Electronic Ballast vs. tar ballast for halides?

[frlejo]

1. Any one have any preferences over 1 or the other? I have been told the savings in the electric bill of the electronic ballst would not the justify the cost.
2. What is the differnence between a mogul bulb & HQI? It seems mogul ballasts are cheaper.

[Geoff]

unless your electricity is wicked expensive the difference between electronic and tar ballast is minimal. electronic are quieter, so if noise is of a concern than this may be your choice.

mogul are also called SE - single ended

HQI are also called DE- double ended

the big difference is size, DE are smaller since they are missing the outer protective glass sheild. SE are all in one piece so the glass shield is the bulb itself. you should always have a glass shield on a DE bulb, to keep the UV exposure down. it is also safer. water can break a DE bulb much easier than a SE bulb.

G~

[yardboy]

I have DE bulbs with PFO magnetic HQI ballasts. The only electronic ballast I've used (an icecap) blew out the other day after 3 years.

Electronic pros - can run most bulbs with electronics
don't get as hot
cheaper on electricity
Electronic cons - bulbs don't burn as brightly, generally
doesn't fire all bulbs (250W XM's for instance, on Icecaps)
Magnetic pros - generally less expensive
fires bulbs brighter, generally
Magnetic cons - runs hotter
consumes more power
Because they fire bulbs brighter, I choose magnetics. I'm done with trying all kinds of new bulbs, I like DE's and will likely always use them, I've also gotten ahold of a bunch of bare magnetics for little of nothing, and they work very well, placed in an ammo can or cracker tin and certainly prefer MH to PC or even VHO, though I do supplement with VHO.