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jocat
Active member
i just switched out 2 c&c 600 watt ballasts for 2 lumatek 6oos, after reading up on these forums i decided to see for myself if there was an energy savings, it's not yet been a month so i don't no about that yet but i can see a difference in how bright the bulbs are burning, once this cycle is complete and a new bill arrives i'll no more, my gro store guy said no proplem with bulbs, so i'm running hortilux and alls well. $212 bucks ea, with cords, jc
kp^
Member
I'm thinking about picking up 2 1k lumateks, but recently I've seen galaxy at a few local hydro stores. Both have 5 year, but then there is a 3 year thing too. I was confused about that... Also the galaxy are about $20 more per ballast I've noticed. Hydro store recommended the galaxy as he had them in store... the lumatek would be a special order.
What type of bulbs do the best in either digi ballast? Was gonna go with horlitux HPS, and whatever I can find for a good MH bulb. I've read how some bulbs wont even ignite in some of the digi ballast? This still true today? Anyone link me to the low down on the digital ballasts? t
Thanks, and happy growing!
What type of bulbs do the best in either digi ballast? Was gonna go with horlitux HPS, and whatever I can find for a good MH bulb. I've read how some bulbs wont even ignite in some of the digi ballast? This still true today? Anyone link me to the low down on the digital ballasts? t
Thanks, and happy growing!
little-soldier
Active member
I bought 2 600w lumatek and so far I am more than satisfied other than the fact that the ballast cost me an arm and a leg. I did 4 harvest so far with my eye hortilux and never had to change the bulb as of yet.Im very satisfied
I've been running a 600w Lumatek the last yr. w/ an Eye, but just bought an Agrosun MH conversion bulb. Fired right up, bright as can be! 
Very happy! 
Very happy! 
Navigator330
Member
Just a side note. I have 2 Digital Greenhouse 600 HPS with hortilux EYE Bulbs. I love them never had a problem and the price was unbeatable. They rival a 1k plus my old 400. I bought them from HTG supply with thier euro reflectors.
StickyIcky29A
Member
You guys are talking about how 600w is 600ws. If you take 600wattts and use it efficiently (like in the digital ballast) It produces more. No if you burn 600 watts and your C&C is a piece then your wasting money. But no matter what it is gonna cost the same. Lumatek is also stateing that the 600 HPS run at 99% of what 1k C&Cs, while using 400watts less.
THRIPS AHOY!
Member
I would like to see the difference though in a stadium where there are four 1k lights hangin vertically down the middle and hang six 600w for a total of 3600 w and see the difference.It should be better light coverage without as much distance from each bulb to the plants.
I have 2 600 lumis now.
Great for smaller plants/grows IMO & I'll be using them for my veg only room real soon.
They just don't have the penetration for lighting up a big room with multiples like oldschool 1k verts do IMO, its mostly to do with the horizontal VS vertical light distro patterns I think?
600's with open wing reflectors might do better than my Aurora 6's too?
I've noticed that Horizontals are mostly straight down light, which is fine for single lights & smaller grows.
Multiple 1k Verticals light up a big area much better though IMO, its much more side light which penetrates the canopy better. You get more overlapping light from neighboring lights as well.
To see what I mean?
Look straight down from above a plant, than step back & look from the side.
Which looks easier to penetrate?
Don't forget, I'm talking running 3-4 or more 1K's here, not singles.
I'm buying 4 1k lumis w/48" vert domes.
cheers
Great for smaller plants/grows IMO & I'll be using them for my veg only room real soon.
They just don't have the penetration for lighting up a big room with multiples like oldschool 1k verts do IMO, its mostly to do with the horizontal VS vertical light distro patterns I think?
600's with open wing reflectors might do better than my Aurora 6's too?
I've noticed that Horizontals are mostly straight down light, which is fine for single lights & smaller grows.
Multiple 1k Verticals light up a big area much better though IMO, its much more side light which penetrates the canopy better. You get more overlapping light from neighboring lights as well.
To see what I mean?
Look straight down from above a plant, than step back & look from the side.
Which looks easier to penetrate?
Don't forget, I'm talking running 3-4 or more 1K's here, not singles.
I'm buying 4 1k lumis w/48" vert domes.
cheers
D
dongle69
Did anyone see the Hortilux paper regarding electronic / digital ballasts?
In the October issue of Maximum Yield via a Hortilux ad:
"...all lamps tested on electronic ballasts had advanced sodium loss and reduced lumens."
