New digital ballasts system Question???

[Guest]

Was wondering if anyone is running one of these ballast system? I'm wondering a few things about them.

1. How much money do they really save on the electric bill?
2. How is the nosie level?
3. How is the heat level from the unit?

From what i've read from the vendors. They say they save alot on the electric bill and run alot cooler. The noise level is alot less. I'm thinking about purchase a few of the 220 volts 600HPS system and would like to hear from members that are using them or have seen them in use. Vendors will say anything to get you to buy them, but i'm guess since they are using digital ballast and not the old magnetic ballast. They got to run alot cooler and less noise. I want to here from members. Thanks and take care

 

[Brownpants]

Hey GoldDustWomen,

Are you talking about electronic ballasts? (I haven't heard of digital ballasts) I have no first hand experience with them, but have heard from the saltwater reefer scene that they are popular with fishtank lighting because they are quiet and run cooler than the older magnetic ballasts, but are not as dependable and breakdown more frequently...not to mention more expensive.

 

[Guest]

Here's what they say from a site i found by doing a google search.

Digital Ballasts
Digital Ballasts use electronic circuitry to power HID light bulbs instead of the magnetic coil found in conventional ballasts. This results in a lightweight, quiet and efficient power plant. Digital Ballasts will reduce electrical consumption by at least 10%! (NOTE: Digital Ballasts do NOT have selectable or convertible voltage).

Digital HPS 600 Ballast (240 volt)...$296.00
Digital HPS 600 Ballast (120 volt)...$296.00
Digital HPS 400 Ballast (240 volt)...$265.00
Digital HPS 400 Ballast (120 volt)...$265.00

If i run 4 units in two mini colis. That will atleast save me 40% of my electric bill over the normal ballast. Plus least amps on the draw of start-up. 240 is better then 120, if your running a bunch of lights anyways. Any info would be super. I'm sure someone is using one of these units.
Thanks

 

[King]

Hi GDW,

I'm gonna be picking up a digi 600 for my Omegagarden. Gonna run one side with a magnetic, one with a digi. Should be running in about 2-3 weeks.

A 600w hydrofarm (magnetic) is 5.5 amps. A digi 600w is 4.4 amps. That's 20% less amp draw.

I'm interested in the light output also. I'm wondering if it may yield better, being it is a constant light, more like the sun. Not like a magnetic light, which is actually a pulsing light.

 

[buzzerd]

hope this helps

hope this helps

hey GDW, glad to see you around go to this link and it might answer all your questions:
http://www.optimaxenergy.com/ballasts-downloads.htm

here's a list of what's there :
Digital HID Ballast
High Pressure Sodium & Metal Halide

Information

* HID Digital Ballast - Overview
* HID Digital Ballast - Features and Benefits - I
* HID Digital Ballast - Features and Benefits - II
* HID Digital Ballast - Applications
* HID Digital Ballast - Integrated into Fixture Construction
* Sources of Energy Savings

ROMLight Video

* Windows Media Player 28.8 | 56.6 | 251.1
* Real Player 28.8 | 56.6 | 251.1
* Quicktime Player 28.8 | 56.6 | 251.1

keep it green .........buzzerd

 

[Guest]

Thanks King, I'll be keeping an eye on your thread. Just scouting out new gear before i make my move and set-up. I'm thinking it's going to be a better light source also. I think the plants will grow and yield alot betterh with the constant light from the digital ballast. Verse the older style magnetic ballast, but i guess will see in the end. Plus, the lesser amps helps with me running more lights and heat. I guess will see in time. I'm going to check out the link buxxered posted and do somemore reading. Thanks guys for the help. Can't wait to read more on these units. I'm thinking they are going to be worth the extra money spent. Planning on running 4 600HPS with two mini coli's and 8-10 600HPS in the main foor space of the greenhouse, but the greenhouse lights will only make up for a full 12 hour day of light. This will give me a full year round groun in the greenhouse. Plus, i get to use the sun for most of the lighting. I'll make sure to post a nice thread of my new place.
Take care

 

[King]

The digi is up and running now for 4 days. It's doing fine so far. It's very small, half the size of my hydrofarm radiant ballast, and puts out very very little heat. Eventually I'll get another and fit one in each leg of my Omegagarden. It's gonna be hard to judge my power savings. A/C is kickin hard here.

