The Arcadia T5 Electronic Controller, is based on the same principal as the standard controller. i.e. a ballast, encased within a plastic body, from which come flexible lamp leads, and so allowing the ballast to be mounted outside the aquarium/vivarium, with the lamp leads feeding through the hood, and mounting onto a fluorescent tube.

This gives the versatility to use the controller to mount tubes over any aquarium, using any hood, regardless of dimensions - unlike rigid baton fittings

The standard controller contains a wire wound ballast, which creates an electro-magnmetic field sufficient to ignite the tube.

In the case of the electronic controller, the ballast is in the form of an electronic circuit board, which has a number of advantages over a traditional ballast:

1) There is no requirement for a starter switch or choke, as there is in the traditional form. These starters have a limited life-span, and do require replacing periodically.

2) They are much more energy efficient.
A traditional ballast wastes a considerable amount of the energy input into it, in the form of heat. This can be noticeably felt by placing a hand on a controller that has been running for a while.
In the case of the electronic controller, there is very little wastage loss through heat. Instead the majority of the energy that comes from the ballast is converted into light from the fluorescent tube.

3) There is no "flicker effect"
A fluorescent tube lit by a traditional ballast, is not actually producing a constant light output.
Instead, the light pulses at a rate that we cannot see, and so to the human eye the light is constant.
The eyes of some species are much more sensitive than humans, and can actually perceive this rapid pulsing of light.

Although this has not been shown to be harmful, it is a matter that has caused concern among many keepers of birds who fear that this strobe effect may be detrimental.
An electronic ballast however, results in a light output that is constant, even to the most sensitive species, and so can be used by bird keepers to alleviate any worries that they may have.

Important note: In the case of the new T5 High output lamps, it is essential that they are lit using an electronically ballasted unit. Traditional wire wound ballasts will fail very rapidly.

The Arcadia electronic controller is a smartly designed unit, which is manufactured using the latest sonic weld technology.

The result is a unit which is 100% waterproof, and so even in the unlikely event of the controller being accidentally submerged, it would not be damaged as a result

What Variations are available?
The Arcadia Electronic controller range covers options for T8 or T5 lamps, in a range of different wattages. Twin lamp controllers are available for anybody wishing to light more than one tube, and in each case there are two options for the cap on the end of the flexible lamp lead:

IP64

This model has a splash-proof cap, which protects the end of the tube from water droplets that may hit it due to splash from the water surface e.g. from a filter inlet, or a jumping fish.

IP67

 This model has a completely water-proof cap, which once fitted to the tube, would not allow any water ingress, even if accidentally dropped into the aquarium.