New MDHydro digital ballasts!?

[Sauce]

Mdhydro has a new house brand ballast that's electronic, quickly switches from 120/240v, and has a dial which can dim power by up to 30%. This would be nice in the summer months if temps got too high just turn down the ballast.

They are also dirt cheap, $99 for a 250, $109 for a 400, and $129 for a 600 (ballast price).

Has anyone used one of these or can testify to how they perform? There are no pics on the site but the description sounds good.

 

[Guest]

I am in the market for a 250 and a 600 and I am planning to go with either a Future-Brite, Galaxy, or Lumatek. I decided not to go with the mdhydro house brand because I figure they are rebadging someone elses and no way of knowing really who makes it or how good the quality control is from whomever makes it, etc.

For me, it is coming down to Galaxy or Future-Brite first because the hydro shop I will buy from is close and I would want to be able to have a replacement up and running within 24 hours. He can order the Lumatek, kick ass prices for Lumatek but he does not stock them.

My .02

 

[tdmaker2]

my two cents...

my two cents...

I have imported electronic ballasts for a company I used to work for and I have spoken with several experts in the industry. So here goes:

Stay away from ballasts that have the fans and the ones that advertise that they automatically switch voltages. Although, they do work there is a large failure percentage. The lumateks are bullet proof and now come with a five year warranty from most people. Plus, it's most important parts (capacitor and mosfet supply) are higher priced items imported from the U.S. and Japan and NOT Chinese parts like the rest of the ballast.

Most advertise that the electronic ballasts will run both HPS and MH bulbs. Yes they will run them both, but it's the MH bulb that does damage to itself and the ballast. I have witnessed this first hand after being educated by a professional. The reason for this is that the MH and HPS bulbs run at different frequencies. So while everything looks great with that MH bulb it is in reality shortening its own life right along with the ballast's life too.

You want to look for brands that have separate MH and HPS models like the lumatek , Life light Tek, or the Dballast.

You could use the others, but I would not be switching the voltage and only use HPS bulbs or you'll find out the hard way too...Peace

 

[Guest]

Thanks! I am planning to finally throw down in the next week and that advice is appreciated!

 

[ItsGrowTime]

Im using the 600w with Cooltube. After an early hiccup its been great since. Just dont expect much in the way of set up instructions from MDHydro.
Here's a pic of the ballast with the dimmer switch. I doubt you can beat it for the price. Long term reliability is still a question tho...



Lit and running.


The results so far.


Btw, if anyone wants to investigate it, the ballast is marked with "Yenta". Manufacturer? Dunno. But I had to laugh at that with it's Yiddish definition.

 

[lord_preston]

Most advertise that the electronic ballasts will run both HPS and MH bulbs. Yes they will run them both, but it's the MH bulb that does damage to itself and the ballast. I have witnessed this first hand after being educated by a professional. The reason for this is that the MH and HPS bulbs run at different frequencies. So while everything looks great with that MH bulb it is in reality shortening its own life right along with the ballast's life too.

And how it is with HPS ballast compatibel MH Bulbs (like the Philips HPI-T), did they also damage the Electronic ballast and themself?

 

[ommid]

I had to return my MDHYDRO Ballast after the fan just died out..I only ran for a couple of weeks b4 it went out...I returned it with no problems and upgraded to the Lumatek..I like the fact you know from MD your getting the 2nd generation Lumateks which have the bugs supposely worked out

 

[lord_preston]

tnak you for answer

 

[Guest]

back around christmas i finally said screw it and bought a future brite 1k E ballast. it was sold as bein able to run hps and mh but my shop is now sellin at hps firing only. it's got an hps bulb in it and i haven't put a mh bulb in so i don't know if it'll work or not.
i'm not slammin anyone and the lite runs great but it only came with a 1 yr warranty. i kinda think if they had confidence in the lights that they would at least give a 2 yr. some others just might come with better warranties, i don't know, i didn't shop or research it.
i love technology and all but i'd love to hear nothing but great shit about electronic ballasts before i buy anymore.






it shows how much confidence the manufacturers have in the product.
i haven't had any problems at all yet. the thing runs like a champ.

 

[Guest]

i saw some md ballast on ebay that went for 155 with a 90 freekin day warranty, and looking around i found some others that have a 3 year, so who the hell knows, im bout ready to go back to magnetic