"...electronic ballast users may need to replace lamps more frequently..."
"...no flicker was detected on traditional ballasts running at 60 hertz, but was detected in lamps running on electronic ballasts..."
Average temp of standard ballast - 130 degrees
Average temp of electronic ballast - 138 degrees
These were tests using modern ballasts of each type.
Very interesting to see that Hortilux isn't sold on digitals.
In the October issue of Maximum Yield via a Hortilux ad:
"...all lamps tested on electronic ballasts had advanced sodium loss and reduced lumens."
"...electronic ballast users may need to replace lamps more frequently..."
"...no flicker was detected on traditional ballasts running at 60 hertz, but was detected in lamps running on electronic ballasts..."
Average temp of standard ballast - 130 degrees
Average temp of electronic ballast - 138 degrees
These were tests using modern ballasts of each type.
Very interesting to see that Hortilux isn't sold on digitals.
That is interesting, do they have stock in a CnC ballast co.?
The safety features were the big selling point for me, quiet is nice & they look cool too lol I just got a greenair 4x1k timer/relay also, so no house fires in my future.
I'm on 2nd/3rd crop running Lumatek/Growbright bulbs from HTG, really happy with'em so far.
Their 600w (6000 kelvin) HPS conversion bulbs are working great as my MH's.
I've never seen a true 600w MH before?
Ever seen/heard/felt a 3 story house hum like a passive woofer from 6+ old CnC 1K"s? lol
I'm stickin with Lumatek
The safety features were the big selling point for me, quiet is nice & they look cool too lol I just got a greenair 4x1k timer/relay also, so no house fires in my future.
I'm on 2nd/3rd crop running Lumatek/Growbright bulbs from HTG, really happy with'em so far.
Their 600w (6000 kelvin) HPS conversion bulbs are working great as my MH's.
I've never seen a true 600w MH before?
Ever seen/heard/felt a 3 story house hum like a passive woofer from 6+ old CnC 1K"s? lol
I'm stickin with Lumatek
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G
Guest
So chef, are you currently running the Lumatek 1k's with no probs or failures ?
thx
thx
G
Guest
Yeah i think if i was a first time 1k buyer, i would buy acouple C&C 1k ballast for backup, just not so surw of the failure rate on the Lumatek 1k's yet
D
dongle69
LittleBigMan said:just not so surw of the failure rate on the Lumatek 1k's yet
Mine lasted less than 2 weeks.
G
Guest
wish the Quantum's were more readily accessible 
Hey dongle, what color ballast? bulb?
The purple ones are the newer generation I'm pretty sure.
Seen a few blue ones here & there. Heard they made several improvements between the two.
Growbright 600w HPS conversion bulbs have been running perfect for me.
53.95 for 600w & 59.95 for 1k @ HTG, nice blue MH bulbs.
Will probably stick to them for the 1k's too, lose a few lumens w/conv bulbs but they have a kickass 6000kelvin spectrum & have run perfect thus far.
Most problems have sounded like bulb issues to me?
cheers
The purple ones are the newer generation I'm pretty sure.
Seen a few blue ones here & there. Heard they made several improvements between the two.
Growbright 600w HPS conversion bulbs have been running perfect for me.
53.95 for 600w & 59.95 for 1k @ HTG, nice blue MH bulbs.
Will probably stick to them for the 1k's too, lose a few lumens w/conv bulbs but they have a kickass 6000kelvin spectrum & have run perfect thus far.
Most problems have sounded like bulb issues to me?
cheers
D
dongle69
chef said:
Purple ballast. Sunmaster bulb.
Hmm, big $ bulb too
My HPS bulbs are super cheapos, came with my systems & not as much as a flicker of trouble.
I wonder if this is a 1k issue or a bulb issue? don't recall too many complaints about the 600's & mine run perfect w/2 different inexpensive bulbs.
My HPS bulbs are super cheapos, came with my systems & not as much as a flicker of trouble.
I wonder if this is a 1k issue or a bulb issue? don't recall too many complaints about the 600's & mine run perfect w/2 different inexpensive bulbs.
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D
dongle69
I don't know.
The bulb worked before the ballast went out, and it worked fine when I switched it to another ballast.
The hydro shop said they were expecting me back when I returned the ballast, so that says something.
The bulb worked before the ballast went out, and it worked fine when I switched it to another ballast.
The hydro shop said they were expecting me back when I returned the ballast, so that says something.
