Mag Ballast or E-Ballast

[fishn]

How much do you see in the diffrance between the two. I am refering to the performance and mostly the electricity savings.
I am running Mag ballast now, but thinking of switching to E-Ballast. I am running 20K radum bulbs single end
I need to sell the wife on the price so if you all could tell me the savings on the electricity bill it would be great. I live in Killeen and the price of electricity is 12.9 per kilowatt. Need to do some saving. the 350.00 bills are getting old

[fishn]

Here is the one I am looking at

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~category~Lumatek_250W_120V_Digital_Bal last_Saltwater_Aquarium_Supplies_Lighting_Accessor ies_Ballasts_Metal_Halide_250_Watt~vendor~Lumatek~ SearchStr~~action~view~idProduct~LK1115~idCategory ~FILTACBAMHTF.html

[coraline79]

I have one of these in 175watt, and I love it. It is a little cheaper and this is a great company to work with. I am no expert though, I just like to save money when given the option.

[brewercm]

With the e-ballast you're bulbs will last longer (my same bulbs were actually whiter than with the mag ballast), and your electricity will see a little less usage.
At least that was what I was told a few times, but color difference was quite a bit. Not to mention the mag ballasts don't tend to last as long. Usually from the capacitor getting worn out (the big bang when they start up).

[ACE]

http://www.reefspecialty.com/Lighting-Metal-Halide-Ballasts/c14_26/p53/CoralVue-250watt-UL-Approved-Single-Electronic-Ballast/product_info.html


Here is a better ballast for a better price.

[Jonthefishguy]

There are many variables to this question and no one can give an exact price. An E-ballast runs better than magnetic but to give you an exact measurement of savings is not an easy thing to do. A key factor in finding out is the amount of electricity entering your home as voltage varies from house to house and day by day. At minimum you should see a 5% decrease in power consumption. However, on balllasts that are 1000 watts, you dont really show any savings. You wont spend more, but you wont see a significant savings as either.

[brewercm]

I'd agree that the energy savings are negligible, just that they do exist to a point. I think the biggest bonus to them myself is just how more efficient they run the bulb results in better bulb life/look.

[texmex]

If you want to sell the old ones let me know. I am in belton.

[alton]

Sorry I missed this one, Starting in January 2009 companies are not allowed to make magnetic ballast anymore. The ballast available will be electromagnetic or electronic. If you want a mag ballast better grab them while they are available. That brings us to another scenero, electronic and electromagnetic ballast work best with Pulse start lamps like Reeflux and Radium. Most other lamps are Probe start. Which is better mag or electronic? As mag ballast get older due to the heat they continue to get less efficiant. So if you start with a .85 power factor in time you end up with .7. Example 250 / .7 = 357 watts or a reduced light level of 30%, plus the heat it is producing and the AC you are paying for to cool it down. 357 x 10hrs a day x 30 days= 107130 watt hours/ 1000 = 107 x 12.7 cents = $13.60 a month x 12 = $163.20 year. Electronic ballast .95 pwr factor would equal $120 year. So in 3 years the change over is paid for.