Recommend metal halide electronic ballast for me?

[Moe_K]

I want to get another 250 watt MH ballast. I liked the old Icecap ballasts.
Looks like those aren't made anymore or were bought by someone else?

The question I put to you experienced MH retro kit people: What electronic ballast would you recommend?
250 watt. Electronic.

Thanks,
Moe

 

[JohnK]

Lumateks are nice IME. Newer generation Electronic ballasts are generally way better than the old ice caps. For example, a lot of the newer ones are switchable so they can properly drive any lamp whereas the older ones rarely drove any lamp correctly.

 

[pbienkiewicz]

Ice Cap was bought out by Coral Vue. http://www.coralvue.com/ballasts

 

[mnavick]

I've been running 3 Lumatek's for 4+yrs 8hrs a day and no worries (250w DE)!

 

[JohnK]

Here's the numbers I got from the PAR meter and killawatt meter when I changed from M80 to older style lumateks
http://www.bostonreefers.org/forums...Kill-a-watt-numbers/page2&highlight=PAR+meter

The electricity usage went down and the PAR went up noticably, and the M80 ballasts are the "HQI" / Overdriving magnetic ballasts. The old icecaps used to put out less par

 

[Moe_K]

Hmm. Prices seem to be between $130 and 150.