Rellikbuzz
Active member
More info on electronic ballasts
More info on electronic ballasts
For us growers electronic/digital ballasts seem to be quite new. However, they have been used for years in aquarium and commercial lighting and are readily available through good commercial lighting stores. Their advantages are purportedly that they are much cooler, aren't as noisy becuase they run at a much higher Hz which is apparently quiter and they are much lighter as they don't have as much in them.
Like some posts have already noted, the hydro shops here in Texas have had major problems with them breaking down. In fact, Texas Hydroponics has over 60 of them in their backroom that have been returned faulty (and that is just at this one location!). Having said all that, I discussed these ballasts with some VERY informed people at A to T Lamps in Lewisville, TX. They are a major commercial lighting supplier that also carries HID lighting setups. By the way, they have the best prices I have found anywhere on the net for HID's and they aren't a hydro shop, so scrutiny from John Q. Law should be quite a bit less. Anyway, they informed me about these ballasts being used for years in aquarium lighting with great results! They claim that they haven't had the problems with them that the hydro shops report. They beauty of dealing with these guys is that they can put together any combination of ballast/reflector/bulb that you could possibly ask for and their prices are very, very competitive.
They do most of their business on Ebay and over the net at their website (which is atotlamps.com). They have an 800 number listed there and are very friendly to talk to on the phone. You guys might want to check them out. Just a tip!
More info on electronic ballasts
For us growers electronic/digital ballasts seem to be quite new. However, they have been used for years in aquarium and commercial lighting and are readily available through good commercial lighting stores. Their advantages are purportedly that they are much cooler, aren't as noisy becuase they run at a much higher Hz which is apparently quiter and they are much lighter as they don't have as much in them.
Like some posts have already noted, the hydro shops here in Texas have had major problems with them breaking down. In fact, Texas Hydroponics has over 60 of them in their backroom that have been returned faulty (and that is just at this one location!). Having said all that, I discussed these ballasts with some VERY informed people at A to T Lamps in Lewisville, TX. They are a major commercial lighting supplier that also carries HID lighting setups. By the way, they have the best prices I have found anywhere on the net for HID's and they aren't a hydro shop, so scrutiny from John Q. Law should be quite a bit less. Anyway, they informed me about these ballasts being used for years in aquarium lighting with great results! They claim that they haven't had the problems with them that the hydro shops report. They beauty of dealing with these guys is that they can put together any combination of ballast/reflector/bulb that you could possibly ask for and their prices are very, very competitive.
They do most of their business on Ebay and over the net at their website (which is atotlamps.com). They have an 800 number listed there and are very friendly to talk to on the phone. You guys might want to check them out. Just a tip!
