came home to a dead ballast tonight..

one of my T5-HO 54W ballasts took a dump. looks like ill have to order a replacement. ballast was in operation for less than 3 months and i have no idea who makes it as it has no labeling on it. i originally bought the fixture on ebay 1.5 years ago when i had that light bulb, pardon the pun, in my head go off and say "gee you should get a saltwater tank going". then from two seconds of looking around on the internet i realized i needed a light fixture and was so happy to find a cheap deal on one. now that its in use, it sucks. what did i learn? dont impulse buy before countless research has been done! too bad i already learned that lesson on the skimmer/sump/pump combo i had bought at the same time on ebay (skimmer doesnt skim well, pumps are weak, and the sump was inadequately sized). iirc i was drunk at the time too which doesnt help my ebay impulse shopping.

now, i have to spend $25 on a fulham workhorse 5 as a replacement. the other ones prolly gonna go too... hrmm


sorry, i had to vent... and i hope it serves a lesson to others... dont impulse buy

 

hrmm im wondering if the mechanical timer i had on the ballast blew it up....

 

Not likely, the timer is no different than using an on/off switch.
spend a few extra dollars and upgrade all the t-5 ballasts together, then consider doing an upgrade on the MH ballast next time you upgrade bulbs.

 

im not into owning MH yet... one day ill hopefully have two MH ballasts and just use these t5's to supplement

 

found i can get two workhorse 5's shipped for $50 new niiiice

 

I wouldn't go for the workhorse T5 if you can avoid it. I would get a Sylvania Osram. It will cost as much as the workhorses you found for one that operated 4 bulbs but it will run and start your bulbs properly.

 

Yep, and those have a nice warranty as well. IIRC it is a 3 year (or is it 5?) warranty.

I was using the original W5 I bought until a few months ago, and I am sure it still works, I just went to a w7 so I can run 2 80w t5s on my tank. I got that original w5 back when I first started using t5 in like 2003.

 

ill check into them. thanks

good to know. and yes they have a great warranty. after some more research i might tear apart the aluminum housing that the ballasts are in with the bulbs and make a DIY light board that hangs above the tank. the tanks in-wall so i dont have to worry about aesthetics. this way i hvae room for future MH or have the ability to put 6 or so T5's there.

 

I'd use a work horse 7 or a 5 depending on the number of bulbs you want to run with the ballast .

 

TEK uses workhorse ballasts in their fixtures. I would recommend a TEK over just about any fixture out there(including the almighty ATI) -

T5 HO Fluorescent Lighting Technology

Scroll down, more lumens per watt than a 400w MH 8). Also look at the mercury content, better for the environment.

Agreed.

Don't ever buy cheap, you get what you pay for especially with lighting. Oh, and don't blame the alcohol either, it just enhances your Ebay experience, it's not here to make you buy cheap stuff