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Are Gavita ballasts that much better?

McKush

McKush

Éirinn go Brách
ICMag Donor
Veteran
Im excavating my space till I get 10' min floor to ceiling. Its a 1 time pain in my book and considering the time investment in my overall project, its its really a nit that will pay big dividends. Notice I said time investment not money. Time is more valuable to me than even money. If I decide to do something I want the end result to validate and ultimately worthy of the time investment.

Other thought is to echo another posters comments about buying a Ferrari and only driving it slowly. Yea it is just a vehicle but u are not using it for its designed purpose... good car and driver = superior lap times. Get it?
 
bullseye

bullseye

Member
I respect everyone's views and opinions 30 inches above canopy is what I also read fair enough but if you were using a tent why would you grow your plants taller than 1 metre .
I feel that is way tall enough it all boils down to knowing your plant
As for wind tunnel the heat they give off is not a problem I've tested them in my shop and they run a lot cooler than a conventional 1000 wt lamp ia'm not saying anyone's wrong just it could be done
1.5 x 1.5 x2.0
200mm x600 mm filter
850 m3/h rvk
150 mm intake
I don't think that classified as a wind tunnel or excessive ventilation
So why is that not possible ? I did not say anything about distance from plant just that it could be done in a tent if you know what your doing
 
Hammerhead

Hammerhead

Disabled Farmer
ICMag Donor
Veteran
its the heat these lights put out. they get hotter then SE bulbs do. If you want to use a Gavita in a space that's not what's its intended for your going to have issues. These lights were made for Greenhouses.. Its up to you to make that decision. I'm only giving you the data to use them properly..


IMO there is absolutely no reason to use a DE system in such a small space. Good luck
 
F

farmari

Member
I don't think they put out more heat than other 1000w bulbs. Yes if they're overdriven to 1150w then yes 1150w is 15% more heat than 1000w. Of course versus an air cooled reflector 1000w bulb, the air cooled one is going to be far less problematic in terms of canopy heat. But the Gavita reflectors are very small so IME the heat disperses above the reflector more rapidly and less heat on the canopy than say a 1000w bulb in a Super Sun 2 for example.
 
Hammerhead

Hammerhead

Disabled Farmer
ICMag Donor
Veteran
Acording to the vendor and my temp guage the DE bulbs run hotter then SE bulbs.I can feel the diferance as well.. I have 3 of these lights....
 
bullseye

bullseye

Member
How many growers on Ic mag Are using gavitas in a greenhouse? That may be what they were designed for but not what grow shops are selling them for?
or what growers are using them for ?
:moon:
 
C

Clehmor

New member
I have 2 identical flower rooms, one with 3 1000DE's and one with Lumatek, LArge AAW's and Eye Horti's.

Both rooms cooled with 8" vortex and passive intakes.

I notice 2 differences between the rooms. All strains in the Gavita room finish about a week faster and production is up 10 to 15 %.

The heat is much less of an issue with the gavitas as the small foot print of the reflector allows the circulation fans to do their thing where as the massive AAW's trap the heat and block the airflow.

The Lumi's are almost 2 yrs old now and I can justify replacing them next round :)
 
Scottish Research

Scottish Research

Senior Member
ICMag Donor
Veteran
This is the new way. Thanks to the OP and contributors. I'm getting at least 8 - 1000 watt units, but I'm thinking that it might be better to double up and get 2-600 watt units per spot.

Would I get a better ROI using 2-600 watt units per space? Each run space is approx 5 x 5 in feet. I was told that if the 1000's are overdriven this would work, but would it be better to place 2-600 in the same space?

I've finished my Aeroponic systems; with ph stable nutes, but geared to mimic organic soil grows. The space filled out runs 5 x 5.

Thanks!

Thanks for the advice.
 
Snow Crash

Snow Crash

Active member
Veteran
Scottish Research said:
This is the new way. Thanks to the OP and contributors. I'm getting at least 8 - 1000 watt units, but I'm thinking that it might be better to double up and get 2-600 watt units per spot.

Would I get a better ROI using 2-600 watt units per space? Each run space is approx 5 x 5 in feet. I was told that if the 1000's are overdriven this would work, but would it be better to place 2-600 in the same space?

I've finished my Aeroponic systems; with ph stable nutes, but geared to mimic organic soil grows. The space filled out runs 5 x 5.

Thanks!

Thanks for the advice.
Click to expand...

I think your dilemma is really common actually.

The general rule with these lamps is that you need to be rocking about 1000umol/s per m2. More with CO2 supplementation. Each 1000w lamp is running at about 2000umol/s. The 600w variety is running more like 1200umol, so not really the same efficiency benefit as you get with traditional HID.

My opinion is that you'd be better off cramming in another 1000w lamp for that extra intensity and overlap. With 9x 1000w systems the room gets about 38,000umol/s versus 38,400umol/s with 16x 600w fixtures. ROI is in the 1000w systems I think just looking at the numbers. Especially when it comes time to replace all the bulbs in about 2 years.
 
MPL

MPL

Member
Just got a pair of the 1000e fixtures myself. Last ones available in the area that I know of. Apparently the distributors are out of stock until late September. I got an EL1 to go with them as well. I can't wait to set them up!



jpdnkstr said:
Just grabbed a pro 1000e DE, can't wait to see results!
Click to expand...
 
N

noyd666

picture.php
 
GET MO

GET MO

Registered Med User
Veteran
Good read, this thread has convinced me to go ahead with the gavita. i always run an ac in my room anyway during lights on so that won't be much different. one thing i used to do when i was in a tent was run a fan sucking air out, and then have ducting running from the window ac into the grow tent on the opposite side, just an idea if considering using one of these in a tent.
 
Mad Lab

Mad Lab

Member
Agreed with all who stated Pro series 400v bulb is the highest PAR output available for your money currently.

IF your not running them in a greenhouse or warehouse and you have a 8ft ceiling, here are some tips for utilizing gavitas:

1. Purchase the 1000 DE pro series gavita with the remote ballast.
2. Purchase the Sun System - Agrotech Magnum Double Ended Reflector Hood.
*This will allow for the light to spread out horizontally as opposed to directly below.
3. Make sure to have at least 2 levels of (hortinova plastic)trellis. If you are running a sativa dominate strain that stretches in flower, i would suggest 3 levels of trellis.
*This allows you to weave your branches through the netting and create an even canopy as well as the height you want.

If you are an experienced grower with your strain, enviroment and system dialed in, I would estimate you seeing a 25% increase on your yields as opposed to going the 1000w HPS/ open hood route. Utilizing the 1150w setting on the gavita will obviously increase that percentage.
 
B

bluerock

Member
Bought a 1000w Gavita Digistar ($250), Hydrofarm DE Wing ($75), and Plantmax DE HPS bulb ($52). I also put a 22w fan on top of the ballast as it gets damn hot (135F@1000w) on 120v supply.

Digistar is about an 80k frequency ballast. Used with the DE bulb, it definitely has a higher light output than a non-HF ballast running an SE bulb. From what I understand, the DE bulb not only has superior light maintenance than the SE type, but this feature extends to the 1100w setting...which I intend to use as much as is possible.

Note that the E type Digistar does not apparently have a manually adjustable setting for 750w. The plain vanilla type does have this. 750w dimming is a mandatory option IMO.
 
J

jpdnkstr

Member
I'm back after a year to say that I'm still loving my 1000e DE, running at 875W with 7' ceilings(expanding soon). I can't wait to run more than 1!
 
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