IceCap Ballast

[darcurr]

I have a pair of IceCap 250 halide ballasts that I've been holding onto in the thoughts I would use them. I noticed they are discontinued, is there something wrong with them or what's the story?

 

[mvm]

Icecap is out of business.

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

 

[darcurr]

I was thinking of trying to sell them. Are people buying used icecaps?

 

[lilrobb]

MHs are non serviceable anyway - no big deal...

 

[darcurr]

So what's a fair price for two with HQI reflectors?

 

[lilrobb]

50-75$ per ballast, reflectors are additional

 

[kirru]

so why did icecap go out of business anyway?

 

[ichthyoid]

Kirru;617269 wrote: so why did icecap go out of business anyway?

The same reason that 99% of all businesses do, lack of sales/<u>profits</u>.

IMO, Icecap became a sort of 1 trick pony-

Reason #1, the economy. Selling to a luxury hobby in the worst economy in 50+ years.

The Icecap flourescent ballast and reflector sales were dieing off, due to market saturation and LED sales.

Their MH ballasts were ok, but offered neither technical superiority or a cost advantage. There are at least 4 other players for electronic ballasts. Anytime you are out of the top 3, AND in a limited market, it's hard to compete. The other manufacturers were established outside of the aquarium market. Icecap was not.

Their bulbs were re-labeled, cost more, and everybody knew it. They even tried to hook up with Anthony Calfo a couple of years ago to do a 'designer' bulb product, but that did not fly. This hobby is expensive enough, without paying extra for names on the box.

The couple of LED products they did come out with were lame.

I love their 660 ballast/technology. It's just unfortunate that they were unable to diversify their product offering more when times were good.
-JMHO

 

[jeffmuse]

ichthyoid;617287 wrote: The same reason that 99% of all businesses do, lack of sales/<u>profits</u>.

IMO, Icecap became a sort of 1 trick pony-

Reason #1, the economy. Selling to a luxury hobby in the worst economy in 50+ years.

The Icecap flourescent ballast and reflector sales were dieing off, due to market saturation and LED sales.

Their MH ballasts were ok, but offered neither technical superiority or a cost advantage. There are at least 4 other players for electronic ballasts. Anytime you are out of the top 3, AND in a limited market, it's hard to compete. The other manufacturers were established outside of the aquarium market. Icecap was not.

Their bulbs were re-labeled, cost more, and everybody knew it. They even tried to hook up with Anthony Calfo a couple of years ago to do a 'designer' bulb product, but that did not fly. This hobby is expensive enough, without paying extra for names on the box.

The couple of LED products they did come out with were lame.

I love their 660 ballast/technology. It's just unfortunate that they were unable to diversify their product offering more when times were good.
-JMHO

Too bad they went out of business, very good explanation though.