Are These Any Good - Galaxy Electronic ballasts

[Josh23]

Anyone using one or know much about them. I'm considering purchasing one but I wanted some feedback.

Will be running a Lumenarc DE bulb if that matters.

thanks
Josh

[Der_Iron_Chef]

Where are you finding them, Josh? Link? Locally?

[Josh23]

Golds Aquarium sells them I guess. they're a little cheaper (under $200.00)

[albert_dao]

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1226115&highlight=SLS+galaxy+ballasts

[danny zubot]

Do you have 400's Albert?

[Haloreef]

I set up 2 x 250watt off of the Double 250 Gallaxy ballast and I could not be happier. Looks great, runs cool and plug and play. I have just purchased the 400 watt model but, I have not set it up yet. Just my 2 cents worth.

[Jason McK]

I run 3 Blueline E-Ballast 400W on my main Tank and a 400W Gallaxy on my frag tank. The Gallaxy blows my Blueline out of the water. So much so that I'll be selling it to get a 250W as it's just too much light in a little frag tank
I would recommend them to all

J

[Doug]

I plan on running the 250w version w/14K bulb on my 45g cube. Wendall has them listed on his site.

I can also purchase them in Winnipeg. Glad to hear your pleased with them Jason.

[JoelV]

I like Lumatek ballasts alot.I have been running them for over a year now. here is a link to there website.

www.lumatek.ca

[04scoobysti]

I like Lumatek ballasts alot.I have been running them for over a year now. here is a link to there website.

www.lumatek.ca

Well placed product plug from the only Canadian vendor. :wink:

[JoelV]

Well I guess so eh... but I do have experiance with both Galaxy and lumatek.:squarewi:

[blaster]

hmmm i sold one to skimmin which was workin excellent,it was a dual 250 and its trippin his gfi.

[mark]

hmmm i sold one to skimmin which was workin excellent,it was a dual 250 and its trippin his gfi.

might need a little clarification on the word "excellent"

[Doug]

Any chance its also on an AFCI, {arc fault}. Before putting in another circuit in my place, my halides would trip the arc fault breaker, everytime they fired.

On another note. I wonder if the Galaxy or Joel,s Lumatek would have the same am radio interference as my Icecaps did? And no matter the ideas to resolve it, nothing ever changed?

[Skimmin]

Yep not the gfi. When I hooked it up with out the gfi the lights would surge then make a shorting or zapping sound and then go out.

[mark]

skimmin, get your money back?

[blaster]

mind your own business,It'll be taken care of

[JoelV]

Any chance its also on an AF CI, {arc fault}. Before putting in another circuit in my place, my halides would trip the arc fault breaker, everytime they fired.

On another note. I wonder if the Galaxy or Joel,s Lumatek would have the same am radio interference as my Icecaps did? And no matter the ideas to resolve it, nothing ever changed?

Lumatek now come with shielded lamp cords and components this has cut the RF interferance way back But there still is some traceable interferance if you get in close to the unit.

[Skimmin]

Hey blaster you have to understand... When anyone in the hobby I know asks me... How are the lights working you bought off the internet? What am I supposed to say?....' Oh they're working great'!?? No. What I say is... The pendants are great! BUT... The ballast doesn't work. I had to buy new ballasts because the Galaxy I bought from you didn't work. You told me you only had one bad experiance making a purchase over the internet, and I figured that it wouldn't happen to me when dealing with you. Anyways lets not ruin a good thread. From the research I did. The GALAXY ballasts should work out nicely. They're supposed to run efficiently, silent, they look nice and seem to get alot of great reviews. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one if I need one in the future. For now I'm using Hqi ballasts. Besides drawing 6.2 amps @120v they seem to work fine. The Galaxy dual 250w is only supposed to draw 4.17amps. I'm sure a Galaxy ballast would be a great choice.
P.s I know., I know, Buyer beware. I just couldn't help myself:)

[blaster]

Send the ballast back . You package it and i'll give you what a used ballast is worth.Brandnew i paid 200 so don't expect much back.27155 33rdave aldergrove,b.c v4w 3h6.Your the last guy i will ever ship too.thx for making that decision for me.

[midgetwaiter]

Send the ballast back . You package it and i'll give you what a used ballast is worth.Brandnew i paid 200 so don't expect much back.27155 33rdave aldergrove,b.c v4w 3h6.Your the last guy i will ever ship too.thx for making that decision for me.

What did he do wrong exactly? The ballast doesn't work right, I've seen it. Maybe it got screwed up in shipping or something.

[Doug]

Lumatek now come with shielded lamp cords and componats this has cut the RF interferance way back But there still is some traceable interferance if you get in close to the unit.

Does close to the unit mean down the hall to the kitchen 30ft. away? Thats where the radio is that my Icecap interfered with. The smallest Lumatek I see was 400w. Did I miss some?

[Doug]

This thread is the discussion of electronic ballasts guys. Please take the rest to pm.
Thanks.

[StirCrazy]

The smallest Lumatek I see was 400w. Did I miss some?

yup, on the product page first one

"250 WATT 120 VOLT BALLAST
120 Volt input
2.2 Amps
50/60 Hz
PF >.99
Will run any 250 watt MH or HPS Bulb"

Steve

[Doug]

yup, on the product page first one

"250 WATT 120 VOLT BALLAST
120 Volt input
2.2 Amps
50/60 Hz
PF >.99
Will run any 250 watt MH or HPS Bulb"

Steve

I meant on the actual site Steve.

