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warning about digital ballasts

P

peter

Member
hi all
Not sure if this has been said before but some brands of digi ballasts are not as RF sheilded as they should be. Here in the uk some growers are being found out after big radio interferance caused by these new wonderouse things.
From what i gather they interfere with official radio frequancies.
eeeeek.............
peter
 
S

Stoney Bologna

Member
High Peter,

I'm a bit skeptical about this. If this happened in the states, the company producing the ballasts would face HUGE fines from the FCC if the ballasts were producing such high intensity EMI that it interfered with official radio frequencies. I don't know how this stuff works in the UK though. This is good food for thought. Thanks for the insight.

Kindest Regards
 
G

Guest

Maybe a home wireless phone if the ballast is in between them but it wouldn't transmit very far if at all with no antenna to transmit thru. I am a radio programmer for a major radio company and manage freqs every day to help avoid problems like you describe. I can say with knowledge that you will be safe with you digital ballasts, I have one too.
This is not BS.
Peace and no harm done
MOD

ps How are you Peter??
 
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G

Guest

To prove my point i will bring a Frequency counter home from my work and test mine. That will be on saturday.
Peace and chill.
MOD
 
G

Guest

Most of the new one have moade modifications to help this. I also agree with Kalistroyer, under rare circumstances will you have a problem. I hope not anyway cause I am bout to buy two Lumateks.

MO,
 
G

Guest

Lumatec seem to be having the most issues. The premature bulb burnout is holding me back... not sure these are ready for primetime.
 
G

Guest

Which ones do you think are the best Maistre and why. I want them for the added Lumens and all the other benefits. Sun System has one out but only 1000 watt. I also remember reading somewhere that some of them require certain bulbs designed for digital ballasts. Maybe it's the other components that havn't caught up with the digital technology.

Mo,
 
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G

Guest

Well Mo... See slips post... These looked intriguing, so I thought I would ask them a few questions. Their response was in a timely manner (same day).

Are these shielded? Do you have performance specs on them?

They are not shielded. My ballasts produce less than 5% THD, so don't need shielding. I recently had them FCC certified, and there is NO interference. You can put these against a radio, TV, computer or flourescent lights and will experience no interference.

I'm familiar with Future Brite and Lumatek but have never heard of yours before.

I have been in business a year and a half selling digital ballasts. Next month I am also introducing my own line of flower and herb trimmers, air cooled hoods, and activated carbon filters. In addition I will have 175W and 250W digital ballasts. Mine are nearly identical to Lumatek, and one of the only differences between Future Brite and mine is that mine don't have an axial fan (they just clog with dust).

Your pricing seems almost too good to be true for digital ballasts.

I have very low overhead, and don't have middle men, and keep my prices as low as possible. I'm going to be forced to raise the costs of all my ballasts $10 in a month, due to $8000 worth of CE and FCC testing and certifications. I give a 1 year, no hassles warranty on the ballast. If it acts up in any way I will swap it out with a new one.

What bulbs do you recommend?

I recommend the bulbs I sell on my website. They are HG brand bulbs. They are "generic" in that there is no fancy packaging- but they are enhanced spectrum and are VERY bright. Please see my Bulbs section of my website for spectrum charts of each of my bulbs. I also posted charts of the Hortilux bulbs I had tested for comparison. Mine are brighter, with the same spectrum, and less than half of the cost.
 
DeadlyFoez

DeadlyFoez

Active member
I bought a digital ballst off a guy on ebay. It is a 400 watt Digital Greenhouse that does both hps and mh at 110v, 220v, and 240v without having to flick any switches. It also came with an air cooled inline hood. I have a Growtronix computer system and there was much concern with me having my computer system so close to my ballast (it's within 3 feet). I dont get any bit of interference from my ballast and I have tried the cordless phone and radio trick and it did not show one single bit of interference. I'll do further testing at a later on time. I've got other priorities right now.
 
Scorp1on

Scorp1on

Active member
I've been looking for a couple of days at those digital ballast I didnt made my choice yet but I think I will go with those HIDHut digital ballast! The price is great and I need 3 or 4 so it does make a big difference. My only concern is getting a ballast with a malfunction that will start a fire... :chin:

oh and I will make my own reflector with a pyrex Bake-a-round!
 
G

Guest

Thanx Maistre that is some info you got there. Damn man now I am more confused than ever. Where are people learning about the problems that been affecting the Lumatek and Future Brite? Is it documented anywhere or is it just hearsay. I mean a five year warranty sure sounds good. I would like to read some reviews. Does any one know where there might be some.

Thanx for you Help Maistre :yes:

Mo,
 
G

Guest

Your welcome Mr Mo... I ordered 2 - 600W HPS and one - 400W MH unit from HID HUT and will be happy to report on them once they get here.
 
F

Frozenguy

Active member
Veteran
I bought (8) 600watt digital ballasts from UltraLight. My local hydro store strongly recomended them over the lumatek and some other brand because the reason lumatek and some other brands dont have 1000watts out is because they are already have such horrible radio frequency problems with the 600's.. some 600's will screw up frequencies to your next door neighbors.. but def. with the 1000's.. it was getting people caught because its illegal the type and amount of interference.. the ultralights have exceptional sheilding... i have no issues with my computer, plasma tv, CRT tv, appliances anything.. no issues with anything like what other people were experiencing and i have 8.. all in one area lol..running 24/7
 
G

Guest

so, i see there are a few varieties of 1000ws out there now.. i know they took a while to release cause they had problems... has anyone tried these yet? they are also insanely expensive, 5-600 for a digital 1k with cool tube - literally twice the price of magnetic coil systems.
 
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