Ballast problems

[Dmitry]

So, I'm having problems with a ballst for my Aqua Medic Ocean Light (http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=AQ1831). When the MH lights go on it starts to buzz. Loud and non-stop. It's been this way since day one, but I kind of hoped it was just doing that because it was new, or ... I don't know what else. Well, it hasn't stopped since August. Any ideas what it might be? Did I screw myself over by not taking care of it when it was still brand new? Do I have to get a new ballst or something??) :banghead:

 

[FRY]

do you know what kind of ballast is in the fixture and what lamp are you useing with it

 

[FRY]

i whould call the aqua medic and see what they say

 

[Tonyscoots84]

whats the wattage on both the light and what can the ballast support.

 

[Dmitry]

The fixture is exactly as in the link. The ballast is external. The 2 MHs are 250W each.

 

[gforce6]

I would call Aquamedic first, like Fry said.

 

[Pseudo]

Give Icecap a call. When I had ballast problems I sent mine into the Icecap factory in NJ. At the time they were authorized repair for AB fixtures. This was about 3-4 years ago. But no harm in trying.

 

[Kedd]

Pesudo is correct, call IceCapp.

Chris Conti is who you should speak with.


Kedd

 

[Dmitry]

What does IceCap have to do with AquaMedic??

I just sent an e-mail to AquaMedic (they're in Germany!) and Marine Depot (where I bought it from.) We'll see what happens...I doubt anything will from them.

 

[House of Laughter]

D,

The ballast enclosure houses all the inerts of the MH lighting - so the ballast could be an ARO, IceCap, Advanced etc. I think what Kasei and Kedd are saying here is that Aquamedic makes it's own housings and puts IceCa ballasts in them.

Am I off on this one guys?

House

 

[Kedd]

I have an Aquaspacelite that is now all IceCapp retrofit.
The light was smoking when I got home( I was lucky!!!)
IceCapp Showed me a better way to light my tank in a safe way.
Aqumedic did not do anything but say they would replace the parts that went bad, and I figured if they went bad once it would happen again.
My ballasts are now remote.


Kedd

 

[Dmitry]

Any idea on how to contact Ice Capp? I did a google search and nothing came back.

 

[Pseudo]

Phone: (800) 7-ICECAP or (609) 588-5338
Fax: (609) 588-5460

Mailing Address: IceCap Inc
9-B South Gold Drive
Hamilton, NJ 08691

 

[Pseudo]

AB is in Germany. Icecap is the leading manufacturer of Aquarium lighting in the US. They made a deal that Icecap would be the US Authorized "repair" for AB fixtures. I do not think the ballasts are direct from Icecap but they do replace them with Icecap branded ballasts or as Kedd said will make them a remote Ballast option for you.

HTH,

Kasei

 

[beyondnp]

i have an extra ballast that went bad on me... it was for a 400 watt halide, hqi...

it is yours if you want it... might be helpful for parts, maybe not... it is yours for free, but pickup is in brooklyn.

 

[Dmitry]

Thanks beyondnp, but I wouldn't even dare to take one apart - forget about replacing parts! :bigeyes2: I'll call IceCap and we'll see what they can do. Kedd, do you remember how much the whole thing cost you? Is it cheaper to buy a new ballast?

 

[Kedd]

I wasn't that bad, I forget now.
Talk to them and see what they can do.

Kedd