question about ice cap MH ballast ?

[moneytank]

On my tanks I have pfo ballast. One tank has a dual pfo HQI and the other has a dual regular pfo.
I was thinking of changing to electronic ballasts (ice cap). The only reason to switch is because of energy usage, well actually to try and lower my electric bill. Does anyone know how much or even if the electronic ballast would use less energy? Total I was planning on using 7 ballast between the tanks so every little bit would add up.

[ErikH]

from what I have read, electronic ballasts are much more efficient than magnetic ballasts, so with 7 ballasts, you should see a noteable difference in costs.

[moneytank]

I bought one of those kill-a-watt meters to see what everything is using and you would be suprized how fast everything adds up.............$$$$$$$

[ErikH]

here take a look at this thread....
http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopi...3c1fc1e743731b

[rz1a]

I think if you do a search for sanjay reef lighting you'll find a website wher he compared par and energy as well. Don't quote me on that but I think I remember it

[alton]

Electronic ballast run cooler and are more efficient than magnetic ballast. When new, most are 95% efficient whereas mag. are only 85%. In time though because of the heat from the mag. ballast they start to break down and over a few years they go from 85% down to 50% efficient. The heat from the ballast is wasted energy. There is one thing that most people don’t realize that there are lamps made for mag. ballast called probe start and lamps made for electronic called pulse start. Matching the right lamp to the right ballast can make your lamps burn brighter and last longer. I have been getting 18 months from my Reeflux lamps and electronic ballast with a 5% reduction in lamp brightness at the end of 18 months. I have done this with both 175w and 250w on two different tanks. As a matter of fact without a meter I could not tell the difference in the look. Before I close it takes 100 hours for MH to burn in. What that means is when you first start running your lamps they will be at there brightest after about two weeks before they start going in the other direction.

[rz1a]

http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.c...ectballast.php here you go