Best 1000w Digital Ballast ??

[Guest]

GDW, when you say a "cheap" generator vs. a "good" one...

What components are in the "good" genset that are not included in
"cheap" ones that make the difference? what should I be looking for, besides a big price tag... lol

I'll put together some info you need to know when looking at generator's for constant use for power. I'll post a list tomorrow evening and list what i like to look for in a good generator and why.
Take care,
BG

 

[Guest]

GDW, when you say a "cheap" generator vs. a "good" one...

What components are in the "good" genset that are not included in
"cheap" ones that make the difference? what should I be looking for, besides a big price tag... lol

Hey Neptune,

Sorry, been super busy and not feeling to well. I'll try to answer and give you the information i've found so far.

The problem with these lights is constant voltage. If the generator isn't producing constant and reliable voltage. Then the ballast are either going to trip the breaker inside them or they are going to get cooked. Here is a quote i found at a generator site. "If you are concerned about super stable voltages, keep in mind that the Commercial Electric Power Grid is designed to provide voltage regulated to a tolerance of +/- 10%!" This 10% is where you want to be or less. This is what we know to work with these digital ballast. With a constant generator producing constant stable power. There shouldn't be a issue at all.

Generator Types

There are many types of generator's. Mainly you are going to find two types of RPM models. One that runs at a low RPM "1800 or less" and another that runs at a higher RPM "3600". Of the two RPM types. You want to stay away from the High RPM models. They tend to break to much and don't last as long because of the high RPM of the motor. The lower RPM models, tends to putt around and last almost forever. Hardly any wear what's so ever.

Fuel Types

There are a few different fuel types and of them all. Diesel being the safest and cheapest in my option. Gas, Natural Gas, Propane.

I'll post more later on. That's if you don't mind. I don't want to totally Hi Jack your thread.
Take care,
BG

 

[Neptune]

what's up folks,

I'm back and there is a problem...

I recently fired up the Lumatek 1000w e-ballast, purple
The AM radio band does not work, FM comes in ok.

Also, COMCAST put a filter on my internet line at the street, becuase they were recieving "noise" from my line. I am not saying the Lumatek is the problem, but not 3 days after I fired the Lumatek, they shut down my internet with a "filter" aka, turned me off. I have been without internet for a week while I cleaned up my house so I could call a technician out here.

Something ain't right with the RF on the Lumatek 1kw, that is for fucking sure though. AM radio does not work, period.

The unit works, however. works real gud... as long as I don't get arrested and shit.

 

[Guest]

Hey Neptune,

Thanks for sharing that info with us. Sorry, to hear you are having issues. Man, I hope all works out for you. I've been wondering what the hell in those units are causing that much noise over the band width. Boy, if this is a issues with these new units. That company is going to have a flood of calls for sure. Keep us posted and again. Thanks for sharing this info with us. I'm pulling for you and i hope you get this fixed.
Take care,
BG

 

[clowntown]

Wow, very interesting and thanks for the heads-up Neptune!

Did your Internet connection work inside your house, though? In other words... besides the AM band you didn't notice any interferences, correct?

Also, how did you find out about being "filtered"? Did Comcast contact you, or were you suddenly shut off without notice and found out by calling them? Or did the technician who installed the filter tell you themselves?

What was the distance between your cable connection and the Lumatek? How about distance between AM radio and Lumatek? Did you try longer distances, and get an idea of what the interference radius might be on that band?

I'm assuming you have Comcast turned back on. Was it as simple as calling them and telling them to turn it back on? Did you have to give them any excuse / reason? Did they say anything, or do you think they suspected anything funny?

Would you possibly be interested in perhaps building / testing some sort of housing to keep the interference down? I don't have the slightest clue on where to start, besides perhaps building some sort of enclosure made of whatever material that might help keep the RFI in (copper mesh, high-carbon materials, whatever). But I'm sure there are many places where this type of information can be obtained, including EE-nerd forums not in any way related to growing.

I assume you've shut down the 1000w and back to running the 600w. Do you plan on testing / running the 1000w again in the near future (whether with or without changes)?

 

[Neptune]

Let me just say that I am not sure, at all, that the Lumatek is interfering with comcast's cable lines... or that it is even possible. I do suspect this however... gut feeling I suppose... nothing much more than that.

I am working on getting to the bottom of this.
the lumatek 1kw is still running beautifully.

 

[clowntown]

I apologize for the detailed questions; should have known better, as it's an on-going live situation.

Could you possibly fill us in on all the details, maybe sometime way down the road? If it is indeed the Lumatek, that is. I really can't see what else could have happened, such a big coincidence for such a rare event. Anyways, I'm very curious in knowing what happens behind the scenes in the case of an interference problem, and learning how to handle the situation correctly.

