Do flip flops work with digital ballasts?

[pumpkin2006]

LoL, thrid flip flop thread at the top here... but nobodies talking about it, so....

I've read around, a couple people saying that digital ballasts don't work with flip flops. I mean when I unplug my ballast and the bulb is still hot, then try and plug it back in, it wont fire the bulb until it has cooled down.

My ballasts are Nurtilife 1000w digital's.

Thanks for anyones experience/comments/suggestions.

 

[HappyHemphog]

LoL, thrid flip flop thread at the top here... but nobodies talking about it, so....

I've read around, a couple people saying that digital ballasts don't work with flip flops. I mean when I unplug my ballast and the bulb is still hot, then try and plug it back in, it wont fire the bulb until it has cooled down.

My ballasts are Nurtilife 1000w digital's.

Thanks for anyones experience/comments/suggestions.

I can't think of a reason why they wouldn't work.

The fact that you can't refire a bulb that was just turned off has nothing to do with this as your not turning them on and off in a short cycle, it's 12 hours between flips.

Also, I find it odd you can't refire right away. My 600w digi's fire right back up when I get a power pop.

 

[manitu]

If I got this right, the problem is not that it wont work, but that the digital ballasts draws much more current when you use a flip-flop (hot start), opposed to unplugging and replugging the ballasts (soft-start).
So you would need bigger relays.

Oh.. by the way, I'm talking about hot-start of the ballast, not the bulb, wich has been cold for 12hrs.

(Ithink flip-flop boxes are pointless for less than 6 lamps, use a motor contactor instead)
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showpost.php?p=1150027&postcount=146

.manitu

 

[DB2004]

Only way to make sure digital ballasts work with a flip, is to power the ballasts off and on before and after the lights flip. Turn the ballasts off, then flip, and turn back on.

Best Regards

DB2004

 

[pumpkin2006]

Only way to make sure digital ballasts work with a flip, is to power the ballasts off and on before and after the lights flip. Turn the ballasts off, then flip, and turn back on.

Best Regards

DB2004

How do I make sure of that? See this was what I was talking about.

 

[manitu]

Timer no.1 turns off the ballast at 06:00
Timer no.2 flips the flop on at 06:03
Timer no.1 turns on the ballast at 06:05

wait 12 hrs.

Timer no1. turns off the ballast at 18:00 (or 06:00pm)
Timer no.2 flips the flop off at 18:03
Timer no.1 turns the ballast on at 18:05
Goto start.

just plug the ballast into timer 1, and the control-input of the flip-flop switch into timer 2

.manitu

 

[pumpkin2006]

Timer no.1 turns off the ballast at 06:00
Timer no.2 flips the flop on at 06:03
Timer no.1 turns on the ballast at 06:05

wait 12 hrs.

Timer no1. turns off the ballast at 18:00 (or 06:00pm)
Timer no.2 flips the flop off at 18:03
Timer no.1 turns the ballast on at 18:05
Goto start.

just plug the ballast into timer 1, and the control-input of the flip-flop switch into timer 2

.manitu

Thx, hope this will work with a hot tub timer...

 

[Betty's Boy]

O.K you 've got my curiosity up, wtf is a flip flop...I've been an electrician for 12 year's now and never heard of such a thing by that name...? Is this a european term..? scratch'n my head over this one..!

 

[manitu]

O.K you 've got my curiosity up, wtf is a flip flop...I've been an electrician for 12 year's now and never heard of such a thing by that name...? Is this a european term..? scratch'n my head over this one..!

A "flip-flop box" is a box, with several relays, controlled by the same timer. It is used to send the current from the ballasts to one flowering room for 12hrs, then switch rooms, and light up another room for the next 12 hrs, using the same ballasts.

.manitu

 

[Guest]

I use one. I was told by the seller, DO NOT USE WITH DIGITAL BALLASTS. They don't work right. They need a cool off period between the flip. Whereas the old-style ones don't.

Honestly, even with the old style ballasts they can be touchy.

 

[DB2004]

Thx, hope this will work with a hot tub timer...

Only use a digital timer with a Flip for digital ballasts. The ballasts are plugged into a loadcenter or timer that powers the digital ballasts. The Flip must also have a digital timer. This way, the on and off powering of the digital ballasts, can be set with the Flip timer to ensure exact on/off cycles of the Flip and Ballast Timer. I build all my Flips with digital AUBE T1033 timers, they're awesome, never fail. The attached pic is of an 8 ballast flip with Sunlight Supply digital 1000W ballasts. There are two timers in the front. The ballasts plug into the bottom, 240V plugs. It also has a 50A plug and about 15 foot cord. Just plugs into a range outlet.

Best Regards

DB

 

[Guest]

If you ever have the time, a tutorial on building these would be GREATLY appreciated!

Only use a digital timer with a Flip for digital ballasts. The ballasts are plugged into a loadcenter or timer that powers the digital ballasts. The Flip must also have a digital timer. This way, the on and off powering of the digital ballasts, can be set with the Flip timer to ensure exact on/off cycles of the Flip and Ballast Timer. I build all my Flips with digital AUBE T1033 timers, they're awesome, never fail. The attached pic is of an 8 ballast flip with Sunlight Supply digital 1000W ballasts. There are two timers in the front. The ballasts plug into the bottom, 240V plugs. It also has a 50A plug and about 15 foot cord. Just plugs into a range outlet.

Best Regards

DB

 

[RamCTD1027]

strainwhore-

A tutorial on building those would be great for everyone, except DB, since he does making a living building them.

DB-

Can you post your email address for people interested in having you build something? I, for one, am interested in having you build something for me. Thanks.



RamCTD

 

[Guest]

I understand and sympathize. Lots of people post "how to's" on growing, but that's how I make my living...



DB - I understand if you can't do a tutorial. The info you posted is helpful enough!

strainwhore-

A tutorial on building those would be great for everyone, except DB, since he does making a living building them.

DB-

Can you post your email address for people interested in having you build something? I, for one, am interested in having you build something for me. Thanks.



RamCTD

 

[DB2004]

These are beyond a tutorial. Double digit manhours are spent building some units. If you have an electrical background, then assembling one would be basic, it's just time consuming. My email is [email protected]

Best Regards

DB