Electronic ballast RF interference status

[djay]

New Lumatek's don't really suffer any rf interference they are internally shielded now , i only get a slight rf noise when at the same height as the ballast and it only starts around 2-3 foot near it.

Mine is a 400watt purple version with a Super-lumen switch switch so it pumps out 432watt.

 

[Strawberrycough]

hi all, well im the market for a 600 watt lumatek digi, can some 1 recomend me a respectable site that carrys the new versions of lumatek(purple i believe).

i heard alot of good things and alot of bad things bout lumatek and im going to give them a go.ill be using a super sun 2 hood so will i need anything extra
(cables etc) for sun systems?

btw is this the newset model:http://www.hydrofarm.com/pb_detail.php?itemid=3173#

thanks every 1 for the great info.......

www.greengoldhydro.com

has the purple ballast .....

 

[mikey-GS-]

thanks every body for the information im placing my order this week, looking @
greengoldhydro & gchydro(gchydro is local CA).should be a nice upgrade.

 

[MostHigh]

How many broken lamps is Lumatek responsible for?
Do they still recommend just the one Osram lamp for sake of it being one that can handle being overdriven longer than typical horticulture lamps?
There's a reason why jet fuel will cause an engine to do itself in...same thing applies to lamps and Lumatek ballasts.
Anyone else ever witness Lumateks side-by-side performance comparission against other popular ballasts?
He won't tell you his ballast is overdriving the brighter lamp. And he hopes you don't realize he's put the other ballast someplace warmer than the Lumatek so it's efficiency degrades with each passing hour.

 

[Haps]

Why do you chaps buy these digital units? They are pretty, but with interference and bulb compatability issues, is it not somewhat of a crap shoot to buy this class of product? And what do you percieve as it's advantage? I can not hear my 1K ballasts at all [mag], but I know if I buy a new one it will work. I mean no disrespect, just trying to understand.
H

 

[mikey-GS-]

so does lumatek have compability issues with bulbs? cause i have hortilux and soon a lumatek 600 and i dont bulbs exploding?

 

[clowntown]

Try reading from page #1, and not page #10, and I think you'll have your answer.

 

[OsWiZzLe]

Mannn..I have 4 of the purple Lumatek Ballast...and they give off RFI like biatch...I'm so glad I just replaced my (4) 600's for (2) Sun System Dual 800's....

My Fuzzy Logic PPM meter would do start trippen out every time the lights came on....a few Hannas and 1 Milwaukee PH meter....what the final straw was for me after ****ing up all my harvest was when I bought the Bluelab Combo Meter...I calibrated it upstairs from my grow room....the second I took it in the room it started going Berzerkkk!!...I dashed out the room....yanked out the ballast..and the meter was fine.....
Adios LumaSest

 

[mikey-GS-]

hi all, im kinda confused bout this lumatek ballast thingy here, says here i need a
socket cord of sunlight supply, but it says something bout wiring?

do i have to wire anything when i get this? i have a super sun 2 hood and im wondering what i have to do when i recieve this package.what cord should i be getting??

here check it out-
http://www.gchydro.com/Lumatek+Electronic+Ballasts.html

si im getting the 600w 120v ,no the cord thing throws me off?i have sunlight supply so im guessing thats the 1?also whats does this mean?
-Sunlight Supply Socket with HF Plug Adapter ?-whats HF- ?

also here it tells me i need a hydrofarm socket??so now im confused?
http://www.greengoldhydro.com/produ...last-600w&cName=lighting-accessories-ballasts

***IMPORTANT- ALL LUMATEK BALLASTS NOW REQUIRE A HYDROFARM LAMP CORD ADAPTOR TO CONNECT BALLASTS TO LIGHT SOCKETS. HYDROFARM LAMP CORDS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE LIGHTING - ACCESSORIES CATEGORY***

if any can help here id greatly appreciate it,im in the mist of ordering right now and was boggled by this....

thanks everybody.............

 

[NOKUY]

my hydrofarm hood hooked right up to my purple lumatek ballast....no mods needed.

hope that helps

 

[mikey-GS-]

thx for the info NOKUY, im looking into ordering as we speak. i haves a super sun 2 so i guess i need the -Sunlight Supply Socket with HF Plug Adapter-

well i hope all goes well................peace yall

 

[cesartime]

you need to purchase the hydrofarm cord adapter if you dont already own one because, out of the ballast comes a plug that only corresponds to a "hydrofarm cord set". It doesnt come with a cord that goes all the way from the ballast to the socket like most other digi's do.

Secondly, Do not use eye hort bulbs in lumatek ballasts. I run 240v 600w purple lumatek ballasts, and when running an eye hort bulb the bulb flickers something crazy, and occasionally will not light. Lumatek reccomends sylvania gro-lux bulbs. they will sell you the bulbs directly from them for a cheaper price if you call them and inform them that your ballast is blowing other brand bulbs.

