what makes professional ballasts, professional ballasts?

therealslimfigge said:
Just curious. What is the difference between home depot ballasts and lowell ballasts?
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I assume you mean the ballasts available at home depot in fixtures as well as the ballasts from lowel in fixtures. The main thing will be the frequency that the ballast drives the bulbs. In the really good electronic ballasts, this frequency is around 40Khz. Therefore there is no issue around flickering of the lght. Also the bulbs seem to be driven somewhat more efficiently and brighter at this type of frequency too.

Magnetic ballasts available in some fixtures at home depot (but not all the fixtures--some are electronic) are to be avoided at all costs. These drive the bulbs at such a low frequency that they tend to flicker. The ballasts themselves hum also. This is not to say that you can't find an electronic ballast that doesn't hum. Yes you can if you try hard enough! Don't let these manufacturers fool you into thinking that they have some magic components available to them that you don't. An Fulham Electronic ballast is just as good as about anything that those manufacturers have.

The one area that is somewhat difficult and you certainly won't find a suitable anything at home depot is the area of dimming. These dimming ballasts (especially for the 55w biax bulbs) are very very expensive and are only for those that really don't mind spending $160 for a ballast then another 45 for a dimmer.

The one thing you will for sure be missing from any fixture from home depot is barn doors. You'll have to find a way to attach those yourself...

Richard
www.coollights.biz
 
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