 

[Guest]

I'd sure like to know what's going on. I'm not going to drop allot of money on a bunch of lights and i'm going to be causing any issues. Please, keep us posted and i hope you get to the bottom of this problem. Take care and good luck.
Later,
BG

 

[clowntown]

Here's some info that might be helpful...

No digital ballast is completely RFI/EMI-free, but the Lumateks appear to have the best shielding available. Older digital ballasts (including some of the older model Lumateks) actually interfered with cable, satellite and AM radios. The new Lumateks (1000W included) generate hardly (if any) interference outside of 10’. In fact, the RF interference shouldn’t even be strong enough to pass through a bedroom wall, even at distances under 10’.

How does the RFI on the 1000w/120v compare to the 600w/120v? Are there any proven / tested methods of things the user can do to help decrease the range, that you are aware of? Things like perhaps enclosing the device inside traditional RFI-shielding materials such as copper mesh, for instance. Or are those things effective on the low-power devices such as communication cables and such?

Here is the answer I just received from Lumatek:

Your answer was correct; there will be minimal interference (within 10ft) with the 1000 watt 120v while we currently experience NO detectable interference with the current (blue or purple) 600w 120v. Copper mesh and other traditional shielding methods are not much help as they are used as the customer noted on primarily lower wattage fixtures.

 

[mysticls]

ya i'm curious about the 1k lumateks seems like theres no good options out for 1000W digis and I was really hoping lumatek would come through but it doesn't sound good...

 

[Neptune]

Well, my cable is back on after some bitching with the cable provider. So, the verdict is still out on if it is interfering or not.... so far I'm up and running.

The ballast itself works very well at what it does.




Left side is the 1kw lumatek

 

[SweetIndica2]

Yea, they need to do something to fix the problems digi's have been having. Obviously they will replace magnetics eventually, but for now they don't even seem worth it. I've heard about problems with interfering with other electronics, problems with bulb firing, and have seen alot of people have them break entirely. They atleast need to extend the warranty so people with problems can have them fixed/replaced...but of course they care more about money and purposely give short warranties because they know their products aren't going to last very long. I went with a 1000w Powerhouse ballast for the moment, an 8 year warranty is also alot more comforting.

 

[Vafoor]

Well, my cable is back on after some bitching with the cable provider. So, the verdict is still out on if it is interfering or not.... so far I'm up and running.

The ballast itself works very well at what it does.

Any updates? SWIM is considering the purchase of a few Lumatek 1kw 240v ballasts.

 

[clowntown]

bump...

 

[Vafoor]

So 1000w digital, yay or nay?

 

[clowntown]

Sounds like a yea, judging by Neptune's purchase of a second unit. But I don't know all the details, and I understand RFI is still an issue in close quarters.

 

[THCV]

Sounds like a yea, judging by Neptune's purchase of a second unit. But I don't know all the details, and I understand RFI is still an issue in close quarters.

how do you figure? mag ballast work great, no problems. these ballasts are way more expensive. i would like to hear a few different positive experiences with them before buying, but hmm...silence. sounds like a nay to me.

 

[clowntown]

how do you figure? mag ballast work great, no problems. these ballasts are way more expensive. i would like to hear a few different positive experiences with them before buying, but hmm...silence. sounds like a nay to me.

How did you stumble upon this thread?

There are lots of threads discussing the differences, the pros and cons, the personal feelings, and everything between magnetics and digitals. This isn't one of them.

 

[THCV]

nope. you said "Sounds like a yea, judging by Neptune's purchase of a second unit." That seemed like you were judging by a single person's experience. if that isn't the case, great, say so. yes i have seen the other threads. no i am not sold yet. i suppose you are? clowntown, do you own 1000w digis? or are you just into the idea?

 

[clowntown]

nope. you said "Sounds like a yea, judging by Neptune's purchase of a second unit." That seemed like you were judging by a single person's experience. if that isn't the case, great, say so. yes i have seen the other threads. no i am not sold yet. i suppose you are? clowntown, do you own 1000w digis? or are you just into the idea?

I don't own a 1000w digi, and I am "just into the idea". I think I made that very clear from my first to my very last post in this thread. At no point did I ever try to act as if I owned one, because I don't own one and it's clear that I don't own one. Yes, I'm just judging by this person's experience, and I said exactly that.

Now, what is your problem? I stated that I don't own one, and also that I don't know a lot about them besides through a single user's experience. And you're accusing me of stating things matter-of-factly and speaking as if from experience?

Don't expect another response from me again, on this thread or any other.