what do you prefer (mh ballast)

[AlienAnchovies]

magnetic or electronic?
why you ask?
because im in the market for a mh pendant and looking to see what you more advanced reefers think.

[dan]

magnetic is good, electronic is better. you get what you pay for. electronic from my understanding runs cooler and saves on energy$$$$$$$$$.but cost more up front.

[witecap4u]

Cant help on Electronic vs Magnetic, but if you decide to go cheaper and get magnetic, heres my exp...

I've have had a single 400W hamilton (mag) and a dual 400W PFO (mag). The hamilton was quite a bit louder and the switch went out twice in 6month(on/off once a day). The PFO is on a timer, but uses a rocker swich which, I would think would work better than the push button of the Hamilton. The PFO is also in a nice looking aluminum heat sink, where as the hamilton was just in a black box. Both had quick disconnect wire, the hamiltons were just a male/female connector like an extention cord but the lugs were different(2phase 208v standard maybe??) The PFO has what looks to be a proprietary connector that could possibly be water tight/water resistant.

If I was going to choose between these, PFO would win pretty easliy. They were both great performance wise, never had any problem firing any bulbs I had on them, just some personal pref. stuff I guess...

Hope that makes sense, its late...cs

[Henry]

If you have the money go electronic. They are smaller, run cooler and use less electricity. If you go magnetic, go pfo.

[OrionN]

If youu want something that is reliable and essentially last forever, buy a PFO magnetic ballast. Electronic is not quite as reliable. My IceCap had its fuse butn out and keep burn out new fuse. I have to send it in for check. They fix the problem but I was out of light for about 10 days. I have to swich light every other day (two MH tank) My corals did OK, but it was a hassel I cna do without. This was 5 years ago. Sold the two ballast and have use magnetic eversince. Of the numerous ballast that I have, none have fail turn on the bulb. Magnetic does run warmer, but I have the ballasts in a separate cabinet from the tank now so no heat problem for me.

[TexasState]

I can't barely feel any heat from my 175Watts Electronic ballast. I wouldn't use anything else other then electronic ballast. Magnetic ballast runs hot and some of them might hum. If you do decide to get Magnetic ballast, stay with PFO, avoid Hamilton.