Questions on PC Lighting?

wboyden · 11/22/2009, 04:58 PM

Ok, I picked up a coralife 2x65 PC fixture today,

It has a bad ballast (i think, but checked everything else) It has 2 65*1 ballasts so one side works the other doesnt.

done some quick checking and a replacement is going to cost 20-30 but for a couple dollars more I could get a single ballast that would run both bulbs,

Am I Better off getter the bigger ballast?
Anyone know a good place to get one?
I might go local and pick one up, what do I look for? fluorescent 130+ watts?

As with any (most) used fixtures the bulbs need to be replaced anyway so I was looking for alittle more information on PC Lighting.

Its a 48 inch fixture that has 2 bulbs, each bulb is a twin tube around 22 inch long, Is this the longest bulb? Are the 96watt the same size?

And now the 50 Dollar Question, Is this fixture even worth putting the cost of a new ballast into or would it just be better off cutting it down into a 24inch fixture?

thanks

dvetran · 11/22/2009, 05:23 PM

i have a 30" 2 x65watt thats only 3 months old with lunar light for 80 if your interested

FroMan · 11/22/2009, 06:15 PM

If you switch over to 1 ballast you will have to rewire. It is probably not worth the time and effort.

When one of the ballasts in my fixture whent bad, I think I had ordered a replacement from drs F&S, but I don't see the ballasts listed in the parts department. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/fish-s...ps/c/3578/9998

it is at least worth a call or two. Swapping the ballast is pretty easy and can be done in about 20 minutes.

11/22/2009, 04:58 PM	#1
wboyden Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Springfield, MA Posts: 249	Questions on PC Lighting? Ok, I picked up a coralife 2x65 PC fixture today, It has a bad ballast (i think, but checked everything else) It has 2 65*1 ballasts so one side works the other doesnt. done some quick checking and a replacement is going to cost 20-30 but for a couple dollars more I could get a single ballast that would run both bulbs, Am I Better off getter the bigger ballast? Anyone know a good place to get one? I might go local and pick one up, what do I look for? fluorescent 130+ watts? As with any (most) used fixtures the bulbs need to be replaced anyway so I was looking for alittle more information on PC Lighting. Its a 48 inch fixture that has 2 bulbs, each bulb is a twin tube around 22 inch long, Is this the longest bulb? Are the 96watt the same size? And now the 50 Dollar Question, Is this fixture even worth putting the cost of a new ballast into or would it just be better off cutting it down into a 24inch fixture? thanks

11/22/2009, 05:23 PM	#2
dvetran Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Branford Ct Posts: 396	i have a 30" 2 x65watt thats only 3 months old with lunar light for 80 if your interested

11/22/2009, 06:15 PM	#3
FroMan Insane in the Brain Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vernon, CT Posts: 1,389	If you switch over to 1 ballast you will have to rewire. It is probably not worth the time and effort. When one of the ballasts in my fixture whent bad, I think I had ordered a replacement from drs F&S, but I don't see the ballasts listed in the parts department. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/fish-s...ps/c/3578/9998 it is at least worth a call or two. Swapping the ballast is pretty easy and can be done in about 20 minutes.