All ballast created equal?

[alexdmg]

Is there a difference between an electronic ballast designed for aquarium lighting and an electronic ballast that you would find at a local hardware store? Theoretically, if both ballasts were electronic and produced the same wattage wouldn't they be just as good as what you would buy at a local fish store or is there something else inside the ballast that helps the bulb produce the bulbs Kelvin rating?

Thanks in advance,
Alex

[jroescher]

I believe they are the same. I think there is a law somewhere that says if you label it for aquarium use you must double the price.

[robalv]

I believe they are the same. I think there is a law somewhere that says if you label it for aquarium use you must double the price.

yes, that is true. I spoke to an electrician about this and the output is output magnetic or electronic, now you can fire different bulbs with one than the other.

[alexdmg]

Those must be really fancy stickers. They must use special paper and the ink must be mixed with a special kind of ink, like the type they use on paper money. Probably import the ink from overseas. Lol

[alton]

I believe they are the same. I think there is a law somewhere that says if you label it for aquarium use you must double the price.

You maybe amazed but I can buy a electronic ballast for my fish tank from my local fish store cheaper than my local lighting rep. At one time if you wanted a electronic ballast in light fixture it was an additional $150 option! I have been using Coral Vue since 03

[alexdmg]

yes, that is true. I spoke to an electrician about this and the output is output magnetic or electronic, now you can fire different bulbs with one than the other.

Interesting, just wanted to be sure for future light setups.

[alexdmg]

You maybe amazed but I can buy a electronic ballast for my fish tank from my local fish store cheaper than my local lighting rep. At one time if you wanted a electronic ballast in light fixture it was an additional $150 option! I have been using Coral Vue since 03

That's cool, at least now I know that there's more options available when I look for ballasts; I'm not stuck to only LFS ballasts.

[Big_Pun]

well look at the popular workhorse ballasts by Fulham, they are used all over aquarium industry but this company makes them for industrial use its a huge company heres a link to a ballast finder you pick the bulb how many and they give what ballast
http://www.fulham.com/Find_Process.php

[alexdmg]

well look at the popular workhorse ballasts by Fulham, they are used all over aquarium industry but this company makes them for industrial use its a huge company heres a link to a ballast finder you pick the bulb how many and they give what ballast
http://www.fulham.com/Find_Process.php

Sweet, thanks bro!