Electronic ballasts are more efficient, easier to hook up, compatible with more bulbs (they fire all types), run cooler, yet are generally less reliable than a magnetic ballast (from what I could gather).
Magnetic ballasts are specific to the type of bulb they fire (whether it be pulse or probe start), heavy, inefficient, they run hot, they're more difficult to hook up, yet they'll run reliably for years.
Efficiency has to do with how much electricity they convert into light. A more efficient ballast draws less power to light the bulb to the same intensity as a less efficient ballast.
Bulbs generally last for the same amount of time regardless of what they're fired by. Usually bulb life ranges between 12-18 months before needing replacement due to spectrum shift.
I can't personally comment on the price disparity because I don't have any experience with electronic ballasts, but the people that use them tend to really like them.
I went with a magnetic MagnaTek ballast for my halide light. It's worked great so far though it suffers from the drawbacks I mentioned.
HTH.
Magnetic ballasts are specific to the type of bulb they fire (whether it be pulse or probe start), heavy, inefficient, they run hot, they're more difficult to hook up, yet they'll run reliably for years.
Efficiency has to do with how much electricity they convert into light. A more efficient ballast draws less power to light the bulb to the same intensity as a less efficient ballast.
Bulbs generally last for the same amount of time regardless of what they're fired by. Usually bulb life ranges between 12-18 months before needing replacement due to spectrum shift.
I can't personally comment on the price disparity because I don't have any experience with electronic ballasts, but the people that use them tend to really like them.
I went with a magnetic MagnaTek ballast for my halide light. It's worked great so far though it suffers from the drawbacks I mentioned.
HTH.
