Is it worth it to update my 600's to digital?

[rr14]

I've heard the arguements are pro digital due to a tiny energy savings but I also heard that the bulbs are brighter with the digitals. I'm using some crappy old 600 watt balast of unknown brand. Will I see any gain in growth by switching to a digital ballast? Anyone know of any threads with conclusive evidence of this? I have seen threads that allege this but none (yet) that prove it. Thanks!

 

[jarff]

Digitals seem like half the ppl who run them swear by them and the other half who would,t buy another...I have been using some 600 Lumateks past few months with Plantastar bulbs and I am glad I bought them....But I guess if I start having probs. I,ll be putting them down.I think it,s a coin toss,but it was a gamble I was willing to take.I was runnin,1K magnetics and had no probs but they use almost double the power,and even tho,prob.gave a bit more yield I still like the 600 Lumateks.I guess you have to take the chance and see what you think of them....
The warranty is great and the price is fair.They are super quiet and they don,t get hot,plus they are about a quarter of the weight of the magnet and coil ballasts.
I think they are brighter then the 600 mag ballasts annd as far as yield that is unconfirmed so far in my situation,but if I get a little more yield with the dig,then it is worth the change over...hope this doesn,t confuse you,but IMHO the digitals are probably the ballasts to use in the near future.
btw...I,ve heard the 1K ones are still havin problems,whereas the 600 is said to be bug free....
....jarff...
good luck

 

[ithruxix]

There has too be something wrong with whatever you are doing/got going for NEW lumateks to be messing up.

I have a few, all of them run superb. Use cheap bulbs however, as the pulse will sometimes blow a more expensive bulb.

Couple of rules: Keep a fan on the ballasts to promote a slightly longer shelf life *you know, when the ballast sits on a shelf its whole life haha*, don't use lumateks with a generator, and make sure to run them at the proper voltage. Also, it would be wise to make sure you have no spikes in your electrical current.

As far as superiorness, if that is even a word; I would say 100% that they are better than a magnetic coil type setup. Bulbs burn way brighter, with a little longer life. You can get some extremely tight nuggets using digitals.

 

[dongle69]

I've heard the arguements are pro digital due to a tiny energy savings but I also heard that the bulbs are brighter with the digitals. I'm using some crappy old 600 watt balast of unknown brand. Will I see any gain in growth by switching to a digital ballast? Anyone know of any threads with conclusive evidence of this? I have seen threads that allege this but none (yet) that prove it. Thanks!

It would be silly to switch unless there is something wrong with what you currently have.
If you have a quality working magnetic ballast, you have no reason to switch.
Bulbs have a maximum brightness.
Go digital if you want when/if yours breaks.

 

[DIGITALHIPPY]

It would be silly to switch unless there is something wrong with what you currently have.
If you have a quality working magnetic ballast, you have no reason to switch.
Bulbs have a maximum brightness.
Go digital if you want when/if yours breaks.

ive saved almost 2k in power over the last 4 years....
i had perfectly working HF 600's before, each digi cost me 240. then i sold my hf's for 50-75(ebay).....

digitals fire the bulbs at somthing in the 250Hz range whereas magnetics fire in the 50-60hz range, mostly causing pules in photos.....id DEFINATELY say go with the digitals if its in your budget....

growing in a 1bedroom with alot of 600's puts your power up real high and every KW counts...IME



Galaxy 600's 120/240 ran them both 4 years old no issues. ran 24/7 or 12/12 so i have alot of kw's of wear/use on these girls and they perform great.

just picked up this lumi 600' 240v model its from ebay and used, but its the purple model so its not more then 2maybe 3 years old, tops. anyways it works great on my set-up but it does make a slight buzz sound, im thinking the wireing needs to be tightened but it worrys me.none the less its as reliable as my galaxies so far.


if you think about how many years your going to use the equip id do anything to save a few dollars a month..X each unit...=some benefit...

 

[dongle69]

Here are a couple blurbs from one of the leading electronic ballast distributors:

HID ballasts produce more heat than electronic ballasts, thus making electronic ballasts more energy efficient. You will not, however, save money on your electric bill by using electronic ballasts.

Are electronic ballasts more energy efficient?
Electronic ballasts are more efficient at converting electricity into usable light. Since your power bill is based on kilowatt-hours and not efficiency, a 1000 watt electronic ballast will cost you about the same as a 1000 watt HID ballast to operate.


Now I've only tried 2 different brands of electronic ballasts.
Lumatek and GGL.
Supposed to be 2 of the best.
Armed with a quality light meter and a volt meter, I did lots of testing.
Bottom line...
Negligible difference in both lumen output and power consumption.
Also had 2 Lumateks go out on me.
Purple 600 and 1000.
I do have good magnetic ballasts for comparison, so maybe others don't do as well.
The digitals weigh less, though.
Helps for when you take them back to the store for exchange.

