Magnetic vs Electronic ballast, pros and cons please

[Dimmo]

Hi Stoners,

 

Please forgive the newbie question, but am about to buy a light and would like to ask if someone can explain the pros and cons of digital vs magnetic ballasts please.

 

Many thanks in advance

 

Dimmo

[Naycha]

Digital ballasts output more light (operate at a higher frequency). You can use mh or hps globes and some digi ballasts are adjustable wattage.

 

As far as I know you can't use cmh globes with digi ballasts.

 

Naycha

[Dimmo]

Hi thanks for the tips Naycha, do they emit much heat, does anyone know which ones emit the least heat?

 

Thanks again

[Leeroyrips]

Dimmo as far as im aware Digital give off the coolest heat signature thats why they are a step up from magnetic.

Edited January 29, 2014 by Leeroyrips

[sandchu]

Naycha is correct on the CMH globes, which do not work with a digital ballast as I found out ;(

A digital ballast will draw/use a constant amount of power whereas a magnetic ballast will fluctuate.

Initial spark with a mag ballast, draws large amps to ignite globe than drops back amperage to maintain light. This I have been told can be an indicator to elec. company of a grow but i reacon tis bullshit.

Mag ballasts run a lot hotter in temp compared to digi also.

Sandchu

[Vape]

Hi , i have no experience with digital ballasts, but from what ive read,

 

they operate cooler, with greater efficacy,and like naycha said some are dimmable....

 

it is 'new' technology, so with that comes the price tag,  $200+ for a digital or $60+ for analogue for a 600w ... standard model

 

now you mention pros and cons.. this i believe to be subjective in that everyones situation is different so a pro to some might be a con to others..  so my suggestion to you is ..figure out what you want in a lighting set up, then go from there..

 

when my magnetic ballast breaks i will buy a digital one.. 

 

plenty of info out there, half the fun of growing is seting up, enjoy your grow.

 

peace.

 

Vape4life

 

 Tip. IMHO you get what you pay for.  

[Midget]

Im not sure whether digital and elctronic are the same thing but I have read a lot of problems with people interferring with internet and wifif of neighbours using these.

 

 

Not looking to scare anyone but im in the process of researching what sort of set up I should go and this worries me in an apartment a littel bit

 

just type in digital ballast interference.... there is a tonne of info.

Edited January 29, 2014 by Midget

[Train Wreck]

I would have to say magnetic has proven reliability over the newer tech(digital).

 

Magnetic has served me for 25+ years of near continuous use for 2 of them over that time, less light's out time and a few months break here and there. There are 6 in my collection ranging from a 125w to 600w, a mix of HPS and MH

 

The very first 400w MH ballast, I built from parts I purchased, still works

 

You can get magnetic switchable ballasts now that will also run both types of globes or MH retro conversion bulbs that will run on a HPS ballast. Compared to recommended digital they are cheaper to buy, bulbs to suit are also cheaper.

 

There are only a few parts involved in constructing a magnetic ballast making it far more reliable than yet to be proven (lifespan) of digital and its many parts.

 

The only real drawbacks would be a little more heat, less efficient, both in light output and power(mainly at start up) although I don,t own a digital to compare.

 

I have also heard of RF interference that Mignet mentioned, probably would only happen with cheaper digital ballasts without sufficient internal shielding, again I use magnetic and can't confirm this

 

If you did get RF interference, you may have some pissed of neighbours.............

Edited January 29, 2014 by Train Wreck

[Naycha]

Im not sure whether digital and elctronic are the same thing but I have read a lot of problems with people interferring with internet and wifif of neighbours using these.

 

 

Not looking to scare anyone but im in the process of researching what sort of set up I should go and this worries me in an apartment a littel bit

 

just type in digital ballast interference.... there is a tonne of info.

 

You get what you pay for, a good quality digital ballast will have sufficient rf shielding.

 

I'm not aware of reliability problems with digital ballasts.

 

Naycha

[Midget]

You get what you pay for, a good quality digital ballast will have sufficient rf shielding.

 

I'm not aware of reliability problems with digital ballasts.

 

Naycha

From the reading I have done there still can be slight RF interference even with the sheilding...it was only very slight but reports were it was still there... that is my concern with buying one is that if in an apartment I couldnt use it ... still researching it though. On another point some have mentioned not to use an extension chord with it as being unshielded this has caused problems too...

 

Not sure if this is paranoid BS but have read elsewhere on the net that the magnetic ones "spike" at turn on which is an alert to power companies....at this stage of my research I take everything with a grain of salt but still look into possible weanesses of a set up for obvious stealth reasons.

 

can I ask you guys about the heat magnetic ones produce... is it something to worry about in terms of needing it to be ventilated or not.