Icecap Ballast Seems to Have Blown :( HELP!

[reefs4life]

Hello everyone, as the title says unfortunately my Icecap ballast, new style, seems to have blown again. I sent it in once before to get exchanged but I don't think it's the exchange ballast because I have 3 of them so I don't really know which one it is. I tested it and I'm sure it's the ballast and not the bulb because one of my other ballasts sparked that bulb. I tested it with an electrical tester and it read 324watts which is odd because it's only a 250watt ballast. Can someone tell me what's wrong?

 

[DrHarryLopez]

Just send it back.

 

[ming]

There should be a sticker date on the ballast. If its less then 3 years old, its under warranty. Otherwise they can still repair it for a fee or you can buy a new one

 

[reefs4life]

Ok thanks guys. I knew I could send it back but I wanted to see if maybe I could fix it but I guess not. Unfortunately the corals on that side of the tank aren't gonna be too happy till I get that new ballast in. And I can't even ship it tomorrow because of the holiday

 

[reefs4life]

Man IceCap service sucked this time around. It's been 2 weeks and I still haven't gotten my ballast back! My poor corals are suffering I thought they had great service

 

[DrHarryLopez]

It took me like 3 wks to get my ballast back. I called them directly and they told me they had a back order of parts.

 

[reefs4life]

Seems like they always have an excuse then huh? I called them a week ago and they said they were sending out. I just called them now and they said UPS never picked up their packages so it should go out today. But how does UPS not go there for a week? Makes no sense to me

 

[prattreef]

Something is not right in IC land. Their customer service used to be the best in the industry with turnaround times of 24 to 48 hrs. I've been hearing lots of these kind of complaints recently.


Sent from my iPhone using Reefs

 

[reefs4life]

Yeah I sent them back a ballast about a year ago and everything was done within a week. Sent the ballast out on a monday or tuesday and I got a brand new one back that thursday or friday. I was hoping for the same tihng this time or else I woud've just gotten a temporary replacement. At least I know for next time now

 

[ECFENCING]

IC service has been horrible lately.......Hope you get your ballast back soon....I had an issue with one of my ballasts and they have been difficult to deal with IMO

 

[smoknreefrs]

thats all we need. I ordered lamps from IC and they were backordered for 3 weeks, then i decided to cancel the order. I think they are expanding to fast and cant handle the load..

 

[reefs4life]

OMG get a load of this one....so I waited what 2 and a half weeks now to get this in return attached to my ballast:

"Your ballast checked good here over 48 hours. After I talked with you it started to decrease output. It dropped off to about 210 watts after several hours.
I am returning it to you to use for your corals. We are out of stock at this time. When a new shipment arrives I will send you a replacement."

So basically I waited this long just for them to send me back the same ballast and tell me that they can't replace it just yet. I am disappointed with them beyond belief right now.

 

[DrHarryLopez]

I feel you man, but hey at least your getting a new ballast. i just looking at the brightside

 

[reefs4life]

I feel you man, but hey at least your getting a new ballast. i just looking at the brightside

Yeah that's what I was thinking too but who knows when that will be for how slow they are and it's just frustrating that I had to wait 2 and a half weeks just to get the same ballast back

 

[ECFENCING]

That's just plain wrong. I'm pretty sure they know what their stocking levels are. Hopefully you get a new working ballast soon and not just some re-furbished ballast.

 

[smoknreefrs]

guess what my new style ballast has just blown... its approx. 3 weeks old. i have 2 of the older style ballast and they work like a charm for like 5 yrs now. obviously they tryied to improve on something that didnt need it. "if it aint broken, dont try and fix it!"

hopefully when i send it back it wont be a horror show....

 

[reefs4life]

Dam that sucks man, I hope everything goes well for you. The ballast they sent me back that they said would work for now doesn't really spark the bulb every time and they're not even old bulbs they're 6 month old 14K phoenix. Keep us updated on your experience with them lol

 

[smoknreefrs]

ill be mailing it off by fri afternoon...

 

[InfernoST]

Engineers always try to fix what is not broken.

 

[JimmyR1rider]

Well I get to join the ranks of the B.I.C.B's (blown ice cap ballasts) Mine went the other day but kept forgetting to switch the pendant the bad one was powering, finally remembered yesterday- the other ballast fired my bulb in the pendant that I switched so my other is definately blown:irked:. I still have my other one so Im good to go but have to mail this thing back....oh well s$%# happens