 

[DIGITALHIPPY]

Here are a couple blurbs from one of the leading electronic ballast distributors:

HID ballasts produce more heat than electronic ballasts, thus making electronic ballasts more energy efficient. You will not, however, save money on your electric bill by using electronic ballasts.

Are electronic ballasts more energy efficient?
Electronic ballasts are more efficient at converting electricity into usable light. Since your power bill is based on kilowatt-hours and not efficiency, a 1000 watt electronic ballast will cost you about the same as a 1000 watt HID ballast to operate.


Now I've only tried 2 different brands of electronic ballasts.
Lumatek and GGL.
Supposed to be 2 of the best.
Armed with a quality light meter and a volt meter, I did lots of testing.
Bottom line...
Negligible difference in both lumen output and power consumption.
Also had 2 Lumateks go out on me.
Purple 600 and 1000.
I do have good magnetic ballasts for comparison, so maybe others don't do as well.
The digitals weigh less, though.
Helps for when you take them back to the store for exchange.

im not too sure where u got that garbage from but you should go to the store and buy a 'kil-a-volt' plug ur preciouse C&C bal in then plug a dig in. give them both 30 min warm-up then measure the power consumption... my hf 600 actualy consumed 707W on average and close to 1k when starting up.

 

[Guest 18340]

I've been using a 600w Galaxy for over 2 years and it has never hiccuped. Fires quickly and seems to keep the bulb at peak brightness the whole time.
If you check around i think you'll find very few complaints about the Galaxys'. Though they're are plenty of Lumiteks being used flawlessly, it seems like their always an issue with them , I think. Just use the search.
Regardless, i have with DigitalHappy, get one if its in your budget, cause when they work, they work seemlessly. you'll never notice it, its so quiet and doesnt get too hot.

 

[hardseed]

i have run 600 Lumateks for some time and they are all over the old ballasts

 

[FunkBomb]

My 400w Galaxy is great. No issues at all.

-Funk

 

[DIGITALHIPPY]

i have a video showing the Hz problem with magnetics and the whole strobing of the bulb...
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=70244
of course everyone is entitled to there own opinion but some people still believe in C&C ballasts. there cheap and work, not doubting that.

its more then clear that the digi bulbs dont strobe, or do so at a much faster pace...
its hard to believe, scientificly, that thoes nanoseconds of the bulb being off isnt reducing the light that the plant gets.

not saying anyone is wrong, just trying to put the facts out.
DH

 

[dongle69]

Too funny.

 

[ithruxix]

IMO, a digital will save you a little money, and here is why.

They, being a 600watt luma, pull 5.5 amps continuisly. Now, an average magnetic ballast pulls 6 amps minimum, correct? So in theory, you are saving a bit of energy (half an amp) by using a lumatek.

Or did I miss something?

 

[DIGITALHIPPY]

IMO, a digital will save you a little money, and here is why.

They, being a 600watt luma, pull 5.5 amps continuisly. Now, an average magnetic ballast pulls 6 amps minimum, correct? So in theory, you are saving a bit of energy (half an amp) by using a lumatek.

Or did I miss something?

as stated earlier my old HF CC '600' was pulling 707W after 2 hours of being on.(atleast according to my kill-a-volt) makes my galaxies 612, 627, and 656 W pulls look good.

 

[Sir D]

is there certain brands one would recommend for digital and why? Is there a best or is it just on personal preference?

 

[DIGITALHIPPY]

is there certain brands one would recommend for digital and why? Is there a best or is it just on personal preference?

#1 brands are galaxy(sunlight supply) and lumitek(hydrofarm)

#2 brands are the futurebright and housebrands, 'no-name' units, with vauge 'electronic ballast' labels.

the #1 brands usualy run $40-80 more depending on who,what,where,and when of your purchase, but can be had cheap if u know where to hunt.
house brand tend to be different everytime based on the small supplies of parts they use to make them and one can be very good where-as the next might suck-ass, #1 are just more reliable, longterm.

 

[gregor_mendel]

Upgrade? No

Next time you need a ballast... yes

 

[HenDokuYaku]

I just picked up a new 600 digital from a new company called Quantum Horticulture based on recommendations from some super knowledable people. This thing has been great so far. It's also the only digital ballast I've seen that is FCC approved.

Their website is www.quantumhort.com even though there is nothing on it yet. I know they have a 400, 600, 750, and 1000. FCC approved... it has a dimmer switch that runs at 50%, 75% and full 100%, and is also MVP (120 and 240).

Apparently gottagrow (the people who distribute advanced nutrients but are not the same company) distributes them. I know in Cali they are newly available, not sure anywhere else.

Take a look.

 

[rr14]

hey guys. I'm redoing my whole setup and while I was at it I picked up 2 lumitek digital 600's. With the 3 year warrantee, I figured why not. The old ones are going to go on Craigs list.

 

[gregor_mendel]

I would keep at least one of those old ballasts.

I have collected a lot of gear over the years, and most of it should go, but spare ballasts and bulbs saves your ass on occasion.

It is a luxury of long time growers.