I was within seconds of topping out the old credit card on another new ballast and MH setup, when I remembered the 'conversion lamp' option ... my present ballast is only 1.5 years old, w/5 year warranty, so I couldn't justify another one, yet ... I guess it doesn't matter much, how hot it runs, I'm gonna run it anyway ... research tells me I should get in the habit of wearing UV protection around them, and watch for cracks in the globe ... just what I need, another health hazard :wtf: ... thanks for the help, folks ... :smokin: