Lumatek ballasts will get you busted

[SneakySneaky]

so i purchased a NEW 600 from lumatek, the one that is supposed to be entirely RF free. even after i did extensive research with the company and was ASSURED that the problem was fixed. Well today i get a knock on my door from the cable guy. my 1 digital 600 that i use for veg, has messed up my entire blocks wireless internet, phone, and radio setups. so now im out over a grand on lumatek, the first lumatek i bought blew up 4+ bulbs in the space of a month (worked fine for a month, then went to shit) so to you lumatek i hope you go out of business soon because you are ruining our security with your LIES! come on chris id like to hear you say something to refute this man i really would, id love it even more if you sent me a refund check and let me go back in time 6 months so i never would have bought one of your products!

 

[Dr. Smokepuma]

wow

wow

that good to know . suck for you man. i won't be buting one of them systems

 

[HocusPocus]

thats why I like future brite

 

[medical_shed]

Too bad man, that's why certain reputable companies don't sell them.

Good heads up.

 

[Guest]

I think you guys should ask a little more questions...to understand why,
RF interference can have a lot to play on your part as well. I have used a 400 watt Lumatek in an apartment for over 120 days and have not had one complaint, and I can round up about 10 other users on here who will say the same thing as well.

so i purchased a NEW 600 from lumatek, the one that is supposed to be entirely RF free. even after i did extensive research with the company and was ASSURED that the problem was fixed.

Yes they have "grounded the cord". If you use an extension cord, your at risk for RF int., if you have modded your cords at all (wiring it, cool tube) you will be at risk for a RF int., and finally you have to use the cord they send you, not your own. The ballast must do directly into the outlet, or your at risk. This is all in the lumatek Manuel BTW which I read... did you? There is more info in there as well as to what causes RF.

Well today i get a knock on my door from the cable guy. my 1 digital 600 that i use for veg, has messed up my entire blocks wireless internet, phone, and radio setups.

Ouch, um, I don't think a 600 is capable of destroying ALL those signals for blocks away... usually they affect things such as AM radio and maybe put lines on your TV and might possibly effect a few poeple around you, the whole building at worst, but usually these things have to be within feet of the ballast...

My buddy will most likely have more info on it, if you want I can have him post up in here.

so now im out over a grand on lumatek, the first lumatek i bought blew up 4+ bulbs in the space of a month (worked fine for a month, then went to shit)

Did you know Lumatek has a 5 year warranty... ? This is also found with your instructions/booklets. You can get it repaired for a lot less than one thousand dollars, and with service like that, you'll make back your lost "grand" in no time. I am sure if youu were to send it in and tell them about the RF issues with the ballast, they would have no problem fixing it... they are nice people, or were to me at least.

i hope you go out of business soon because you are ruining our security with your LIES! come on chris id like to hear you say something to refute this man i really would, id love it even more if you sent me a refund check and let me go back in time 6 months so i never would have bought one of your products!

Well I love my lumatek, no heat, no sound, easy start up time, more efficient. I, nor my other 15 nieghbors, have not had one RF problem in my small spartment, however looks like my research has also extended the lengths you have gone. I will admit now that digi's aren't for everyone...you have to put forth a little more effort to understand the added risk, but your stories and claims are not making any sense...

Sorry for the troubles you have had but I do not think Lumatek is to blame, I don't think they are conspiring against us . There are such things as a 'bad product' or a lemon every now and then... and I am sure that is why there is a five year warranty...but I know many people who use Lumateks that are doing fine, including myself.

 

[clowntown]

Your report sounds kinda familiar, but relating only to the previous silver versions. Very sorry to hear about the unfortunate situation. Did you notice any interferences prior to the cable guy showing up?

What color is your Lumatek 600, and when did you get it?

 

[Steaks]

im using a galaxy and having no issues. But all i ever see anyone talk about on this site for digis is lumatek, glad i went the diff road!

 

[Guest]

There is my buddy clown, I asked him to come in and clarify a few things, we all could learn a lot from him, and he takes this subject seriously... I didn't talk to any sales rep, or company rep before I bought a lumatek... I talked to clown Glad to see you here

And yes the older versions were not 'grounded'...

 

[clowntown]

Thanks for the nice words Kinderfeld; but I don't know any more than anyone else on this topic, just a bit more active in discussing it.

Anyways...

Although the OP had stated that he had a "NEW" Lumatek, which I would normally assume as purple or blue, I've also been to more than one hydro store that claimed that the silver models that they carry are the newest and latest ones. I'm wondering if this could possibly be the case, or perhaps a faulty unit.

Either way, I'd love to hear more about how this happened.

I'd also love to find out how the "internal RF shielding" works in these devices in order to get a better understanding of it. Any EE/EECS guys out there who can explain (or take a guess at) how this type of stuff would work?

Too bad man, that's why certain reputable companies don't sell them.

Which reputable companies don't sell them? And for what reason? Because of the RFI/EMI concerns?

Which brands / models / products do they sell instead?

 

[tricephus]

the internal shielding in a galaxy ballast is an emi sheilding silicone potting compound. the adhesive is filled with very small particle size nickel graphite and then poured in around the electrical components. my company came up with the product during the 80's for sheilding the electronics bay on the f117 stealth and b1 bomber. we sell it now for normal electronic use. hope this helps

 

[mysticls]

how did the cable guy know it was you causing all the problems? this sounds like some bogus shit to me...

