future brite crap?

[lemonblazer]

Hello all,

I've been looking around for the best digital 1000 watt ballast. I settled on futurebrite but then I heard a few people say they are crap. What do you guys think about future brite.....and what other digital 1000 watt ballast do you suggest?

Part 2:
I know a 1000 watt ballast pulls 10 amps. But someone said a 1000watt digital ballast pulls four amps? This doesn't seem possible but hey I'm no electrician so what do you guys think?

Thanks in advance guys!
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[MMZRetro85]

honestly man digital ballast i believe are just to new, i meen you have a couple different brands that many grow shops carry lumitek, future brite, sunny. hydrofarm is about to release their line of digital ballasts, but i think they need to revise them or something cause besides the whole burning mh and hps thats about it, yea they run cooler, but 7 out of 10 that are sold i would say end up not working properly, well with the 1000's atleast i know of, not so much the 600's, i think they should concentrate on bringing out a successful 600 mh
just my 2 cents

ps. future-brites 1000 does say on it 9.6 amps off of a 240, i dont think they make a 120v 1000 digital by future, i might be wrong tho

 

[MMZRetro85]

oops nope i'm sorry its 9.6 off a 120 1000 future brite, 4.8 amps off a 240volt
sorry for the quick miss information

 

[Guest]

You almost saved me having to post (regarding amp draw). I'd NEVER buy new technology until they work the bugs out or were at least close. 1000 watt digitals are pretty new and would not touch them with a 10' pole...even from Lumatek and I've got a few Lumatek 600's going. However...if anybody would have their shit together it would be Lumatek.

 

[jcsmooth]

After much searching and help from my fellow board members I decided on a 400 watt Lumatek (the newer blue model). It's currently still in the mail, but I feel confident that it will work the way it has been advertised.
With a three year replacement warranty I don't really see what I'd have to be worried about anyways. When you factor in the benefits of using a digital ballast compared to a standard core and coil, I can easily see it paying for itself over the course of three years.

Less power usage, soft-start (Saves life on bulbs), brighter (more lumen output), and runs cooler (less heat control needed).

I share your worry with the new and relatively unproven, but purchasing your equipment through a reputable manufacturer who offers you a great warranty should help to make the decision easier.
Hopefully others will chime in on their experience with 1000 watt bulbs. If all else fails, maybe two 600's could work for you?

Good luck,
JC

 

[Guest]

600 watt Lumatek digitals are the best on the market at this point IMHO...they're proven in my book at this point...1000's are somewhat of a gamble...400's are weak. I don't think you can go wrong with a Lumatek 600 watt with the right bulb. I put my money where my mouth is and my money is providing a great return...not in the max yield department but superior meds...heh heh...have fun y'all .

 

[jcsmooth]

400's are weak? How so?


JC

 

[MTF-Sandman]

I can easily see it paying for itself over the course of three years.

Less power usage, soft-start (Saves life on bulbs), brighter (more lumen output), and runs cooler (less heat control needed).

Don't believe all that hype about lower power consumption and higher output...I've seen comparisons of them against standard core/coil ballasts and they use almost the exact same amount of power and produce the same amount of light at best...sometimes as much as 10-15% less depending on manufacturer.

The ballasts are very cool to the touch tho and silent...those are about the only real benefits I've seen from them. Maybe in the future they'll figure out the multiple lamps from a single ballast thing that is rumored to be a possibility since the output is such a high frequency - I won't be buying one anytime in the near future unless they get that figured out...or actually lower the power consumption or raise the light output.

 

[jcsmooth]

I'd love to see those comparison values.

Lumen output, power usage (there's some neat, somewhat cheap, home lcd screen power usage monitors out now), etc.. I suppose I just take people's reviews for face value when they explain how bright their new ballast and bulb's are when compared to their old ones.

I'm not saying companies never make things up, but I'd like to think that there's some merit (And future) behind this new wave of growing technology.

JC

 

[MMZRetro85]

you know how good can it get, i'm still waiitng for someone to post some sort of growroom with fiberoptics, then ask them how much they spent

 

[Guest]

1000watts is a 1000watts, regardless of what type of ballast it is.

 

[Pinner]

I agree with Redux about new technology and waiting for the bugs to be worked out but.... I have just purchased 2 x 1000W MH and 2 x 1000W HPS E-Ballasts. I got a deal on them that I could not pass up. Basically 2 for one with the same warranty as Lumatek.

I know the manufacturer personally that makes these E-Ballasts and they say with a lot of confidence that theirs are superior to Lumateks. They can say anything they want of course the proof will be in the pudding. This company just became a company actually in the last couple years. Before that they were a research facility working with the government and universities here developing this kind of technology.