Hope everything works out for you GDW.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the update on the ballast. So, it's half the size an alot less heat? How the noise level with the Digital over the normal ballast? Thanks again for the info. Things are going good and things are moving forward. Just going to take alittle time before i'm back into it.
Take care

 

[King]

The only sound is that from a small computer fan on the ballast. Overall sound is minimal compared to the hum of the magnetic.

 

[MasterBudGrower]

hey king
hows that digital ballast doing? how about an update?

 

[Bonzo]

This place and ballast company (Lumatek) offer the best warranty ive seen yet, 5 years.

http://www.bghydro.com/BGH/itemdesc.asp?ic=HLBADILT06120&eq=&Tp=

I wanna try em too!

peace

bonz

they do come in 240 as well

 

[mrwags]

GDW They now carry the digital ballasts at Worms Way. http://www.wormsway.com/detail.asp?sku=FBEB110K According to my Salesman Friend these puppys at this point have had a very high failure rate. I to was planning on one or two of these for my new system but chose to go with the Two way Pulsar. But I fell that these are first or maybe even second generation digital ballast's. Give them a little time to work out the bugs and provide us a 1000 watter and I feel we will be in business My 2 cents says this is the future ballasts but just not today.


Mr.Wags

 

[Guest]

This place and ballast company (Lumatek) offer the best warranty ive seen yet, 5 years.

http://www.bghydro.com/BGH/itemdesc.asp?ic=HLBADILT06120&eq=&Tp=

I wanna try em too!

peace

bonz

they do come in 240 as well

Thanks for that link, I forgot about that place. I'm going to give them a try, since they have a 5 years no fail on them. Thanks again

mrwags
I've heard the same thing, but if they are offering a 5 year no fail like above. Well, i'll buy two unit and run the hell out of them non-stop in a 120 site Mini coli and see how they do. I only run 600HPS and will not run a 1000HPS. I have no use for them and they generate to much heat, when a 600 does great. I'll have two normal ballast on stand by, if there is a failure and replace the Digital, but this is going to happen around April or May. I can't do anything till about then. If things turn better for me earlier, then i'll fire them up sooner. Thanks for the info and your totally right on the first ones that came out. Take everyone and kept the info rolling in.
Later

 

[Secret Room]

Just mailed a order tonight to bghydro.com for a 600W Cool Tube Light System with the 120V digitial ballast. Most likely will be 1 1/2 to 2 weeks before I get it. I will start a thread on my set up when it gets here. I'm doing Bio Bucket style if I can get it to work in the closet. I'm kind of on my own on enginering and building my set up. I have been getting all the parts for the Bio Bucket set up for a couple of months now and this is the last of what I need.

 

[mrwags]

Oh damn we get to see one with a cool tube HELL YES!!! Bless you Secret Room for coming out of hiding to share. Those tubes are sweet man I'm here to tell ya and cannot wait to see it and the digi in action.


Mr.Wags

 

[King]

Digi vs Hydrofarm Magnetic



No problems so far. I'm going to get the one from BG hydro next. This one is from Worms Way.

 

[Guest]

Nice to see these are starting to show up here. Keep the info coming. I also see they have some nice warrties with them now. Keep the info comeing. Once i order mine, they also will be cooltubes. Will be running to mini colis with 2-600HPS each for a total of 4 600hps in one room. Can't wait to see the room temp with those.
Take care

 

[Bonzo]

Keep us updated GDW, i wanna see how those Lumatek from BGHydro work out.

bonz

 

[Secret Room]

My 600W digitial just came in today I sent payment snail mail 8-8 of this month to BGHydro not bad shipping time. Have not opened the box yet because I still have some clearing out of the room to do. It's safe in the box.When I get things together I will start a thread on the room start to finish.

 

[Bonzo]

Hi Secret Room, you havnt opened the box yet?!! My god i woulda ripped that thing open the second i got it in the door! wow you have great self control.

peace

bonz

let us know how it works out.