So just what is so spiffy about IceCap?

[grazzit]

Title pretty much says it all I keep seeing people saying IceCap's the best but I really don't know the difference and was hoping someone could *ahem* shed some light on the subject.

[Casey]

Less electricity and they run cool to the touch but most people just buy them because of the pretty blue color

[Rick O]

Three year warranty and great customer service.

[PaintGuru]

Light as a feather, I have my 2-250's ballasts mounted on the underside of my canopy. My 400W PFO is a monster and is sitting underneath. I'm not sure what I would buy again because you really never know how much money you are saving between IC and PFO. They do have great customer service though.

[Rick O]

FWIW the temperature difference is enough of a reason for me to choose an electronic ballast. I'm fighting high temps in my tank room in the summer.

[thefatman]

that's what the lfs told me too. lighter, and cooler running. and well, the cool blue color

[Alice]

I've never had a problem with my Ice Cap ballast but have known a few folks who have needed repair or replacment, from either their own mishaps or from a rare maunfacturer's defect. You'll never get better customer service anywhere than with Ice Cap, and that's important, especially when dealing by mail.

Alice

[reefcam]

Not sure which one you are referring to, VHO or MH. But for the VHO ballast, flexibility. You can run anywhere from 2' to 6' bulbs using the same ballast.

[grazzit]

thanks for the input everyone, I'm kinda surprised the differences aren't greater considering the price difference but I'll still keep looking for a used one for my tank, thanks again all.

[TroyF]

I've had the IceCap660 running for ~4 years and never a problem. I do think the reason for better bulb life is that the Icecap ballast underdrives the bulbs. If I were to use VHO as my primary light I'd probably opt for something along the lines of the Workhorse line of electronic VHO ballasts. A few of the guys around here have tested both with light meters and have found the Workhorse out performs the Icecap in regards to output.

[Doug1]

I have a couple 430 ballasts and a prob with one, sent back and got back the same week; that was before I mentioned I was admin here
Troy where do you get the work horse ballasts?

[CAT]

Digging back in my memory here so someone correct me if things have changed The ice cap ballast could charge NO bulbs up to VHO output, thereby making it cheaper to buy bulbs...

This is the original article:

http://www.icecapinc.com/famaarticle.htm

[Doug1]

Yes the outstanding versatility of the ICecap style E ballast is something I bring up alot

[TroyF]

Doug, they're made by Fulham. They're capable of overdriving NO bulbs like the Icecap and I believe the price is around $60Cdn for the Workhorse 7. There are a few models with different limitations. As happy as I've been with my 660, there's no way I could justify buying another with the price difference.

[grazzit]

Cat, this guy is talking about using the same vho bulbs for 3 years with no degradation, RIGHT suuuuuure.