 

[Tomatoesonly]

the internal shielding in a galaxy ballast is an emi sheilding silicone potting compound. the adhesive is filled with very small particle size nickel graphite and then poured in around the electrical components. my company came up with the product during the 80's for sheilding the electronics bay on the f117 stealth and b1 bomber. we sell it now for normal electronic use. hope this helps

For being such an amazing substance, you think they would mention it at least one time. Makes sense that it would be a great selling point. I've looked at Galaxy's brochure and a few web sites, and this emi suppression isn't mentioned at all.

 

[Wiimote]

mysticls the cable co can trace back just about any noise that is being introduced into the cable system quite easily. I used to work for a cable co (internet provider side) and we had to trace down a noise issue that turned out to be a bad compressor in a very old refrigerator. Every time that damn thing cut on 1/2 the town would lose internet service.

 

[clowntown]

Cross-post from Lumatek/1kw thread:

Here's some info that might be helpful...

No digital ballast is completely RFI/EMI-free, but the Lumateks appear to have the best shielding available. Older digital ballasts (including some of the older model Lumateks) actually interfered with cable, satellite and AM radios. The new Lumateks (1000W included) generate hardly (if any) interference outside of 10’. In fact, the RF interference shouldn’t even be strong enough to pass through a bedroom wall, even at distances under 10’.

How does the RFI on the 1000w/120v compare to the 600w/120v? Are there any proven / tested methods of things the user can do to help decrease the range, that you are aware of? Things like perhaps enclosing the device inside traditional RFI-shielding materials such as copper mesh, for instance. Or are those things effective on the low-power devices such as communication cables and such?

Here is the answer I just received from Lumatek:

Your answer was correct; there will be minimal interference (within 10ft) with the 1000 watt 120v while we currently experience NO detectable interference with the current (blue or purple) 600w 120v. Copper mesh and other traditional shielding methods are not much help as they are used as the customer noted on primarily lower wattage fixtures.

 

[DIGITALHIPPY]

sounds like a headache. i love my galaxies.
lumatech is made by hydrofarm.
that small little hydro company.

maybe u should plug ur digi into a 240plug and that wont be an issue. i woudlnt want to be limited to 10ft from the wall.
anyone try a surge suppresser or a capacitor in-line to supress the noise?
i wouldnt give up my galaxies for the world..





how did the cable guy know to go to your house?
did the police follow?

 

[clowntown]

Lumatek's aren't made by Hydrofarm. They're DISTRIBUTED by Hydrofarm. And Hydrofarm is huge; MUCH larger than Galaxy, by the way.

Lumatek's are fixed voltage. Plugging a 120 into a 240 would probably not be a good idea, even if you can get the plug to fit.

Neither a surge suppressor or capacitor reduces noise (they have nothing to do whatsoever with noise), whether you meant audible noise or line noise from RFI/EMI.

 

[DIGITALHIPPY]

Lumatek's aren't made by Hydrofarm. They're DISTRIBUTED by Hydrofarm. And Hydrofarm is huge; MUCH larger than Galaxy, by the way.

Lumatek's are fixed voltage. Plugging a 120 into a 240 would probably not be a good idea, even if you can get the plug to fit.

Neither a surge suppressor or capacitor reduces noise (they have nothing to do whatsoever with noise), whether you meant audible noise or line noise from RFI/EMI.

oh thats right the fixed voltage is why i got galaxies. i can go from 120->240 with 3 seconds and another plug.

thought lumis were made by hydrofarm cuz the connector. guess i was wrong. just saw them in my hydrofarm catalouge.

i dont know what most people mean by this interfearance...neve been affected...
was it limited to the grey units??

 

[RAGGA MON]

I dont know about this one?????
i and a shit load of other people i know are using and still using lumatek's
digi's w/ NO problems what so ever!!!
and how did the cable guy trace it to you?

 

[Guest]

I dont know about this one?????
i and a shit load of other people i know are using and still using lumatek's
digi's w/ NO problems what so ever!!!
and how did the cable guy trace it to you?

I am guessing there is more exaggerated claims to hear form this guy... and IMO Lumatek has nothing to do with his problems, if there is one in the first place... I believe any problem would be on his part... not to say he is to blame though...probably ignorance. I know I repeating what clown said but just to confirm he is right hydro doesn't make them, and hydro farm is a HUGE gardening company with VERY high quality products... in fact they are probably my #1 recommendation when buying certain equipment.

Also I am not sure but I think one of the newer Lumatek's new feature is being able to be cable switchable 120->240... just make sure your cord your replacing (if not using the original) is not prone to RF interference... again not sure about this..

 

[Wiimote]

The cable guy can trace VERY low levels of noise entering a cable system. In fact, other than send the signal where it needs to go, thats all it does is monitor signal to noise ratios. If your cable co is digital, it is simple to pinpoint which building interference is coming from. Where in the building and what causes it isn't as easy but pointing to a house and saying "they have something creating noise on our cable lines" is quite simple.

Depending on the amount of noise your generating will determine how fast the cable co tracks it down. If it is minor or in the realm of "normal" noise, you may never hear a thing, however, if your generating a large amount of RF noise, you will hear about it and quick. The entire cable tv/modem/digi cable industry is made around signal to noise ratios, just about every piece of equipment will monitor those levels real time. Tracking it down is just a matter of looking at the ratios on the various devices and seeing where you see the spikes and tracking it back to it's source.