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Innovative Marine Aquariums

For those looking for 54W ballasts for your projects


gus6464

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fishguywc

Thanks! So are these HEP ballasts as good/reliable as the Advance? Are these "programmed start" my one set of lamps of 4 is flashing like a thrunderstorm so i'm assuming my ballast need to be replaced if i can get something better than the deep blue PTI ballast that's my goal.

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Thanks! So are these HEP ballasts as good/reliable as the Advance? Are these "programmed start" my one set of lamps of 4 is flashing like a thrunderstorm so i'm assuming my ballast need to be replaced if i can get something better than the deep blue PTI ballast that's my goal.

 

Yeah both are programmed start. HEP is what comes in ATI Sunpower. Can't go wrong with either.

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I know the HEP 54W ballasts can be hard to find on the cheap so this is a great alternative. Will do 39W and 54W bulbs with programmed start.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Philips-Advance-Centium-ICN-2S54-Programmed-Start-Electronic-Ballast-New-/131487955430?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e9d4af9e6

These won't do T5HO 39W bulbs (I know you linked to a 39W ballast later). The FT36/39W marking is for compact fluorescents. Many ballasts like this aren't universal in that respect. Fulham is one of the only companies that does a good universal ballast (like the Workhorse line). Their Racehorse line is program start like these and readily available for a good price.

 

Here's an equivalent Racehorse on Amazon

 

http://www.amazon.com/Fulham-Racehorse-RHA-UNV-254-LT5-F54T5-Programmed/dp/B003XW0H2I

 

Now, I know a lot of people know that Fulham gets a bad rap when it comes to T5HO ballasts, but that's mainly because most people use the Workhorse ballasts, which aren't program start (they are pulse start), and as a result shorten the life of the bulbs (they still work, and the Workhorse7 is one of the few ballasts that will overdrive bulbs). The Racehorse ballasts should be no different than the HEP or Advance ballasts.

 

Now, the Philips Advance Centium line is the only ballast that I know of that has an option for 80W bulbs.

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These won't do T5HO 39W bulbs (I know you linked to a 39W ballast later). The FT36/39W marking is for compact fluorescents. Many ballasts like this aren't universal in that respect. Fulham is one of the only companies that does a good universal ballast (like the Workhorse line). Their Racehorse line is program start like these and readily available for a good price.

 

Here's an equivalent Racehorse on Amazon

 

http://www.amazon.com/Fulham-Racehorse-RHA-UNV-254-LT5-F54T5-Programmed/dp/B003XW0H2I

 

Now, I know a lot of people know that Fulham gets a bad rap when it comes to T5HO ballasts, but that's mainly because most people use the Workhorse ballasts, which aren't program start (they are pulse start), and as a result shorten the life of the bulbs (they still work, and the Workhorse7 is one of the few ballasts that will overdrive bulbs). The Racehorse ballasts should be no different than the HEP or Advance ballasts.

 

Now, the Philips Advance Centium line is the only ballast that I know of that has an option for 80W bulbs.

 

Thanks for the clarification. Do the 6ft ATI sunpowers come with Centium ballasts?

Just ordered two of these guys! If its good enough for ATI than it should work great in my application. Now i just have to get them installed :wacko:

Nice. Let us know when you get them installed.

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After a little digging, it looks like HEP does one 2x80W ballast, but the ballast factor sucks compared to the Racehorse (only runs the 80W bulbs at 55.6W-77W)

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jedimasterben

After a little digging, it looks like HEP does one 2x80W ballast, but the ballast factor sucks compared to the Racehorse (only runs the 80W bulbs at 55.6W-77W)

It's also 240v input only, they don't have one with 120v or universal input.

 

 

Also, if anyone wants an HEP 54w ballast, PM me, I've got one here that I don't need.

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Missed that part. All their other ballasts in that range can run on 110V, so I just kinda glossed over that fact :)

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jedimasterben

Yeah, I was looking at the 'universal' page on their website and was like wait, why aren't there any 80w? :)

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Thanks for the clarification. Do the 6ft ATI sunpowers come with Centium ballasts?

Nice. Let us know when you get them installed.

Got the HEP ballasts installed tonight, install wasn't as bad as i thought it would be. Lights fired right up with no strobe! Very happy. Thanks for you help!!

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