Metal Halide Ballast Pulse start or Probe start

goodblasson · 03/27/2006, 06:10 PM

I am about to purchase a PFO metal halide dual ballast 175W. I just cant figure out if I need the Pulse start which is 40 bucks more or the Probe start which is much cheaper. Does anyone know which I need. I would like to run either hamilton 14k's or the cheaper XM 10K's or 14K's. Anyone got any advice? I will provide a link to where I will make the purchase if its necessary help describe what I am talking about!

LT-PFAQ2-175MH-120V Price $114.99
PFO Dual 175 watt metal halide ballast....

LT-PFAQ2-175PS-120 Price $149.99
PFO Dual 175 watt PULSE START metal halide ballast....

http://www.customaquatic.com/customa...xid=lt-rbal-m1

mr pink floyd · 03/27/2006, 06:12 PM

I think the pulse means it flickers, which most peopel dont like, im not sure, i know nothing about halides and ballasts, that is just my 2 cents

Daddeo · 03/27/2006, 06:21 PM

Probe start is the "old" way of starting metal halide bulbs. Pulse start was the newer way to start certain metal halide bulbs (until electronics came out) and this way was much less stressful on the bulbs. The difference between probe and pulse is the type of bulbs you can run on either and the fact that pulse start ballasts contain the ignitor within the ballast.. You have to use probe start bulbs with probe start ballasts and pulse start bulbs with pulse start ballasts. Be sure to check the bulb requirements and vice-versa before you purchase.

goodblasson · 03/27/2006, 06:23 PM

Which one is preferred by most users? I dont know which one to go with.......

mr pink floyd · 03/27/2006, 06:25 PM

hehe i was wrong, id go with the new technology, or let the new stuff advance a bit, get the kink out (if there are any) whatever yo ucan afford is what i would go for, for 40 bucks i would go for pulse, less stressful on bulb... soudns good to me!

goodblasson · 03/27/2006, 10:20 PM

Ok im still confused. If I go with a standard ballast which is not pulse start, then I have to use bulbs that have a igniter in them? Is this correct??

goodblasson · 03/28/2006, 03:21 PM

Please, I need some advice here. I would really like to make my purchase today. Just dont know which type of ballast to get???? Any advice?????

MyMonkey · 03/28/2006, 03:28 PM

I would go with the Ice Cap Electronic ballast. You will have less worry with bulbs and with heat using an E ballast.

nazzy_19 · 03/28/2006, 03:28 PM

I would go with the pulse start ballast for a little bit more money. It's less stressful on the bulb; thus last longer. With a probe start ballast, you may not be able to run all MH bulbs. You may be only be limited to a few types (i.e. venture & XMs). With pulse start, you can run better quality bulbs IMO, such as ushios and geieseman. I would pick out which bulb you wanna run and match the ballast accordingly instead of matching your bulb to your ballast.

goodblasson · 03/28/2006, 05:10 PM

Thank you thank you,

I would love to go with the ice cap ballast but I could not afford the whole system now, so I am trying to cut corners by going with this Dual ballast from PFO. I would say its pretty cheap, and from what I have read most people really like them. However I am still not sure what to do. I wish someone who already has this setup could give me some pointers out of their experience.

03/27/2006, 06:10 PM	#1
goodblasson Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Louisiana Posts: 131	Metal Halide Ballast Pulse start or Probe start I am about to purchase a PFO metal halide dual ballast 175W. I just cant figure out if I need the Pulse start which is 40 bucks more or the Probe start which is much cheaper. Does anyone know which I need. I would like to run either hamilton 14k's or the cheaper XM 10K's or 14K's. Anyone got any advice? I will provide a link to where I will make the purchase if its necessary help describe what I am talking about! LT-PFAQ2-175MH-120V Price $114.99 PFO Dual 175 watt metal halide ballast.... LT-PFAQ2-175PS-120 Price $149.99 PFO Dual 175 watt PULSE START metal halide ballast.... http://www.customaquatic.com/customa...xid=lt-rbal-m1

03/27/2006, 06:21 PM	#3
Daddeo "Daddius Maximas" Join Date: May 2005 Location: Mash Island, Florida Posts: 532	Probe start is the "old" way of starting metal halide bulbs. Pulse start was the newer way to start certain metal halide bulbs (until electronics came out) and this way was much less stressful on the bulbs. The difference between probe and pulse is the type of bulbs you can run on either and the fact that pulse start ballasts contain the ignitor within the ballast.. You have to use probe start bulbs with probe start ballasts and pulse start bulbs with pulse start ballasts. Be sure to check the bulb requirements and vice-versa before you purchase. __________________ Life is short... Current Tank Info: 120 gallon(60LX20WX24H) In-wall, 2X250 watt 10K SE reeflux's, 110 watts of T5 actinic supplement, 2X Koralia 4000 EVO's, 20 gallon sump, 10 gallon fuge, ASM G3.

03/28/2006, 03:28 PM	#8
MyMonkey Persona Non Grata Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 2,106	I would go with the Ice Cap Electronic ballast. You will have less worry with bulbs and with heat using an E ballast. __________________ The worst thing about an unwritten law is that you don't know where to go to erase it. Current Tank Info: 20 Long.10 months to my 240 In wall with Fish Room.

03/27/2006, 06:12 PM	#2
mr pink floyd Moved On Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: west hartford, CT Posts: 3,480	I think the pulse means it flickers, which most peopel dont like, im not sure, i know nothing about halides and ballasts, that is just my 2 cents

03/27/2006, 06:23 PM	#4
goodblasson Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Louisiana Posts: 131	Which one is preferred by most users? I dont know which one to go with.......

03/27/2006, 06:25 PM	#5
mr pink floyd Moved On Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: west hartford, CT Posts: 3,480	hehe i was wrong, id go with the new technology, or let the new stuff advance a bit, get the kink out (if there are any) whatever yo ucan afford is what i would go for, for 40 bucks i would go for pulse, less stressful on bulb... soudns good to me!

03/27/2006, 10:20 PM	#6
goodblasson Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Louisiana Posts: 131	Ok im still confused. If I go with a standard ballast which is not pulse start, then I have to use bulbs that have a igniter in them? Is this correct??

03/28/2006, 03:21 PM	#7
goodblasson Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Louisiana Posts: 131	Please, I need some advice here. I would really like to make my purchase today. Just dont know which type of ballast to get???? Any advice?????

03/28/2006, 03:28 PM	#9
nazzy_19 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 353	I would go with the pulse start ballast for a little bit more money. It's less stressful on the bulb; thus last longer. With a probe start ballast, you may not be able to run all MH bulbs. You may be only be limited to a few types (i.e. venture & XMs). With pulse start, you can run better quality bulbs IMO, such as ushios and geieseman. I would pick out which bulb you wanna run and match the ballast accordingly instead of matching your bulb to your ballast.

03/28/2006, 05:10 PM	#10
goodblasson Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Louisiana Posts: 131	Thank you thank you, I would love to go with the ice cap ballast but I could not afford the whole system now, so I am trying to cut corners by going with this Dual ballast from PFO. I would say its pretty cheap, and from what I have read most people really like them. However I am still not sure what to do. I wish someone who already has this setup could give me some pointers out of their experience.