WARNING Sun Systems GroPro dual 600

[pineappaloupe]

Hey guys check this out. I crafted a sappy and somewhat pathetic email to sunlight supply, about how i feel let down by their company after having to send in the ballast for a third time. That is not my style at all, im fucking pissed and want to fuck them over for it. I have some ideas, like keep sending the ballast back, they pay shipping every time, and eventually they make no money off the ballast.

So here is the reply:


Dear ********,

Please accept our sincerest apologies.

We applied the retrofit to solve a problem we identified and pointed out to the manufacturer of one of the components.

We were assured by the manufacturer that this retrofit would solve the problem. However, at the same time we insisted that we get

an improved component. The retrofit does seem to have been mostly successful but luckily we did insist on a better part.

We are not seeing allot of failures after the retrofit but obviously there are not zero failures either.



Again, we apologize for your inconvenience. Luckily we have just finished rigorous testing of the replacement part.

It is now in route to our various repair centers to be used immediately.



Have you already sent in your system? Do you know the RMA number?



Please allow us one more chance to fix the Dual GroPro. We are very confident we have solved the problem with your ballast, If this solution does not solve your problem we will work with you, to work out a solution that is acceptable.



Sincerely,

Randall




I am going to do everything possible to get them to give me 1 600W ballast. if they dont, i have ethical objections to selling the ballast to another person. and i really dont trust a ballast that trips a $100 GFCI 30A breaker on 240V. I might try to play the "your product is a hazard to my house" card.
If nothing else works, I will have a skilled electrician friend open the ballast, thus voiding the warranty, and describe every flaw with their design, and post it all over the net.

anyone with me?

 

[pineappaloupe]

Here are some of my numbers about how long the ballast has run.

It ran fine for about 60 days, then took a shit (ignitor). It then ran for about 70 days before i turned it off while i changed up my setup. That is the longest period of time it ever worked... 70 days. Then i turned it back on an it worked for 6 hours. The i sent it back again. And it worked for 16 days.

I calculated how many hours it has been on: 2,622 hours or so. defiantly less than 2700 hours.
Average time between failures: 872 hours or, 72 days.
Number of bulbs destroyed: 3

 

[pineappaloupe]

UPDATE


You will never guess what happened. Sunsystems sent me 2 brand new SS10 (the new ones with the aluminum ballast) and 2 gropro bulbs!!!
The guy at the hydro store was shocked when they called him with an RMA and told him what was going on.
I wrote a pretty detailed well thought out email to them and wasnt an asshole. sometimes that can actually work.

I have also heard that since them, SS has offered to send in credits for other gropro dual 600s that were purchased at my local hydro store. they arent replacing bulbs though. sun system is also taking back the stores old inventory of dual 600s
Also, i contacted BGhydro to tell them to see if they would stop selling gropro dual 600s. They told me that the ballast was currently under quarantine.


oh and here is the kicker... I started running one of the new SS10's 2 days ago. I went in earlier tonight and guess what....
rapid clicking sound of death! hahahaha!!. the ballast took a shit after 48 hours.
the ballast god must hate me.


peace

 

[HIGHGROOVE]

awe man i recalled reading this thread a while back and forked over 75 bucks for a used dual ....has anyone had a positive experience with this? note i havent actually fired it up yet

 

[BigForest]

it was ok but it would turn off i thought it was the power but they would go off for a while and come back on hmmmm.... buds would form a cola type at the base of the stem.I swore it was the balast i dont use it anymore.i had each 600 over its own 4 by4 E&F table in 4in or i think 6in pots with hydroton balls and i would only get 8 oz i thought i was doing something wrong and i didnt scrog which i notice on the cover of
HT a few months ago but now i read this maybe it was the lumen output??????????

 

[moses224]

That said all my lumatek ballast bett1er be good im getting ready to wire all 6 of m1y duals luma 600

 

[bterzz]

Hey Pico, have you gave Lumatek a shot?

They have a dual 600w Ballast 240v that looks pretty slick.

I personally bought 2 600w ballast 120v though.

 

[moses224]

yea as stated above my new starts april first and im running them

 

[pico]

I bought a case of lumatek 1k units last month. Seem to be working fine. Noticeably brighter than my magnetic units. We will see if the last.

I saw the dual 600 unit. Great price on them. It is just two ballasts inside the box, nothing fancy. I prefer to have mine separate, but can't beat the price break.

 

[HIGHGROOVE]

i havent heard one person say anything positive about the gro pro dual.......granted I paid nearly nothing but am pretty bummed to hear nothing positive......on a side note after reading the hood testing by the great pice i bought 2 ss2 and got a smashing deal.....

 

[HIGHGROOVE]

hey guys i hooked up the dual ballast and it works good but has a buzzing sound....what can i do about that if anything.........at this rate i wont be having anycompany again damn