I just bought 3 400 W retro halides with the new electronic ballast. Has anyone used these and if so, what was your impression? Are they worth the extra money? Any imput would be appreciated.
Blueline eballasts are great. Be prepared though not everyone will share this view. Some will bash their intensity and PAR values. Essentially all halide ballasts will burn the same bulb with similar results as published in many articles. I personally like the circuit protection within these ballasts. They will shut down if there is any electrical troubles thus preventing further troubles. I'd like to see a TAR ballast do that. Not to mention the heat issue. I can tell you that I can hold my 400W eballast in my hand after it has been on for hours and not get burned. They are only warm to the touch. Less energy lost to heat. Oh and the power savings is good but small. HTH.
I also love my e-ballast. Silent, not hot, fires on the first try every time, saves on power bills, and provides plenty of PAR for my tank (based on how things are growing, not any measurement). I think you'll enjoy the ballast.
