Ballasts with age

[MountainBudz]

I have been considering buying a new ballast but i'm not sure if I really need one or not. I have been using the same Chinese knock off "yield lab" dimmable 1000 watt ballast for about a two years and a few days now.

My question is, do ballasts lose efficiency over time like bulbs do? It does seem to run a little hotter than it used to and ive noticed my yields have dropped a lot in the last year or so.

That could also be due to summer temp fluctuations and last run I had what looked to be broad mites as well.

It has been over 4 months now since my last run so im going to clean well and do some pymethrin sprays and hopefully they will be gone by now.

But as for the ballast, do they just suddenly drop or slowly lose efficiency?

 

[MountainBudz]

Oh, and if you have any recommendations for a good ballast for a decent price, nothing to cheap, please let me know.

I will be starting a grow within a week or so and gotta get this figured out.

 

[MountainBudz]

Any opinions are welcome here. Thanks!

 

[MountainBudz]

I would like to know something even if it is advice thats best to your knowledge.

And if so, I will more than likely purchase one tonight along with my other order, a new bulb and some soil.

 

[Mr.Doe]

I assume that you have a digital ballast since it is dim-able. I am not sure if they lose output with age or not. I run strictly Magnetic ballasts and I have a case of extra capacitors that I bought online. Every year or so I replace the capacitor. It's a cheap insurance policy vs. the loss of production. I read somewhere on here that you can lose 30% or so of output before the eye can tell a difference in brightness. If things don't seem as bright I immediately pull the ballast and replace the capacitor and good as new!

 

[St. Phatty]

Actually, I have about the same question.

Most of my ballasts are about 15 years old. They have all worked fine with the exception of the 1K HPS which needed a cap fix and now needs a cord fix.

Got a -
250 MH
400 MH - just got a new MH bulb from 1000 bulbs but it doesn't work. Old bulb still works.
1000 MH - new bulb is HUGE, won't fit in old reflector.

400 HPS - so far so good, only about 9 years old.
600 HPS - so far so good, only about 9 years old. Bought a new bulb for her, tested it, looks OK.
1000 HPS - back to the North Pole.

 

[MountainBudz]

Still curious about this one. I'm going to be starting my grow soon and would love to know from someone with some expertise or knowledge about this question...

Please keep em coming.

Basically, all I am asking is do digital/dimmable ballast lose efficiency after a couple years use, do they get weaker emitting less or weaker amounts of energy meaning lesser lumens? Come on guys, school the fuck out of me here. Need it.

 

[FunkBomb]

My original Galaxy ballasts still work just fine after all these years. The lamps degrade over time so you just replace them. As for efficiency I don't have any answer for you there. I'm sure they drop some over time, but I haven't noticed any issues.

-Funk

 

[Granger2]

Check Phantom. Good reviews. Greners guy told me they don't get many back on warranty. I've used one for 2 years with no issues. Other good ones out there too. -granger

 

[Boyd Crowder]

man , run them mags till the wheels fall off. then recap - unless they digis, then invest in some mags - user servicable , caps can be lethal but they are infintely more durable and can be taught to safely replace with youtube.

 

[MountainBudz]

Thanks for the advice guys.

I honestly think I will order a new one and keep the one I am using now for a back up in case something goes wrong.

If there is one thing I have learned growing indo, always keep a copy or a backup of everything you have running equipment wise if something goes wrong. The cost greatly increases doing this, but that is better than having to lose your precious girls and starting over again!