Metal Halide ballasts, specifically smaller

[matt]

What bulbs are you wanting to get ballasts for? HQI ballasts are magnetic by design, and to my knowledge there are no true HQI 400W ballasts. Lots of people like electronic ballasts for their efficiency and size, and the fact that they'll fire lots of different bulbs. In 250W, though, the HQI ballast (M80, I think) will fire the DE bulbs almost 20% brighter. It does use more electricity.

[Jynxgirl]

They are hamilton pendants, all three. I run 14k double end hamilton bulbs in all three. 2 250 pendants and 1 400 pendant. If I have to have 1 large ballast for the 400W pendant then I just have to.

[matt]

You might sashay over to reefcentral and find a marathon thread on ballast/bulb compatibility that's stickied on the lighting forum. I know I've heard of several options for the new 400W DE bulbs. Sanjay's site (also stickied on RC) might have some good info about it too.

[caferacermike]

I dont know whos doing the testing but, Ive had three IceCap e-ballasts take a dump in the last two years... Cost me $65 each to have them repaired.

Wow what a string of bad luck. I bought my Icecaps after an exhaustive search for information about ballasts. Both on this forum and 2 others, after posting questions as to what ballast to buy, the overwhelming response was "Icecap". I found the price to be a bit prohibitive for me. I continued doing more research along the lines of Sanjay and other lighting reviewers to find that the Icecap line over drives bulbs using less electricity, always bringing back the best and most consistent reviews. Still wanting them but not being able to afford them I finally found a pair offered that were used. Used for about 2 years prior to me buying them. I have close to 2 more years on those same ballasts.