I called lumatek when my ballast blew a brand new bulb, and the instructions given to me by tech support @ lumatek were to use the sylvania bulb because "your high performance ballast is too much for lower quality bulbs like eye horts." Anyhoo, I replaced the bulb and now am running smoothly.

 

[NOKUY]

Secondly, Do not use eye hort bulbs in lumatek ballasts. I run 240v 600w purple lumatek ballasts, and when running an eye hort bulb the bulb flickers something crazy, and occasionally will not light. Lumatek reccomends sylvania gro-lux bulbs. they will sell you the bulbs directly from them for a cheaper price if you call them and inform them that your ballast is blowing other brand bulbs.

I called lumatek when my ballast blew a brand new bulb, and the instructions given to me by tech support @ lumatek were to use the sylvania bulb because "your high performance ballast is too much for lower quality bulbs like eye horts." Anyhoo, I replaced the bulb and now am running smoothly.

that is sound advice from what I was initially told also.

but i've run the eye horti from day 1 and no probs.

the lumatek digi ballast does push the bulb to its max, but like i said mine hasnt failed.

 

[Guest]

Try reading from page #1, and not page #10, and I think you'll have your answer.

Bingo. (this is kinderfeld btw )

My lumetek has lasted me almost 2 years...still using same MH bulb and still using my Hortilux. Still runs warm to the touch and makes absolutely no noise whatsoever. Above all there is no RF issues at all, period. I have the metallic blue one too...I know poeple are having problems but growing in an apartment lumatek has made my life so much better, and it has already paid for itself, that is why I use it. Now if I had a house/building to grow out of the benefits probably wouldn't be as worth it. For all those having problems why don't you take advantage of that 5 year warranty?

 

[mikey-GS-]

just made the purchase for Lumatek Electronic Ballasts
600 watt / 120 volt
Sunlight Supply Socket with HF Plug Adapter

price $255 total-

from gchydro, they said they had the newest model in stock which was 2 models newer then the silver model? is this correct.............and should it be purple or blue? if its not the newest model its going back!

 

[Krakatoa]

I can say for sure that the IceCap 175w Metal Halide ballast causes MAJOR interference on the AM radio band.

Even across the room, AM reception is wiped out by the IceCap. It's a ballast mostly used in the aquarium business, but my plants loved that blue light. Unfortunately, Art Bell HATED it, because I couldn't tune in his radio show at night any more.

I replaced it with a Galaxy 250w, and it causes zero radio interference.

 

[mikey-GS-]

alright just got my 600 w lumatek digiTAL ballast (new model 6120)purple
im stoked!!......i shall report here shortly with my results on rf interference.

cant wait.................

 

[Guest]

So, I have a question. What the heck kind of bulbs are you all using? They must be something I have never seen. All of the standard halide and overpriced Horticrappers, Solarnothings and such suck ____ for plant growth compared to the CMH bulbs out there. So ya'll are straining and stressing over blue ballasts, purple ballasts and RFI, EMI interfearance for what/why? I do not get it!!!! Makes me laugh!

Maybe you should get the G.E. Ultramax digital CMH ballasts and go CMH. G.E. wouldn't sell you a ballast that causes RFI, EMI as they are used in business applications where that is without a doubt a sale killer. How about the good old core and coil and a CMH that actually supports correct and healthy plant growth?

 

[Guest]

So, I have a question. What the heck kind of bulbs are you all using? They must be something I have never seen. All of the standard halide and overpriced Horticrappers, Solarnothings and such suck ____ for plant growth compared to the CMH bulbs out there. So ya'll are straining and stressing over blue ballasts, purple ballasts and RFI, EMI interfearance for what/why? I do not get it!!!! Makes me laugh!

Maybe you should get the G.E. Ultramax digital CMH ballasts and go CMH. G.E. wouldn't sell you a ballast that causes RFI, EMI as they are used in business applications where that is without a doubt a sale killer. How about the good old core and coil and a CMH that actually supports correct and healthy plant growth?

ummm.... this is a thread on digital ballast thats why

 

[Guest]

Oh come on, I'm just poking around having a little fun. Not trying to start a pissing match. I once was fooled in to using the standard/horti HPS/Halide bulbs.

There was a little truth to my post though. THe bulbs that the electronic ( yes I have one!) ballasts can run are complete crap for plant growth IMHO compared to the ceramic metal halides. I do use a 150/175w ARO electronic ballast to run a high quality (LOL) halide for my smallest veg/clone cabinet. That is the cabinet where I want things in stasus. You know, waiting for the real growth bulbs in the true veg cab and the flower cab. The halide is big for the space and still just keeps them green and kind of growing. Good little ballast though and to contribute to this thread I must report NO interfearance with cell, AM/FM, 5.8ghz cordless phone or anything for that matter. I am going to get the 250w to run a very high UV output 10k HQI (double ended halide) in the last 7-14days flower. I think that is all that electronic ballasts are good for. The 250w is $99.00 or so at Hellolights.com