[JoelV]

I guess a test is needed. out of the hundreds I sold I never heard of it interfering on the AM band but then again not alot of people utilize AM radio. I have heard of it affecting the lower band channels on cable TV because the ballast was near a old unshielded cable running though the wall. What I have heard the most about is it interfering with Ph monitoring and test equipment. All reports of interference on Lumatek has been with in 6 ft of the ballasts.

Because of its relatively new technology. Fail rates are common with most other Electronic ballast manufactures. be Aware!! best to deal with a local supplier with a good warranty policy.

[StirCrazy]

I meant on the actual site Steve.

um, that was off the actual lumatex site

[Doug]

um, that was off the actual lumatex site

Yes dear, I can read. :lol: However its NOT listed on Joel,s site, which is where I would purchase if buying one. :lol:

and I will leave it at that, as its getting into sponsership territory. :D

[StirCrazy]

Yes dear, I can read. :lol: However its NOT listed on Joel,s site, which is where I would purchase if buying one. :lol:

and I will leave it at that, as its getting into sponsership territory. :D

ahhh.. whats this dear stuf, kinda ichy. hehe

[Josh23]

ok so I purchased the 250 gallaxy ballast but now I have a new problem, the ballast outlet dosn't match my reflector outlet. For those of you out there with this ballast how did you deal with the incorrect connection. Are there adapters out there, if so where and how much? or did you just cut the end off and connect the raw wires together.

thoughts?

[JoelV]

This is a common problem, Depending on your setup its best to wire directly to the back of the mogul socket (black wire to the brass nut) using the lamp cord that came with your ballast.
Where did you buy your galaxy from?

[albert_dao]

This is a common problem, Depending on your setup its best to wire directly to the back of the mogul socket (black wire to the brass nut) using the lamp cord that came with your ballast.
Where did you buy your galaxy from?

Me.

[Josh23]

not sure I'm following you Joel.

You're proposing I should hack off both the plugs (female on the ballast and male on the reflector) and just join the wires or am I missing something?

OR

Open the ballast and cut the individual cords inside and then cut the reflector cord and hardwire it within the ballast???

Josh

[JoelV]

I was assuming you have the lamp cord that originally came with the ballast. the ballast has a female out and the lamp cord has the male in. the other end of the lamp cord should be bare wires that you can directly connect to your mogul socket on your reflector eliminating the one that is already there. If you don't have the original lamp cord then i guess the easiest option is to just cut and connect. You can also just cut the female end of the ballast and install a regular female plug end if you have enough wire there and a male to the lamp side to make the connection. keep your lamp cord as short as possible.
Good luck.

[Josh23]

I was assuming you have the lamp cord that originally came with the ballast. the ballast has a female out and the lamp cord has the male in. the other end of the lamp cord should be bare wires that you can directly connect to your mogul socket on your reflector eliminating the one that is already there. If you don't have the original lamp cord then i guess the easiest option is to just cut and connect. You can also just cut the female end of the ballast and install a regular female plug end if you have enough wire there and a male to the lamp side to make the connection. keep your lamp cord as short as possible.
Good luck.

I have the cord that is attached to the reflector (male end) and the a small 4" cord coming from the ballast (female end). From you're email it seems you suggesting running the small 4" ballast cord directly to the reflector? but thats not possible with the short cord. I thinks thats what your saying?

The alternative you mentioned cutting both cords, can I just replace with a standard 3 prong electrical plug (similar to an extension cord) or will this not work? I'd prefer this method over just cutting and taping back together.

thanks again.

Josh

[JoelV]

originaly the ballast would have come with an additional 10 ft of lamp cord and the male end.

ya just install regular cord ends of good quality

[Josh23]

originaly the ballast would have come with an additional 10 ft of lamp cord and the male end.

ya just install regular cord ends of good quality



perfect thats what ill do, my ballast didnt come with a 10ft lamp cord, its brand new, maybe they don't include the cord anymore.

[Jason McK]

No they do not include the cord that attaches to the mogel. It's their way of making you buy their reflectors

You could always order one through OA http://www.sunlightsupply.com/product.cfm?sid=525AED7FE0815D5534E0CA69B751C81A&p=979&cs=products%2Ecfm%3Fsid%3D525AED7FE0815D5534E0CA69 B751C81A%26c%3D3%26kys%3D%26pgi%3D1

J

[albert_dao]

perfect thats what ill do, my ballast didnt come with a 10ft lamp cord, its brand new, maybe they don't include the cord anymore.

It doesn't come with the lamp cord. That's part of the pendant. It does come with a 10-ish foot power supply cord though.

No they do not include the cord that attaches to the mogel. It's their way of making you buy their reflectors

You could always order one through OA http://www.sunlightsupply.com/product.cfm?sid=525AED7FE0815D5534E0CA69B751C81A&p=979&cs=products%2Ecfm%3Fsid%3D525AED7FE0815D5534E0CA69 B751C81A%26c%3D3%26kys%3D%26pgi%3D1

J

Or you could just get it from me since that's where the ballast came from :P