's for my 48" odyssea 250w light. I've been looking for 2 months for a new style icecap that is a good deal and have not found it yet...

carlso63 · 05/30/2008, 01:58 PM

For a new ballast, you're not going to find too many "good deals" or "sales"... most of the 250w electronic ballasts are priced within maybe $10 - $20 of each other, regardless of the brand.

If you want a bargain, check out "used" sites like a local Reef Club or even here on RC. But it takes patience. Alot of people who do sell their used ballasts are looking to get back 80 - 90% of the cost of a new one. If you are patient you can come across people willing to sell theirs for maybe 60 - 70% of the cost new, sometimes even half the cost of new.

Ebay is kind of a crapshoot... not too many "used" 250 eballasts pop up, and when they do they often get bid up to basically the cost of a new one.

IMO if you are paying more than 70% of the "new" cost on a "used" ballast, just bite the bullet and buy the new one...

b_vanfossen · 05/30/2008, 06:55 PM

agreed. thanks

05/28/2008, 06:02 PM	#1
b_vanfossen Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Palm Beach Gardens, Fl Posts: 311	Anyone Ever Use this 250w Ballast? There is a Dual 250 Watt Electronic Metal Halide Ballast that is being sold very cheap on ebay. Does anyone know anything about it? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...:B:WNA:US:1123 Thanks __________________ Brian "Those who would sacrifice a little freedom for a little peace, shall have none and deserve neither" - George Washington Please don't vote your rights away! Current Tank Info: 90 AGA, Protean 400 sump w/ sump buddy 40 skimmer, mp40w, 2 x 250's

05/28/2008, 10:04 PM	#2
b_vanfossen Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Palm Beach Gardens, Fl Posts: 311	anyone??? __________________ Brian "Those who would sacrifice a little freedom for a little peace, shall have none and deserve neither" - George Washington Please don't vote your rights away! Current Tank Info: 90 AGA, Protean 400 sump w/ sump buddy 40 skimmer, mp40w, 2 x 250's

05/29/2008, 12:25 AM	#3
twon8 Formally registered membe Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: slightly sw of richmond, va Posts: 5,920	i wouldn't trust those to not cause a fire. __________________ Anthony Richmond Reef Club "and as things fell apart, nobody paid much attention." Not building a wall but making a brick Current Tank Info: 300g DD display, 60g frag tank

05/29/2008, 11:12 AM	#5
b_vanfossen Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Palm Beach Gardens, Fl Posts: 311	thanks for your insight paul.... I'm still on the fence to try it though... __________________ Brian "Those who would sacrifice a little freedom for a little peace, shall have none and deserve neither" - George Washington Please don't vote your rights away! Current Tank Info: 90 AGA, Protean 400 sump w/ sump buddy 40 skimmer, mp40w, 2 x 250's

05/29/2008, 11:38 AM	#7
jdieck Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Maumee, OH Posts: 15,673	I would say that the claim that it reduces current by 60% and saves 30% power are not true. No ballast (electronic or otherwise) will be able to run, less to start up a MH bulb under those conditions. __________________ 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

05/29/2008, 04:39 AM	#4
Paul_PSU Moved On Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA. Posts: 1,512	I have that exact ballast! It has been running for 6 mos and no issues. It is bare bones though, no switch, no plugs, nothing. It has a fan on the unit. Never runs hot either, so far so good. I run 2 250w 14k de bulbs off of it. I ended up getting it for $65 + $30 for shipping from China. Not bad for a dual 250w mh ballast. I just went to HD and bought some wire and plugs and made my own quick disconnects. Paul

05/29/2008, 11:24 AM	#6
Paul_PSU Moved On Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA. Posts: 1,512	I got my entire 2X250w MH setup off of ebay for $210 with shipping. I looked at it this way, I could alway change out the ballast, bulbs or reflectors if I was unhappy with them down the road. The bulbs are the only thing I am not crazy about. I got 14k and they are too white for me.

05/29/2008, 05:56 PM	#8
carlso63 Reefkeeping since 1977 Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Lehi, Utah Posts: 948	I am wondering if this advertised dual 250w ballast is not "underpowered" like the Odyssea 250 ballasts turned out to be...? And ends up (in reality) only sending like 160 watts to each bulb (like the Odysseas do)... The price is tempting if you are on a budget, but if you search locally and in the "Buy / Sell" section here you could pick up used "name brand" ballasts for not that much more. You figure this one is around $100 w/ shipping for a dual; I've seen single Coralvues or IceCaps used around $60 - $70 apiece (or $120 to $140 for 2) - and on those at least you know you're really getting all 250 watts to the bulb. __________________ -Member of the 35 & Over Club- Wanna see my tank? Go to www.utahreefs.com Current Tank Info: 150g Reef: 3 X 250 Halides (LumenMax3 / IceCap / Pheonix 14K DE), 2 X Gyre 150s, Elite Aquatics sump, dc9000 return, Curve 7, RKE, BRS Dual Reactor, Chaeto / Caulerpa Fuge

05/29/2008, 06:40 PM	#9
b_vanfossen Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Palm Beach Gardens, Fl Posts: 311	ya- it's for my 48" odyssea 250w light. I've been looking for 2 months for a new style icecap that is a good deal and have not found it yet... __________________ Brian "Those who would sacrifice a little freedom for a little peace, shall have none and deserve neither" - George Washington Please don't vote your rights away! Current Tank Info: 90 AGA, Protean 400 sump w/ sump buddy 40 skimmer, mp40w, 2 x 250's

05/30/2008, 01:58 PM	#10
carlso63 Reefkeeping since 1977 Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Lehi, Utah Posts: 948	For a new ballast, you're not going to find too many "good deals" or "sales"... most of the 250w electronic ballasts are priced within maybe $10 - $20 of each other, regardless of the brand. If you want a bargain, check out "used" sites like a local Reef Club or even here on RC. But it takes patience. Alot of people who do sell their used ballasts are looking to get back 80 - 90% of the cost of a new one. If you are patient you can come across people willing to sell theirs for maybe 60 - 70% of the cost new, sometimes even half the cost of new. Ebay is kind of a crapshoot... not too many "used" 250 eballasts pop up, and when they do they often get bid up to basically the cost of a new one. IMO if you are paying more than 70% of the "new" cost on a "used" ballast, just bite the bullet and buy the new one... __________________ -Member of the 35 & Over Club- Wanna see my tank? Go to www.utahreefs.com Current Tank Info: 150g Reef: 3 X 250 Halides (LumenMax3 / IceCap / Pheonix 14K DE), 2 X Gyre 150s, Elite Aquatics sump, dc9000 return, Curve 7, RKE, BRS Dual Reactor, Chaeto / Caulerpa Fuge

05/30/2008, 06:55 PM	#11
b_vanfossen Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Palm Beach Gardens, Fl Posts: 311	agreed. thanks __________________ Brian "Those who would sacrifice a little freedom for a little peace, shall have none and deserve neither" - George Washington Please don't vote your rights away! Current Tank Info: 90 AGA, Protean 400 sump w/ sump buddy 40 skimmer, mp40w, 2 x 250's