Lumatek

[The_Core]

The new Digital lumatek's that allow you to run a bulb at 400/600/1000 watt.

Question: Does that mean if I turn the setting to 400 watt on the ballast, that is the only power being pulled from the wall? Or does the Lumatek ballast pull 1000 watt's continuously but only push out 400 to the bulb?

This is important because I do not want to run 1000 watts in Veg, I want to run 400-600 watt and run the 1000 watt in Flower. If the Lumatek pulls 1000 watts no matter what I am better off just buying a T-5 for veg. Any help or advice is appreciated.

 

[The_Core]

I did some more research online, it states that I can safely run a 1000 watt bulb dimmed down to 600 or 400 watt. So now I just have to buy another Bulb for Veg.

 

[jay-toker]

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[The_Core]

jay-toker i will let you know. I found out the lumateks digital ballast only pulls the power you use, so if I switch to the 600 watt setting that's the only power the ballast is pulling. And since I found out I can run a 1000 MH bulb at 400 or 600 watt, I will just use that for veg instead of a T-5. Save my T-5 for the cloning.

 

[Granger2]

About a year or so back, I talked with a lumatek guy. He said you can use a 1000 MH or HPS and dim it down with the ballast setting, or you can use a 400 with that 400 ballast setting. Good luck. -granger

 

[The_Core]

Thanks Granger that confirms it! Dimmable is the way to go!

 

[Desert Hydro]

one of my lumateks just took a dump on me after a year. sometimes it fires up and sometimes it doesnt.......but other than that its just swell lol

 

[The_Core]

Was yours Air Cooled? The one I bought is Air Cooled? Maybe that will make a difference. I see different models, some air cooled and some not, wonder if it makes a difference on the life of the ballast? I imagine it would......

 

[Phillthy]

lumatek recommends in writing that you use the 1000w bulb and dim it. they now say not to use a lower wattage bulb when dialed down. i run 5 of these ballasts and love them. currently i am running my 1000w at 750w.

 

[The_Core]

Hey Phillthy, You know the Black thermal plastic that protects the wiring and circuits inside of the Ballast, if part of that plastic material comes off will it negatively affect the ballast? Part of the plastic came off on the inside and I removed it and the Ballast seems to work fine. What do you think?

 

[Phillthy]

lol i never looked inside the ballast. i stuck them on a shelf and they have not moved since. i will take a look in the morning.

 

[The_Core]

Ok Thanks. I have the 400/600/1000 Air Cooled Multivoltage model. It says 240 and that's what they run over here in Germany, Its ok for me to plug it into the wall, no issues right?

 

[Stonefree69]

I don't think they're as efficient though running bulbs at lower speced wattage. The digital models with "boost" setting run at least as efficiently at that setting. Not pulling rabbits out of my hat, heard this from tech sources.

 

[The_Core]

I went to the grow store today, This guy said Lumatek is garbage? Said that they have a fuze and if you blow it the whole ballast is trash. Is that true? Do they have fuzes and if so, can they be replaced if they blow?

 

[thegambler]

I bought 2 of the Lumatek 1000 watt ballast in April 2010. They have worked supremely until a month or so ago. One just died. They come with a 3 year full warranty and a pro-rated 2 year in years 4 and 5. The company I bought it from went out of business. I found the U.S, distributor in CA, sent it back and they send me a brand new one. They have 2 buttons on the side which are suppose to reset the ballast if it blows a fuse. It didn't help in my case.

 

[The_Core]

So they do have fuses........Can you replace them if one blows? I am in Europe and the shipping cost for sending a ballast back to the states for repair or replacement is out of the question. If its a Fuse and they are replaceable I am sure I could handle that!

 

[Stonefree69]

I went to the grow store today, This guy said Lumatek is garbage? Said that they have a fuze and if you blow it the whole ballast is trash. Is that true? Do they have fuzes and if so, can they be replaced if they blow?

Kinda doesn't make sense, the fuse blowing is there for a reason, to protect the ballast. Sending them in when there's an accessible external fuse easily replaced? That sounds about as bad as replacing an iPhone battery that you have to send in. Lumatek is one of the most popular ballasts out there, if not the most. Personally I like the Phantom digital ballasts.

 

[The_Core]

Exactly, I am going to research this more. Something just doesn't sound right. The Fuse has to be replaceable. Why make a fuse that the buyer cant replace, That just sounds ignorant.

 

[TribalSeeds]

About a year or so back, I talked with a lumatek guy. He said you can use a 1000 MH or HPS and dim it down with the ballast setting, or you can use a 400 with that 400 ballast setting. Good luck. -granger

Hopefully nobody reads this and thinks it says that you can use a 400W bulb in a 1000W ballast if its dimmed down to 400
Right in the manual it says not to use a bulb rated lower than the ballast.
They fire at a little more than the rated W and would damage a bulb rated lower

 

[gingerale]

Bro I have used Lumateks for years and can't say enough of them. The only time I have ever had one (two) fail was due to my own stupidity....(bad wiring)...and Lumatek replaced both no hassle. The dimmer switch is the cats ass. I won't run anything else. Just my $.02