Halide Ballast Out - Suggestions

IndyMatt · 04/27/2008, 02:06 PM

Alright I installed the Lumenbrights and they are doing great. However, soon after, the halide on the left side has been turning on and then off. I switched bulbs and it is still doing the same thing. The one on the left is running fine and everything is working just fine.

So I am need of a new dual ballast for 175W, I was looking at the Coralvue ballasts and the price is right! The ballasts I have now are the cheap Reeffanatic E Ballasts that aren't even made anymore. I have been running the Iwasaki 15K bulbs in them.

After all that I asking whether the Coralvue Ballasts are reliable? Should I go with IceCap's instead? They are about $60 more.

IndyMatt · 04/27/2008, 05:13 PM

Bump...for the evening crowd.

Definitely the ballast, I confirmed it with a multimeter and it trips the GFCI. Looks like their was an internal short.

sjames · 04/27/2008, 05:18 PM

what bulbs are you using? Id make my ballast choice based on that.

IndyMatt · 04/27/2008, 05:59 PM

The Iwasaki 15K bulbs, both are electronic which the bulb requires.

IndyMatt · 04/27/2008, 06:06 PM

I think the Ice Caps will drive them a little harder:

IC 1.55 amps, 185W

CV 1.46 amps, 175 W

The IC's have a 3 year warranty vs. a two year warranty for the CV's

IndyMatt · 04/28/2008, 06:02 AM

Another bump...

sjames · 04/28/2008, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by IndyMatt
I think the Ice Caps will drive them a little harder:

IC 1.55 amps, 185W

CV 1.46 amps, 175 W

The IC's have a 3 year warranty vs. a two year warranty for the CV's

Hard to say, the spectral plots for that bulb are pretty much identical for all electronic ballasts that were tested.

I dont have any experience with the longevity of the coralvue ballasts but I think they are supposed to be fine.

Reefmaniac1 · 04/28/2008, 09:22 AM

Support from IceCap has always been second-to-none and when you have a problem, they bend over backwards to get you fixed. I've even seen where they aren't uber-strict over the warranty...

IndyMatt · 04/28/2008, 12:46 PM

Yeah, I think I am going to go with Ice Caps. They are more but they are a great company.

tygger · 05/03/2008, 10:06 AM

1 of my 2 coral vue 250w electronic ballasts is doing the same flickering thing. I'm trying to decide what my next ballast is going to be... keep us updated with your purchase.

edit: I have to add that my coral vue ballasts are the older silver color models.

IndyMatt · 05/05/2008, 12:50 PM

I love these new Icecaps they run silently and really like how they have a three year warranty. When my 660 was out of warranty they repaired it for $50 and had it back to me within 5 days.

anomie · 05/05/2008, 01:13 PM

Honestly, I've read nothing but great things about the LB/Coralvue/12k Reeflux combo. Maybe something to consider?

IndyMatt · 05/06/2008, 04:47 AM

I am running 175's with the Iwasaki 15k bulbs, they have more PAR than the reeflux bulbs in 175w and maybe even in 250w. I am using them with Lumenbrights and 4 54W T5's for actinics.

04/27/2008, 02:06 PM	#1
IndyMatt Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Indy Posts: 568	Halide Ballast Out - Suggestions Alright I installed the Lumenbrights and they are doing great. However, soon after, the halide on the left side has been turning on and then off. I switched bulbs and it is still doing the same thing. The one on the left is running fine and everything is working just fine. So I am need of a new dual ballast for 175W, I was looking at the Coralvue ballasts and the price is right! The ballasts I have now are the cheap Reeffanatic E Ballasts that aren't even made anymore. I have been running the Iwasaki 15K bulbs in them. After all that I asking whether the Coralvue Ballasts are reliable? Should I go with IceCap's instead? They are about $60 more.

04/28/2008, 09:22 AM	#8
Reefmaniac1 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 2,580	Support from IceCap has always been second-to-none and when you have a problem, they bend over backwards to get you fixed. I've even seen where they aren't uber-strict over the warranty... __________________ "Stupidity is not necessarily punishable by violence. Although, there are days when I wish it were." - Solomon Short Current Tank Info: None due to disaster...and moving.

05/03/2008, 10:06 AM	#10
tygger Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 1,631	1 of my 2 coral vue 250w electronic ballasts is doing the same flickering thing. I'm trying to decide what my next ballast is going to be... keep us updated with your purchase. edit: I have to add that my coral vue ballasts are the older silver color models. __________________ 15g Nano 72g reef + 29g sump/fuge

05/05/2008, 01:13 PM	#12
anomie Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 193	Honestly, I've read nothing but great things about the LB/Coralvue/12k Reeflux combo. Maybe something to consider? __________________ Christina

04/27/2008, 05:13 PM	#2
IndyMatt Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Indy Posts: 568	Bump...for the evening crowd. Definitely the ballast, I confirmed it with a multimeter and it trips the GFCI. Looks like their was an internal short.

04/27/2008, 05:18 PM	#3
sjames Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: PA Posts: 675	what bulbs are you using? Id make my ballast choice based on that.

04/27/2008, 05:59 PM	#4
IndyMatt Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Indy Posts: 568	The Iwasaki 15K bulbs, both are electronic which the bulb requires.

04/27/2008, 06:06 PM	#5
IndyMatt Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Indy Posts: 568	I think the Ice Caps will drive them a little harder: IC 1.55 amps, 185W CV 1.46 amps, 175 W The IC's have a 3 year warranty vs. a two year warranty for the CV's

04/28/2008, 06:02 AM	#6
IndyMatt Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Indy Posts: 568	Another bump...

04/28/2008, 12:46 PM	#9
IndyMatt Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Indy Posts: 568	Yeah, I think I am going to go with Ice Caps. They are more but they are a great company.

05/05/2008, 12:50 PM	#11
IndyMatt Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Indy Posts: 568	I love these new Icecaps they run silently and really like how they have a three year warranty. When my 660 was out of warranty they repaired it for $50 and had it back to me within 5 days.

05/06/2008, 04:47 AM	#13
IndyMatt Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Indy Posts: 568	I am running 175's with the Iwasaki 15k bulbs, they have more PAR than the reeflux bulbs in 175w and maybe even in 250w. I am using them with Lumenbrights and 4 54W T5's for actinics.