| General Reef Discussion In this forum we discuss issues related to keeping marine and reef aquariums in a friendly flame-free environment. |
Registered Members don't see these ads. Register now it's free!
05-03-2007, 10:55 AM
|
#1
|
|
Saltwater Mom
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Ga
Posts: 5,800
|
Changing from magnetic to electronic ballast ?
Can I use the same sockets and wiring and just replace the ballast or do I have to completely redo everything? I have fcan magnetics and really want to switch to the electronic.
|
|
|
|
Registered Members don't see these ads. Register now it's free!
|
__________________
Jena
Newest member of the BRW crowd!
|
|
|
|
05-03-2007, 10:58 AM
|
#2
|
|
senior member
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Walnut Grove, SC, USA
Posts: 13,424
|
Yes, the socket and the reflector and the wiring from the ballast to the switch and socket is exactly the same (though the attachments for the ballast to the wiring may differ slightly, the ballast will come with a wiring diagram). Mogul or DE?
__________________
Tom <"))))>(
(TDWyatt)
Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something. -Plato
|
|
|
|
|
05-03-2007, 11:15 AM
|
#3
|
|
Saltwater Mom
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Ga
Posts: 5,800
|
mogul
__________________
Jena
Newest member of the BRW crowd!
|
|
|
|
|
05-03-2007, 11:41 AM
|
#4
|
|
Great TANG LOVER!
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Jefferson City, MO
Posts: 612
|
You CAN use the same moguls..BUT WHY? Better PAR with Magnetec M58s!
|
|
|
|
|
05-03-2007, 12:32 PM
|
#5
|
|
Saltwater Mom
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Ga
Posts: 5,800
|
I thought electronic's burn brighter and use less energy. Am I wrong?
__________________
Jena
Newest member of the BRW crowd!
|
|
|
|
|
05-03-2007, 12:44 PM
|
#6
|
|
Just some guy, you know?
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: West of Dimples
Posts: 18,185
|
Hello Jena 
M58's drive the bulbs harder in most cases. The electronic ballasts often put off a little less light, but almost always get more life out of the bulbs, and they don't waste as much energy to heat.
The loss from M58 to Electronic on something like an XM10K is insignifigant,.. but if your running very low par bulbs to start with (like XM15K) you may want to think about if you really want to switch.
If you do switch you can use all your existing reflectors and bulbs as already mentioned, but you might have to cut the pluggs off and replace them with the plugs that plug into your electronic ballasts,.. or hard wire if the electronic ballast doesn't use a connector.
Personally I use all ARO electronic ballasts. Oh,.. another thing, electronic ballasts will fire any bulb,.. with Magnetic you have to worry about Probe start V.S. pulse start.
HTH,
Whiskey
__________________
Mr. Jive/Dr. Heckyll
And you run and you run to catch up with the sun, but its sinking
racing around to come up behind you again
|
|
|
|
|
05-03-2007, 02:44 PM
|
#7
|
|
moddin aint easy
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: newnan, ga
Posts: 5,697
|
how do you know if you have electronic or magnetic ballasts? i have a dual 250 pfo setup that i bought used, and i have no idea if thats even a good setup. (sorry for hi jacking jena)
__________________
ANDY
You don't stop laughing because you grow old, you grow old because you stop laughing. Which is ironic, because old people are hilarious.
|
|
|
|
|
05-03-2007, 03:42 PM
|
#8
|
|
Saltwater Mom
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Ga
Posts: 5,800
|
I was told they were magnetic and believe it. They are huge, black, heavy box's that get hot hot hot! Electronic from what I gather don't get nearly this hot or heavy.
__________________
Jena
Newest member of the BRW crowd!
|
|
|
|
|
05-03-2007, 03:47 PM
|
#9
|
|
senior member
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Walnut Grove, SC, USA
Posts: 13,424
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by leveldrummer
how do you know if you have electronic or magnetic ballasts? i have a dual 250 pfo setup that i bought used, and i have no idea if thats even a good setup. (sorry for hi jacking jena)
|
PFO = Magnetic ballasts
__________________
Tom <"))))>(
(TDWyatt)
Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something. -Plato
|
|
|
|
|
05-03-2007, 06:12 PM
|
#10
|
|
Shark
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: michigan
Posts: 2,673
|
im using an aro electronic ballast also. works great, and is pretty cheap at hellolights.com
|
|
|
|
|
05-03-2007, 07:12 PM
|
#11
|
|
Great TANG LOVER!
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Jefferson City, MO
Posts: 612
|
I have 3 XM 10K 250 watters on M-58s in my display tank. I have a Coralvue Electronic ballast on the fuge....I can raise ANY coral in the tank, NOTHING in the fuge! Same water conditions and a LONGER photo period on my reverse photo period in the fuge. I'm LOVIN my M-58s and my corals are growing like CRAZY! Magnetic are heave and get hot, but I mounted my ballasts in my garage, so heat is not an issue for me.
|
|
|
|
|
