Digital or regular ballasts?

[Migwelder]

Well i have a large(ish) tick style grow cab in the works right now and im wondering if i should go digital or just buy regular ballasts?

Cab will be running 2-1000 watters, cooltubes, carbon filter ect.

Cab will also be in my bedroom so ballast noise is a lil bit of a concern, but not really.

Cab is split into 2 flower chambers so when 1 light shuts of 12/12 the other one starts up 12/12.

Digitals look sexy, but i've never used em before just the regular analog i guess u call it.

Thanks for input.

 

[Pandemic]

I will not buy a digital ballast until they stop making the C&C ones. I am very happy with my 1K SS10's, I also have a few of the newer Harvest Pro Elites.

The fan for my carbon filter always drowns out the humm of the ballast. I sleep feet away from two and never hear them, it's the 4" and 6" that lull me to sleep.

Also digital ballast are not user serviceable. I have an extra capacitor and transformer on hand. If my ballast takes a shit on me I have what I need to get them back up and running within 20 minutes. Day or night. 80% of the time it will be the capacitor (maybe more).

My heavy old ballast will ignite every bulb out there. Cheap ones all the way up to Eye's and the dual spectrum bulbs. I read all the time about the more expensive ballast not being able to ignite the better bulbs.

Just read back a few pages. Many post concerning problems with digital ballast. Almost nothing ever on the older style.

What further convinces me is that while at the hydro store I have seen distressed people come in with their ballast and a bulb to "show" the hydro store owner what it is doing, usually I hear of flickering.

I have never seen anyone walk in with a 1K core and coil ballast, they only walk out with them. Usually with a plan and a smile.

Spend that money in a better direction.

 

[BigWillyDee]

digis are silent and warm to the touch while running.. if you can afford them get them but as far as effectiveness i don't think it matters....well maybe they are a tiny bit more efficient..

i also want to mention that mine (galaxys) will work ignite MH and HPS and wil also run on 120/240v

 

[Bozo]

I have both and I will tell ya on days my old SS 9 1000 watt switchable isnt humming like a 400 lb hornet I love it .And then theres the 1000 watt lumtec new purple ones the one that wiped out wireless mouse signal in the next room and AM/FM signal as well ....No RF my ass least in the 1000 watt lumatec .In the digital defense it is silent every night and does not effect my digital co2 controller .Its a good thing too or it was going in a storage bin
Lotta help I am I still cant decide if i like the new digitals yet .If RF (radio interference) will be a problem I would go with old style

 

[yamaha_1fan]

Do yourself a favor and get the old magnetic core style.

I have seen way too many posts here about this bulb wont fire with this ballast, etc, my ballast doesnt work etc

Get a ballast kit (transformer, cap and ignitor) and mount them on a rubber pad to prevent noise. I am pretty sure most of the noise comes from the core vibrating against the metal box. Whenever one of my ballasts gets real loud, I just tighten up the screws holding it to the board.

 

[Snagglepuss]

If you really like electronics shit ,youll like the digitals.After comparing the 2 ,the convience factors totally sold me on them.They are so light and quiet.i would still go right out and buy another one if this one died today.

They may not be as reliable ,but there;s something about having the lastest technology that sells me on them.I look at my mags ,kinda like boat anchors now.
I think the digitals push the bulb to the maximumm continuously.I was on the fence about buying one .But when i finally had it in my hand ,thats when i knew it was for me.

On the other hand ,mag ballast can be had "Super" cheap .Now that all these digi's are out.To each his own i guess.

 

[swampdank]

C.A.P. Extreme.

Lifetime Warranty and NO noise.

I have one of these and a sun system. The sunsystem is loud as hell, but the C.A.P. is quiet as a mouse. I would even have posted this if I wasnt still in shock about how quiet they can get those mag ballasts now.

Digi hasnt come far enough along yet. With no hydro shop near, I cant afford to have a ballast go out on me.

I would say stick with mags for another few years.

Just my two cents.

 

[Haps]

Magnetics work, period. You could give me a digital, but it would have to be free.
H

 

[Migwelder]

Cool will stick with c/c then.

Thanks a bunch folks.