Ampere reading for 2 ballasts driving 2x250W BLV 10000K is 2.17A.
Calculation for powerfactor
2.17A x 240V = 520.8VA
500W / 520.8VA = 0.96
The powerfactor of 0.96 is fairly decent for a reasonably priced eballast like this. The powerfactor calculated at start is 0.98, somehow when the ballast warmed up, the powerfactor drops also.
This eballast is unlike the normal magnetic core ballast. The initial current(ampere) drawn is 0.83A and slowly increased as the bulb heats up and finally reached a stable 2.17A.
Magnetic core ballast will draw a current of 2 times or more during start up and slowly decrease. This is the primary cause of poor quality timers failing, this high surge in current may cause timer contacts to weld and overheat.
However, this eballast still runs fairly hot. Not as hot as magnetic ballast but you wont be able to hold it more than 20secs.
There is no visible change in brightness and color driven by this ballast compared to the magnetic ballast.
For the cost of only $120, this ballast would be a good buy for new MH sets. For existing users with magnetic ballast, there isnt much improvement to justify the additional costs.
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