HPS ballast brand importance/preference?

[curiousmycoguy]

I'm looking at something in the 400-600w range, but I'm wondering if adjustable ballasts are worth looking into? I'd like to be able to run at less watts in the summer to cut down on cooling costs without having to buy a separate bulb/ballast

 

[StickyHands]

hi m8

bought myself a 400W digital dimmable lumatek ballast about 15 days ago.

I love it, it runs silent, and cool to touch, so can even be placed in your growroom without increasing temps much at all.
Also mine can turn down to 250W,
Im using the 250w setting until after summer, which all going well, ill try the 400W setting after upgrading ventillation etc.

Definately one of my better buys!
hope that helps mate.

 

[rocketman420]

i would go with a 600 that is dimable. i use my dimmer all the time, only in veg and frst of flower. with only 200 more watts you get double the light in turn bigger buds. brand wise i am using ipower off ebay and i love them. they are all made in china. if its heat your worried about use led, you wont get the yeild the hid lights give you. if you have the money look into gavita, they are brighter than hid and run half as hot, i think they are around $600 but they dim too. whatever you do you will have to run carbon fiilter and fans anyways, so hook a cool tube or hood up with a huge fan and speen controler and suck that heat out. i unhooked my ac vent comin into my room and ran my heat exhaust under the house and i have a window unit keepin my room at 70 and my tent temps are never about 78 and thats with 2k in a 4x8.

 

[rocketman420]

never above 78

 

[Snook]

solistec 1000w dimmable.. 400w>600w>1000w>1000w boost(dono what it does). if you can lower your temps, one day you'll want the 1K. and you wont have, although a backup IS requred, that 400w or 600w ballast lying around.

 

[anon0988]

I've got an iPower setup from Amazon.com, they make good bundles with everything included and it usually beats other setups on price. As far as I can tell, the iPower and Lumatek appear to be made by the same company in China, just rebranded for different companies to sell. Unless I have anyone tell something that changes my views, my next setup will be 1 or 2 1kw iPower setups.

 

[Hydro-Soil]

As far as I can tell, the iPower and Lumatek appear to be made by the same company in China, just rebranded for different companies to sell.

Careful...

Having worked in manufacturing I can tell you there can be significant differences in products built in the same factory.

Very few instances where the product is simply the same thing with a different name. Usually there are differences in the parts that are assembled on the line for each named product. Cheaper/Stronger/Different... so you can't just say "it's the same product 'cause it's made by the same people in the same factory."

Could they be the same? Yes. Is there any way of knowing? Sure! Buy one of each and melt the epoxy out of them. Same parts? They're the same. Different parts? Well.......

Stay Safe!

 

[StickyHands]

Careful...

Having worked in manufacturing I can tell you there can be significant differences in products built in the same factory.

Very few instances where the product is simply the same thing with a different name. Usually there are differences in the parts that are assembled on the line for each named product. Cheaper/Stronger/Different... so you can't just say "it's the same product 'cause it's made by the same people in the same factory."

Could they be the same? Yes. Is there any way of knowing? Sure! Buy one of each and melt the epoxy out of them. Same parts? They're the same. Different parts? Well.......

Stay Safe!

I agree.
Been in shenzens factories before, and ive seen products being made with different quality components, due to brand and QC.

Not saying this is the case here, just something to keep in the back of yer mind.

saying that , a mate in hk china says the ipowers are selling well mate. SO hopefully they really good quality. Good luck, and keep us posted.

 

[Hurk]

I recently got a solis tek matrix with the remote control and I'm loving it. I never thought a remote control for a ballast would be useful but I use it almost every day. So many options with this ballast. Its dimmable from 1000w to 600 to 400 with a 4% boost available on all the wattages, it will run any bulb, but I think the best feature is the built in timer. If you don't already have a timer you can save some $$.

 

[rocketman420]

i love my ipower it was $500 for 2 1000 watt ballast, light, and air cooled hoods. they also have a 5 year warranty, thats 2 for 1 and 2 more years of warranty compared to lumatek. i have friends that swear by lumatek, and they are great ballast, i just didnt wanna drop $400 on a set up, might as well spend the extra $100 on a gavita.