Is there any difference between different Digital Ballasts?

[TLoft13]

I agree. With all the problems I've read about, I would stick to mag fo now.

I still have to see even one problem report with Gavita ballasts.

 

[TLoft13]

Gavita light systems provide very little if any advantage over basic light systems. The claims made by the manufacturer are mostly nonsense. There have been no major tech advances in grow lighting for some time. You are paying extra for a trend and old tech turned new that may not catch on.
Gavita would be the last brand I'd buy if I were in the market for new lighting.
I have seen ZERO independent testing for these lights. About the only info one can find on them is at their site and the fuck awful monstergardens.
Please post a link to any independent testing that actually confirms these lights have a great or any advantage over basic systems that are in the market for a fraction of the price.

Their lights are used for most sportsstadiums in Europe and they are marketleader for horticultural lighting in the Netherlands, the biggest greenhouse growop worldwide.

 

[Tactician]

Ballast Can Be Located Up To 65 ft from Lamp

that's pretty cool, can other ballast do that? Besides the galaxy, which is also made by CAP

I've installed dozens of Quantum and Lumateks (newer model) and the lengths of some of the lampcords were at least 75 feet and never an issue with firing the bulbs. They were all wired to flip boxes and still no issues. As long as any termination is done solid, should be okay. If you use wirenuts, add a small dab of anti-oxidant (Noalox) to wires, then twist with wirenut. A tiny drop on the base of the bulb before you screw into the mogul helps too.

 

[nickdiaz209]

What did you go with?

 

[poorjunkie]

ive heard somewhere that gavitas are designed for European electric system, which differs from ours here in North America. The lamp systems also require 400Kv or so ignition voltage, which here in the states is only limited to 300KV, so operating a gavita here, they said is actually operating the lamp as a low pressure sodium.... also mentioned the 400Kv systems are overall more dangerous as that voltage level can be lethal .

anyone else have any validity to this?

 

[Hammerhead]

I can tell ya the 120v 60Hz is lethal . The rest is all vendor crap. When someone is on top others will always try to bring you down no matter what business your in..


I just bought a Nano Extreme Ballet to replace a 400 Lumatek. I will let you know how it holds up over the next 5 years...Im not a big fan of CAP. They make stuff that's questionable for safety. I will give any vendor a chance to prove to me what i'm buying is safe and will work as described for 5+ years..If it does not I will be the first to post what I find.. I cant post a bad review on anything that I have not used myself. I just got it 3 days ago no problems yet..I can say that it is very cool to the touch. My Lumatek 600's are hotter then the Nano 1k...

 

[Buds Bundy]

Ballast Can Be Located Up To 65 ft from Lamp

that's pretty cool, can other ballast do that? Besides the galaxy, which is also made by CAP

Actually the Nutrilife ones have been tested and will strike a bulb at 100'. Not saying its good for the ballast or wiring but it can do it.

 

[Lazyman]

Quantum just got bought by CAP, so don't buy those anymore, (or anything else CAP touches.). cAP relays have smoked on me twice, one was a month old. They suck ass! I switched to hydrofarms phantoms, no failures yet on 18 of them in a year. My older quantums have been great, 1 died out of 16 after 3 years, but that was before CAP touched em and now their return rate is ridiculous.