Are Blue Wave Ballasts Noisy?

arc eye · 01/02/2010, 09:02 PM

I have two 250W DE Lumenmax III pendants and no ballasts.

I am thinking about picking up a dual 250w Blue Wave 7, but I was wondering if they are noisy? Do they hum, buzz, etc?

I have only used electronic ballasts in the past which of course were completely silent.

Also, Are M80 ballasts more dangerous than electronic ballasts?

cooter181 · 01/02/2010, 09:24 PM

I'm not sure if it makes much difference, but I have a pair of the 175W Blue Wave ballasts and one hums slightly and the other is silent. The ballast that hums makes the 15K Iwasaki bulb much bluer than the silent one. Kinda strange and frustrating. If I switch the ballast around I get the same effect so I know it's not just the bulbs. HTH

arc eye · 01/02/2010, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cooter181

I'm not sure if it makes much difference, but I have a pair of the 175W Blue Wave ballasts and one hums slightly and the other is silent. The ballast that hums makes the 15K Iwasaki bulb much bluer than the silent one. Kinda strange and frustrating. If I switch the ballast around I get the same effect so I know it's not just the bulbs. HTH

that certainly does not sound promising.......

sedor · 01/02/2010, 09:43 PM

I use a 250 dual blue wave 7 and its magnetic, so yes it does hum. If your tank is silent then you probably want to go electronic. The sounds from the rest of the tank completely overpower the gently hum though, and even if the tank didn't make much noise, I am willing to bet if the ballast was in the stand you wouldn't even hear it.

I think its a great ballast, except mine has this auto timer built into the top which is completely annoying because I run mine on a controller, so I don't need the timer and every once in a while my daughter will push the little tabs down and it freaks me out everytime.

James77 · 01/02/2010, 10:41 PM

I have a dual Blue Wave 7, one of the newer models. There is a very faint hum. I have sensitive hearing and I don't think it would even bother me in my living room.

01/02/2010, 09:02 PM	#1
arc eye Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: San Francisco Posts: 1,147	Are Blue Wave Ballasts Noisy? I have two 250W DE Lumenmax III pendants and no ballasts. I am thinking about picking up a dual 250w Blue Wave 7, but I was wondering if they are noisy? Do they hum, buzz, etc? I have only used electronic ballasts in the past which of course were completely silent. Also, Are M80 ballasts more dangerous than electronic ballasts? __________________ Out of hobby. Current Tank Info: Out of hobby

01/02/2010, 09:24 PM	#2
cooter181 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 97	I'm not sure if it makes much difference, but I have a pair of the 175W Blue Wave ballasts and one hums slightly and the other is silent. The ballast that hums makes the 15K Iwasaki bulb much bluer than the silent one. Kinda strange and frustrating. If I switch the ballast around I get the same effect so I know it's not just the bulbs. HTH __________________ -Bryan- You lookin at my WRASSE!!! Current Tank Info: 90 Glass RR, MP40, MP10, ReefBreeders LED's, Vertex Skimmer, Carbon, GFO, RKL, One very happy Ritteri :) (150 in the works!)

01/02/2010, 09:43 PM	#4
sedor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 4,689	I use a 250 dual blue wave 7 and its magnetic, so yes it does hum. If your tank is silent then you probably want to go electronic. The sounds from the rest of the tank completely overpower the gently hum though, and even if the tank didn't make much noise, I am willing to bet if the ballast was in the stand you wouldn't even hear it. I think its a great ballast, except mine has this auto timer built into the top which is completely annoying because I run mine on a controller, so I don't need the timer and every once in a while my daughter will push the little tabs down and it freaks me out everytime. __________________ Ryan

01/02/2010, 10:41 PM	#5
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	I have a dual Blue Wave 7, one of the newer models. There is a very faint hum. I have sensitive hearing and I don't think it would even bother me in my living room. __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater