Solis-Tek Matrix Ballast

[standsideways]

Regardless of where Solis Tek are made, they appear to stand out against the rest of the field.

Look at Lumatek, Quantum, Sun System, Galaxy, etc. and they all appear very similar. 100%, 75%, 50% and 110% power settings. No staggered start. No boasting of a list of safety features like Solis Tek.

Even if the Solis Tek is built in the same factory it would seem they are spec'd to a substantially different design. That, the warranty, the smarter dimmer options (1000, 600, 400), better safety circuitry and the numerous people who seem perfectly satisfied with theirs was enough to sway me.

this is likely due to the fact that the owner of solis has such good relationship with the factories, where as some other companies using the same factory dont have ANY relationship at all, they spec and order bulk, where Solis tek can make many changes, and work directly with the factory.

china/taiwan made doesnt mean a bad product at all!

 

[FlowerFarmer]

For what its worth, the modern Lumateks do state 1000w, 750w, 600w and their air-cooled model states 1000w, 600w, 400w.

From what I gather nothing has changed from 100%, 75%, 50%... just a change in marketing. Heck.. some of the in between models simply had stickers over the percentages to list them as wattages.


I go against many of the new features myself. I'll take my tiny 600w 240v only Lumateks over the new stuff any day. Simple and effective..

 

[señorsloth]

i am sorry sideways, i took you for somebody that didn't know anything about ballasts, just trying to start trouble, i'm obviously wrong...

so basically what your saying is that there isn't a single ballast out there thats just made in the usa? we are forced to choose between a dozen brands all exactly the same but with different stickers? at that point what does it matter? and if solis tek really are made in the same factories as the cookie cutter identical ballasts that so many other companies use than why are solis teks so seemingly different from the others? and why can't i just buy a high end one made in usa? do they exist?

 

[standsideways]

this is likely due to the fact that the owner of solis has such good relationship with the factories, where as some other companies using the same factory dont have ANY relationship at all, they spec and order bulk, where Solis tek can make many changes, and work directly with the factory.

china/taiwan made doesnt mean a bad product at all!

No worries sloth!!!, ive got 50 posts, ide expect people to question what i say untill i have the + rep lol.

^^^^^^^^see quote above

he has a family/personal relationship with the factories or the owners of them, hell he could OWN them for all we know, or family could since he says it is a family relationship.

If anything, the solis tek ballasts are a "TEST product" for the factory producing them, and if all goes well, these features will make there way into the uber cheap-o ballast in a few years time.
----

Personally, if its got a decent warranty, why not?!

 

[señorsloth]

ya i guess i'm just a little dumbfounded that there doesn't seem to be any American brands...its a little disillusioning to find out that they are all the same, i mean the one i have now is a cheep generic magnetic ballast from hong kong but i paid next to nothing for it and i knew it was generic when i bought it...now that i'm thinking of upgrading i have a hard time paying 3 times as much for one of these name brand ballasts as a generic one knowing they are all basically generic at heart...

 

[Tactician]

There will be a ballast available soon that is manufactured in Canada or the US. I am working with an EE and we've already laid out the components on the PCB and getting the aluminum enclosures built. They will be repairable since we won't be putting the black resin that all electronic ballasts seem to have, it's not needed, but it is easy to remove in about 5 minutes it's all off and all the components and the copper etching is visible.

The PCBs may be assembled in Mexico, but the finished assembly and testing will be done probably in Canada.

 

[The_Protege]

Looking at picking up a SolisTek Matrix tomorrow.

Is everyone still happy with theirs?


Also i know there is a lot of hate for SunPulse lamps but does anyone out there run them with this ballast?

 

[Hurk]

I've been running the solis tek matrix for about a month now and its working great. The timer works perfectly and the remote control is super useful. I'm just running a cheap sylvania bulb but they're supposed to work well with all bulbs.

 

[oldergrower]

Took the dive to digital 2 weeks ago and bought the solis tek matrix with remote. Very nice unit and love the remote to setup light cycle whenever you want. The only improvement I can think of is a timed outlet on it for my light rail (would be real nice).
Using a 1000 watt new hortilux e-hps and wow is it bright. Kept the old magnetic for backup.

Note-the remote does not come with the ballast you must buy it seperate. Found mine for $20 shipped. Ballast was $249 with free shipping.

The matrix is large and heavy. Not as heavy as magnetic ballast. Used lag screws to mount on wall. Dissipates heat well in the up and down configuration. I do have some electromagnetic intereference from the light tho. I run hydro and if i try to check my res ph (res is below light) my blue labs ph meter goes bonkers. On the second day of this happening it dawned on me my new setup was causing this. Solution is to get a sample and test ph off to the side of the room and problem solved. GL OG

 

[Hurk]

I couldn't agree more about the timed outlet. Its really the only thing missing.
I'm surprised that you're getting em interference. It doesn't interfere with the wifi on my phone when I'm right next to it, and I tried out an am radio thats less than 10' away and there's no difference in reception with the light on or off. Maybe your ph meter is more sensitive though?

 

[RicoT]

I plan on getting a few... Minus the LCD
Recently conducted comparison of top ballasts... There's other comparison tests(bulbs and such) under their 'Blog' tab..
http://growershouse.com/blog/1000w-...umatek-solis-tek-quantum-phantom-galaxy-nano/

 

[oldergrower]

EMI

EMI

Hurk, I only get the interference directly below my light reflector (super Sun 2). I think the emi is coming from the frequency that the bulb is fired at. I think the reflector is shooting it downward. Don't have a problem anywhere else. Either the frequency the bulb is fired at or a harmonic of that frequency is interfering with only my blue labs ph meter.

Just throwing out my experience with this ballast but I do love it. OG

 

[jumpincactus]

Confused

Confused

I say go for it - I did (mine arrives Monday).

They've been on the market almost a couple years now, and I've heard nothing but good about them.

Solis-Tek is, in fact, the ballasts made entirely in Japan, instead of China like Lumatek, Quantum, and most others.

The Matrix 1000 goes for $275. I picked up the standard (non-Matrix) 1000w for $240. The only differences are it doesn't have a timer built in and it doesn't have an LED display - it still has all the same wattage & safety features, including the computerized staggered startup delay.

I know this thread is 4 years or older but I wanted to say that I just received my package with 5 SolisTek digital ballasts. I went with ST due to great reviews thus far and the fact that they are touted to be of Japanese origin and that swayed me as we all know the Japanese are very good with a lot of things and electronics and circuitry are one of them. In addition in my mind they have better QA/QC with their goods in relation to Chinese manufactured goods.

Was blown away when I got my package and the outside of the packing box indicated the goods were manufactured in China!!!

WTF gives with that? I just fired off a email to ST to inquire whats up. I will and can take pics of the shipping box if you all want.

Does anyone have any input? Are ST ballasts built in Japan or China??? If I get a reply from ST I will share it with the community for future reference.

 

[steve52]

Fwiw, I bought three of these, and I've had nothing but trouble. The internal timers lose their settings, and, if using the internal timer, two of the ballasts periodically default to 400W! I returned one to Solis-Tek, and they took several weeks to decide to send me a new one--they refused to accept my word that the thing had an intermittent defect, and had to leave it plugged in until they were satisfied that it was really defective. Terrible customer service. The replacement they eventually sent does the same thing. All three work well as long as I don't try to use the internal timers, which means they are no different than the $100 Vivosuns right next to them in my garden. Except of course for the cost... These things are junk, IMHO.

 

[Hookah79]

Stay away from the second generation solistek(DE).The new ones are not as reliable as the old ones.I have both.Yes,the timer is nice but just like everything else that's one more thing you have to worry about breaking down the line.

I do know the second generation is made in China.