Changing HQI Ballasts

[Chiefmcfuz]

I have a Coralife aqualight pro HQI lighting unit and was wondering the following.

1. If I needed to change the ballast do I have to use a coralife ballast because it has the "special" plug that connects the ballast to the light fixture or can I cut the wire and splice it if needed.




2. It's a 150 w unit now but could I upgrade the ballast and the light to 250 if I changed the bulb and the ballast?

 

[Pedro]

1. Yes you can cut and splice the wires as needed. Just make sure the new ballast fits in it's place. What are you replacing the HQI with? If you are replacing them with a standard ballast then you can take out the capacitor and such from the circuit.

2. I don't see a problem doing so. Match the ballast to the bulb and you should be ok. The wiring as it is should be capable of handling the wattage difference.

 

[mmike1992]

the 250 watt de bulb is larger than a 150 watt de bulb it will not work without changing the sockets.

 

[bad coffee]

B,
If you're going to change the ballast, you could crack open the coralife box and put a different ballast inside the box. that way you could still have the connector.

B