DIGITAL OR NOT DIGITAL, THAT IS THE QUESTION....

[d4twamp]

Calling all digital HPS Ballast owners...I created this thread to find info about digital ballasts...I've got some peeps telling me it's the best shit since sliced pot brownies, and others saying they burn up bulbs and are a waste of $...

I'd like to hear from YOU out there....YOU, that have ran digi's and the Old school ballasts, and have the experience to share....

Anybody feel free to chime in, your thoughts and comments are both welcome and appreciated....

later, D

 

[Pinball Wizard]

....in my opinion

....in my opinion

The digital ballasts seem to be getter better, more reliable, now. It still seems the selection of the bulb is the critical factor. Some digital ballasts and some bulbs are just not compatible.

I use magnetic ballasts because their UL rated and made in the U.S.A.

I sleep better at night...knowing that....

 

[d4twamp]

How compatable are the Hortilux eye w/ digi's....

 

[Pinball Wizard]

There's hundreds of threads like this one....http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=110465

Bottomline: Have spare bulbs...is the only consensus.

 

[ChaosCatalunya]

Several friends as well as myself have switched over to Lumatek [purple] Digis and are all very happy, slightly more light overall, instantly on full power unlike trad ballasts, using slightly less electricity and they make the bulbs last a lot longer [do the maths, it is worth an efficient cash cropper changing bulbs every crop....]

Lots more money but well worth it, IMO.

 

[cannable]

digi's are sweet, for sure. a lot less heat..

 

[d4twamp]

Thanx for all the info guys...

 

[oldschool55]

using digital 600 ballast with sunmaster 600 w MH and 600w HPS, first harvest was great. I like the quiet factor due to security reasons, instant on, however cannot answer as to long term bulb wear and tear at this point in time, nor have I used the traditional magnetic ballast.

 

[McChris421]

has anyone had any problems with interference due to them not being rf shielded? this was a big concern of mine but i had trouble finding any information about it.

thanks
-McChris-

 

[Pharma Geddon]

Resin sealed magnetic ballasts are completely silent if noise is a factor, can't hear a thing from mine.

Will using a magnetic ballast stop you getting a harvest of 1 gram per watt or more? No.

Will buying a smaller extractor fan than you need and/or skimping on other grow room kit so you can spend extra on a digi ballast stop you getting a harvest of 1 gram per watt or more? Probably.

 

[B00st3d]

When Im in my driveway my car stereo sounds all scrambled from all the digi's Im runnin, so yes there is interference. If your neighbors are close by then you might wanna reconsider.I been using galaxy ballasts for maybe a year and a half and love them, however my 400 watt galaxy just started crappin out on me and I had it less then a year. My other galaxies are all 600's, five of them and I had them longer then I had the 400 and they are all still perfectly fine. Just make sure if you get digi's that you DO NOT buy future brites, I had three 600's and 2 crapped out on me within 6 months maybe. The power consumption difference isnt enough to notice on your power bill unless you're runnin 8-10 lights at least. Its only half an amp per light usually. They are quiet tho and generate a little less heat but not much.

 

[NorCalFor20]

i would go with a top notch magnetic ballast, if ballast noise is a concern wait until you plug in a fan....

also my ballast is pretty much silent unless you get real close to it you hear a slight buzz noise but my computer fan drowns it out...

digital ballast as everyone has said are fucking up bulbs and crapping out, and i would like to add digital ballasts are NOT UL listed so you do the math...

I have been using mag's and I won't use digis until they are UL listed and are TRUELY digital.

 

[mixin]

i just bought a 250 watt / 240 volt lumatek. they say the 240 volt is much more effecient. i am going to be using this great DIY cooltube with ithttp://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=62161

 

[kp^]

I've had a 400w 120v switchable ballast by xtrasun.. it hasent failed me yet.. New bulbs every so often... I've done a dozen grows in it, and various locations and have done very well.. I'd say it's around 5yrs old.

I'm looking into more watts for a new grow, and was looking into the lumateks, and the galaxy, and other brands of digi ballasts good info ppl!

 

[gimme shelter]

I was told when I bought my Lumatek Ballast that the hortilux eye was not compatible. I have used mine for over a year with a different blub and have had no problems. The store should be able to tell you what type of blub you need. I recently bought a second digital ballast from Quantum that will run the Hortilux. Hope this helps. The point made that the digitial ballasts not being UL listed has given me pause.

 

[gimme shelter]

:kitty:

I was told when I bought my Lumatek Ballast that the hortilux eye was not compatible. I have used mine for over a year with a different blub and have had no problems. The store should be able to tell you what type of blub you need. I recently bought a second digital ballast from Quantum that will run the Hortilux. Hope this helps. The point made that the digitial ballasts not being UL listed has given me pause.

 

[itsjustaride]

been running lumatek with horliux, i guess i didnt get the memo, i bet if you acually tried it it would work but i know those bulbs are expencive. i have a friend who just got a quantum its pretty nice, i especially like the paint job.

 

[moses224]

quantum 600 can be adjusted 250w 400w and 600w for smaller grows i use 600. it also comes with one twenty and two forty plugs and lights mh and hps

 

[dongle69]

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

 

[Bozo]

Perhaps that lose is due to the fact that they overdrive the bulb?I own both and stilll cant decide which I like better .I dont belive in fancy bulbs I belive replacing your bulbs often is more important.