Replacing Odyssea ballast

JxMetal · 08/21/2007, 03:01 PM

What ballast's have been used for replacement on a dual 150w HQI version?

Mine just fried itself and I'm in dire need for a replacement.

DarG · 08/21/2007, 03:19 PM

You can use any ballast you wish to. Either a dual or two singles.
Magnetic HQI ballast or electronic ballast.
IceCap, ARO, Coralvue etc. electronic ballasts
Blue Wave HQI (M81), PFO HQI (M81) Magnetic ballasts

I think that a PFO dual 150 watt Magnetic HQI ballast is around 220 bucks.
It would cost you 30 or 40 bucks more, for two IceCap electronic 150 watt ballasts.

Reef Geek had the SLS Blue Wave III 150 watt Magentic HQI ballasts on clearance for 99 bucks. Not a dual ballast, you need two but an excellent deal for that ballast. Concensus is that PFO has better customer support than SLS so the extra 20 bucks may be worth it.

You can probably fine some other brand electronic ballasts for less than the IceCaps or the magnetic ballasts.
The ARO's are under 200 bucks for the pair.
I think that Galaxy has a dual electronic.

Check Hello lights, Reef Geek, Premium aquatics, DIY reef ...

JxMetal · 08/21/2007, 04:24 PM

ok, bought this

http://www.championlighting.com/prod...cat=768&page=1

Now I need to know how to wire the ballast to the fixture! ugh

DarG · 08/21/2007, 04:54 PM

Nice ballast and sweet deal. You done good!

I dont know if those come with the cords that go from the ballast to the reflectors. You dont need the cords because you can use the ones coming from the fixture to the old ballast. But, you do need the plugs that plug into the new ballast. So check on that.

The old ballasts should have a cable going from them to the fixture. One for each ballast. Each cable should have 3 wires. For each light you will have One wire for one side of the socket, one for the other side and one for a ground.
The plug or the cable assembly for the new ballast should have the same 3 wires. If you get a pair of plugs that plug into the ballast, they should have 3 wires. One will be green, the others will either be a black and a white, two whites, two blacks ... doesnt matter. You will wire the new green to the green in the cable from the fixture, and the other two tom the remaining two, doesnt matter which is which but if each has a black and a white, just match colors. You can solder or use wire nuts.

If the ballast has cables with plugs on the end instead of just a plug with short wires, you will do the same thing. Strip back the insulation on the new cable and connect the wires from the new cable to the old.

There is a detailed description of this in that long Odyssea thread.

From what I have read about that fixture, you will be getting light output like you never have before from it when you get your new ballasts wired up. You probably will be glad the old ones died.

JxMetal · 08/21/2007, 05:54 PM

Yeah, I've been wanting to replace the old ballast anyways. Just never got around to it, wish I did now.

Well, off to hunting for the post in the odyssea thread.

Thanks for all your help.

08/21/2007, 03:01 PM	#1
JxMetal Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: St. Peters, MO Posts: 4,282	Replacing Odyssea ballast What ballast's have been used for replacement on a dual 150w HQI version? Mine just fried itself and I'm in dire need for a replacement.

08/21/2007, 04:24 PM	#3
JxMetal Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: St. Peters, MO Posts: 4,282	ok, bought this http://www.championlighting.com/prod...cat=768&page=1 Now I need to know how to wire the ballast to the fixture! ugh __________________ 28 Gallon Nanocube HQI Current Tank Info: 28gal HQI Nanocube

08/21/2007, 05:54 PM	#5
JxMetal Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: St. Peters, MO Posts: 4,282	Yeah, I've been wanting to replace the old ballast anyways. Just never got around to it, wish I did now. Well, off to hunting for the post in the odyssea thread. Thanks for all your help. __________________ 28 Gallon Nanocube HQI Current Tank Info: 28gal HQI Nanocube

08/21/2007, 03:19 PM	#2
DarG Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,515	You can use any ballast you wish to. Either a dual or two singles. Magnetic HQI ballast or electronic ballast. IceCap, ARO, Coralvue etc. electronic ballasts Blue Wave HQI (M81), PFO HQI (M81) Magnetic ballasts I think that a PFO dual 150 watt Magnetic HQI ballast is around 220 bucks. It would cost you 30 or 40 bucks more, for two IceCap electronic 150 watt ballasts. Reef Geek had the SLS Blue Wave III 150 watt Magentic HQI ballasts on clearance for 99 bucks. Not a dual ballast, you need two but an excellent deal for that ballast. Concensus is that PFO has better customer support than SLS so the extra 20 bucks may be worth it. You can probably fine some other brand electronic ballasts for less than the IceCaps or the magnetic ballasts. The ARO's are under 200 bucks for the pair. I think that Galaxy has a dual electronic. Check Hello lights, Reef Geek, Premium aquatics, DIY reef ...

08/21/2007, 04:54 PM	#4
DarG Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,515	Nice ballast and sweet deal. You done good! I dont know if those come with the cords that go from the ballast to the reflectors. You dont need the cords because you can use the ones coming from the fixture to the old ballast. But, you do need the plugs that plug into the new ballast. So check on that. The old ballasts should have a cable going from them to the fixture. One for each ballast. Each cable should have 3 wires. For each light you will have One wire for one side of the socket, one for the other side and one for a ground. The plug or the cable assembly for the new ballast should have the same 3 wires. If you get a pair of plugs that plug into the ballast, they should have 3 wires. One will be green, the others will either be a black and a white, two whites, two blacks ... doesnt matter. You will wire the new green to the green in the cable from the fixture, and the other two tom the remaining two, doesnt matter which is which but if each has a black and a white, just match colors. You can solder or use wire nuts. If the ballast has cables with plugs on the end instead of just a plug with short wires, you will do the same thing. Strip back the insulation on the new cable and connect the wires from the new cable to the old. There is a detailed description of this in that long Odyssea thread. From what I have read about that fixture, you will be getting light output like you never have before from it when you get your new ballasts wired up. You probably will be glad the old ones died.