These E-Ballasts are available in the states (sortof) but most likely none of you have ever seen them. They are sold to commercial greenhouses but in low numbers so far as they need to wok on their marketing. This company will be making its debut in New York this May at some Electronics Fair. I will get you all more info later on that.

I too was going to go with Lumateks 600W as I also know the actual manufacturer for these as well. However, this other company sold me. I will write more about them when I set up (won't be for another month and a half yet though).

 

[Pinner]

I agree with Redux about new technology and waiting for the bugs to be worked out but.... I have just purchased 2 x 1000W MH and 2 x 1000W HPS E-Ballasts. I got a deal on them that I could not pass up. Basically 2 for one with the same warranty as Lumatek.

I know the manufacturer personally that makes these E-Ballasts and they say with a lot of confidence that theirs are superior to Lumateks and all others currently available. They can say anything they want of course the proof will be in the pudding. This company just became a company actually in the last couple years. Before that they were a research facility working with the government and universities here developing this kind of technology.

These E-Ballasts are available in the states (sortof) but most likely none of you have ever seen them as they are not branded. They are sold to commercial greenhouses but in low numbers so far as they need to work on their marketing. This company will be making its debut in New York this May at some Electronics Fair. I will get you all more info later on that.

I too was going to go with Lumateks 600W. However, this other company sold me. I will write more about them when I set up.

I hope these things work as good as they say!

 

[simba]

FB ya i agree with the thread title....


most elec ballasts 600 and above have some issues.. on 120v

if your going to get a 600 or higher you really should run a 220volt one..

its less strain on the ballast when you have a BROWN OUT..
thats what hurts and shortens the ballast life..

when they run off 220 they can pull from another leg when one dips....

i can explain more.. if needed...

but in the end NO to FB...

what E ballast provide is clean power to the bulb.. = longer life and Solid output..

as far as energy saving phh.. thats at the bottom of the list...

like you will see your light dim sometimes on a reg ballast.. it wont with an E wich allows it to hold its lumen longer without droping as fast.....

in the end if you need something reliable. and dont have a backup Ballast DONT get a Digi.. if it fails your SOL until your store or MFR fixes it..

if you notice your lights dim allot at your grow house.. when your AC or microwave kicks on you should not use them..
(older places NO.. newer buildings and houses have more power coming in so it all strains less)

in short if you realy want your E ballast to last.. get a UPS.. like they have for a computer..but one big enough..)

i have tried a few brands and i dont recommend them yet.. (unless you have CLEAN power)

 

[BlueBear]

I have a future Bright and have been running it for approx 8 months and have had no issues and my friend worked at the local store for a couple years up untill a month ago and never had any complaints. I have it in the same room as a magnetic 1K as well and for the most part the only differences I notice are the noise which in it self is nice not to have the buzzing as if your standing next to a street light, and of coarse the heat.
I am ordering a digi Lumatek 600 for the sprring, 2 to be sure in order to deal with the summer heat better and I will probably change out my 400 MH magnetic in the veg cab for a digi 400 as well.
Adieu

 

[Guest]

400's are weak? How so?


JC

I should have been more detailed in the response. Obviously 400's can't compare with 600's and are not even close to a 1000 regarding lumen output and coverage area is also less. I used to use 1000's and loved the intensity but have since gone to 600's and like them much better.

I replaced my coil ballasts and results are definitely positive. that's just my experience. I don't necessarily recommend people tear out perfectly good coil ballasts but when it comes time to replace or add new equipment they should seriously look at digitals.

My equipment runs on 240 V and there's never been a problem with brownouts. It appears Lumatek has worked most of the bugs out. Since most people use 120 V equipment most of the problems seemed to be with the 120's but that's just speculation. I don't see people having problems with the ballasts like they used to.

 

[BlueBear]

I called the shop where I picked up my FB 1K because I did not have the box I asked the amperage that it takes to run and the lady told me that the box said 6 amps. I know that it was said that it ran 9 amps earlier, but this is just what she told me. I do know this, I have the FB 1K, a coil 400WMH, 172 CFM Vortex, 10 in Honeywell fan, small air pump and PC with a surround sound amp and speakers all on one 15 amp breaker and do not have any problems, oh yeah the living room TV and cable as well.
Adieu

 

[BlueBear]

Oh yeh I also have 5 23W CFL's on the same line.
Wrisky maybe.
Adieu

 

[newbieb]

blue bear you have'nt seen any diferences in potency or resin ot put? and you're saying it doesn't disturb anything electrical not even the slightest bit?