Experience with digital ballasts

[-RiverRat-]

Hey folks

 

Im considerin a digital ballast purchase would like to pick your brains . Theyve been out for a couple of years at least so reliability issues should to some extent be known by now Im hoping..

 

From what i can make out...

 

Pro's

 

They run on less power.... thruth?

 

Theyre dimmable... wheres the advantage here?

 

If you buy a 1000w will run anything from a 400w mh to a 1000w hps...... clear advantage

 

Programable even with remote.... could be handy...

 

Cons

 

Price

 

Questionable reliability... ?

 

More prone to water/humidity damage..

 

 

So what do you's reckon and what's your experience been with digital ballasts?

 

 

Cheers

 

-RiverRat-

[bluntman_77]

They run on less power.... thruth?

 

 

 

- They are more efficient , a 400w will output the lumen content that a 400w normal ballast might use 450w to generate

 

Theyre dimmable... wheres the advantage here?

 

- clones , seedlings , young plants , anywhere you want less light

 

If you buy a 1000w will run anything from a 400w mh to a 1000w hps...... clear advantag

- Depends on your setup , if you have seperate veg and flower not so usefull

 

Cons , price obviously , cheaper units have been known to have bad RFI problems

 

Personally if the efficiency claims are true and they do put out more lumens per watt , I'd go with them just for that if I had cash to spare

[Samurai]

hey ratty

mate got a next gen 600/400 mh/hps

had it for 2 yrs run constant..had issue with plug from light into ballast....aussie prongs longer then usa ones ...needs a spacer (new models fixed)

unit was replaced no questions..with new warrenty

 

the fans are noisy..and they have lights that light up on unit when pluged in (just put some gaffa tape over it)

 

also make sure you use a bulb rated for digi ballast ..as a digi ballast will reduce bulb life

 

now this is smthing iv HERD so not 100% solid...but when a 600 w bulb is dimmed to 400w..it is still drawing 600w's.....also not ment to be real good for ya bulbs....my next generation..has a swicth 400/600 i use 400w mh bulb...and a 600hps bulb...i dont dim the bulb "just the ballast"

 

digi is all about constant light ...as a eg: mag ballast will "swicth" bulb on and off 50 times a sec...a digi will do the same 80 times a sec...

i think this is where the effecinciy comes into it ...more bang for ya buck...that and quicker start up times drawing less for less time..

 

pros

look cool ...run cool..can run a longer lamp cords..

progameable be cool too (mine dosnt)

i did do a side by side ..didnt even think about recording diff....

 

either way mate i can only comment on mine ...its done the job ..but so does my quite mag..with a 3" fan on it......arthur...marther

 

yeah no probs with temps/rh..so far..

[njoy2xs]

1. i use both types,but am slowly get'n rid of the magnetic 1's they are a fire hazard when they get old,i'm not sure about the digital 1's thou, but their are only benifits to be made by up gradeing to digi's,i've only just got my digi's a few months ago so i cant say anything about them yet,i run lumatec multi wattage switch on them,very usefull compared to the old mag 1's that just do set wattage,get the digi's you wont regret it..smoke2xs
   

[Cerberus]

now this is smthing iv HERD so not 100% solid...but when a 600 w bulb is dimmed to 400w..it is still drawing 600w's.....

 

I've got a power meter between my power point and mine and it reads correct when lowering the power so that's a myth

[iTiC]

A Pro a the dimmable Ballast. You can use the one Ballast to veg in 400W then flip to 600W for flower with a bulb change then change the setting on the Ballast and away u go. saves on having to buy a separate ballast for vegging at a lower wattage.

Many ppl veg and flower under a 600W HPS

[forgetiwashere]

yeah its all about the more constant light. the flicker speed is much slower on mag ballasts so the light is more constant with a digi

[cracka]

Has anyone had experiance with Growlush and thier green 1000w digital ballast with fan ?

On sale now for just over $200.

I just picked up a JB1000w mag ballast and it runs so hot i had to put on some

gloves to remove it , never had a problem with JB till now.

Would like to go Digital but Lumatek cost $400-$450.

[Cerberus]

I have a purple growlush digital 1000W ballast that runs cool and quiet.

 

Would've like a grey one though

[phathead]

check out solis tek, they are really nice especially the matrix with built in digital timer & remote control. saw one at simple grow now i want one.