DIGITAL OR NOT DIGITAL, THAT IS THE QUESTION....
- Thread starter d4twamp
- Start date
I researched this a lot before deciding to go with tried and true magnetic ballasts. I have heard about many problems from even experienced growers with digital ballasts. They are just not as reliable yet in my opinion. I didn't even know that they were not UL Listed, not good. You can not go wrong with magnetic ballasts. If something goes out, it can many times be fixed yourself with locally found parts, unlike a digital ballast. I chose the Harvest Pro Elite Switchable, which runs a MH or HPS, and can change from 120V to 220V by just plugging in a different cord. Totally adaptable to any situation.
KUSHEATER1
Active member
I have heard of a lot of problems but would not buy one I just stay old school and I haven't had any problems as of yet, I just refuse to waste guda...But most do this many people beleive in magic beans and all I don't use additives or any of that but to each his own
Mist
Member
I know this thread is a bit old, but I thought that I would correct a misconception that has been stated here.
I am currently having my lumatek 600 ballast replaced by my local hydro store and they are replacing it with a Quantum.
The misconception I am refering to is about UL listing. The Lumatek and NexGen ballasts are NOT UL listed, but the Quantum ballasts ARE.
This was a deciding factor when they offered to replace my Lumatek with the Quantum due to the time it was going to take to get a new Lumatek replacement. Makes me think that there may be a bunch of Lumatek's being replaced, LOL!
Mist
I am currently having my lumatek 600 ballast replaced by my local hydro store and they are replacing it with a Quantum.
The misconception I am refering to is about UL listing. The Lumatek and NexGen ballasts are NOT UL listed, but the Quantum ballasts ARE.
This was a deciding factor when they offered to replace my Lumatek with the Quantum due to the time it was going to take to get a new Lumatek replacement. Makes me think that there may be a bunch of Lumatek's being replaced, LOL!
Mist
B
bongoie
using a venture lighting electronic ballast . for 2 years now .
600W the manufacturer rates at 105th lumens constant
no wonder the tube fails
using sunmaster tubes as recomended by manufacturer
1 tube failed so far ?
i wait till the ballast , blows it , or tells me to change the tube
i have no complaints so far
i dont need to keep track of burning hours on tube
and can light and burn tubes at 105th lumens that a coil wont start
no compitition IMHO
i put a 400 in by mistake and it lit that also ???
600W the manufacturer rates at 105th lumens constant
no wonder the tube fails
using sunmaster tubes as recomended by manufacturer
1 tube failed so far ?
i wait till the ballast , blows it , or tells me to change the tube
i have no complaints so far
i dont need to keep track of burning hours on tube
and can light and burn tubes at 105th lumens that a coil wont start
no compitition IMHO
i put a 400 in by mistake and it lit that also ???
Now I know some serious Model T fans that say the same thing about new cars. And most of them have put a model T through more crap than I can imagine,,,, BUT,,,,
Ohhh I vote for magnetic.
I just has a cord burn on a ballast and happend to stop into a grow store over by Morks place - no converter plug so I happen to ask how much a new ballast was. The sales guy says $200 - which I thought wasn't bad at all. Then he adds,, and we have a sale right now, get a free Hortilux bulb with it.
I got 2 the next day. ( I was driving my Goldwing that day, and 2 ballasts and bulbs would't fit.) Came home and put my 2 old ballasts, hoods and horti bulbs on craigs list.
Sold em in a couple days.
It is hard for me to see why you would want a digital. WHo cares about the light being bright instantly???
one of my 400 watt HPS magnetic has been basically running for 8 years nonstop. I certainly cannot complain about that performance
peace
jip
one of my 400 watt HPS magnetic has been basically running for 8 years nonstop. I certainly cannot complain about that performance
peace
jip
I have had magnetic and digi. I was running 1 1000 watt sun system then i increased my grow and bought 2 1000 lumatec digi (the new purple ones) and ran hortilux bulbs with them. I thought they ran cooler and started faster.... The downside is in approx 6 months I went through 2 bulbs and 3 ballast. The first time the ballast blew 2 bulbs. Second time the bulbs would fire, be on for approx 10 minutes then shut off. The third time the bulbs would never burn bright they looked like they just turned on. The guys at the hydro store were awesome and replaced everything at no cost to me. So lessons learned Lumatec has a killer return policy but still needs to work on their product. If I buy another ballast it will be magnetic... cheaper, doesnt kill bulbs and reliable.
niacinamide
Member
Please stop with the generalization that all electronic ballasts are not UL listed. There are plenty of electronic ballasts that have the listing. You just have to filter out the cheap crap produced by Chinese companies. Vossloh Schwabe, Metrolight, and Advance are just a few of the companies that produce reputable ballasts. Only by buying a reputable ballast can you realize the gains to be had using electronic ballasts - greater energy efficiency, lower heat, silent operation, and longer bulb life.
The best way to filter out all the crap is to buy ballasts meant for general architectural lighting than specialized "horticultural" ones. The architectural ones are built better and while they may be more expensive, last a lot longer. I've had absolutely no problems using a Vossloh Schwabe ballast paired with a ceramic metal halide lamp.
The best way to filter out all the crap is to buy ballasts meant for general architectural lighting than specialized "horticultural" ones. The architectural ones are built better and while they may be more expensive, last a lot longer. I've had absolutely no problems using a Vossloh Schwabe ballast paired with a ceramic metal halide lamp.
Not to argue, but I think there's too much conflicting information regarding the digital ballasts. Bulb life and ballast life are two main factors and they vary depending on the grower's setup. You rarely get this kind of conflicting information when it comes to magnetic ballasts.
The technology is like one or two generations from being superior/vastly superior to magnetics.
The technology is like one or two generations from being superior/vastly superior to magnetics.
niacinamide
Member
Honestly, I think the problems that people are seeing are because the type of ballasts that you see in hydro shops and the like are often imports made as cheap as possible in Asia. Many retail stores are switching to electronic ballasts for their store lighting and you don't hear complaints of bulb and ballast life in that situation. Here is one such article explaining the growing market share of electronic ballasts in retail applications. It stands to reason that if a good quality ballast is used from a mainstream corporation such as GE, one won't experience problems with reliability. The technology is already here but you do have to pay a premium for it. A good alternative for lower watt ballasts is to buy a unit or two in the liquidation sale after a store closes down.
My 600w magnetic ballast blew last fall so I bit the bullet and got a 600w digi lumatek and a hortilux bulb.
Like yea's experience with his 3rd ballast, the hortilux bulb never seemed to get very bright, it looked like it was just turned on. It greatly affected my yield.
That bulb burned out after a couple months use. It was replaced with a generic 600w that is working great and is so much brighter than the hortilux ever was.
tokinsmokin
Active member
I've been using digital ballasts for years and I've used several models. I'm glad I made the switch to a digital ballast, the main reason was to have a quieter ballast. Honestly I really like them. Never had a problem with the HID hut and Galaxy ballasts that I've used.
Another thing is the magnetic ballast creates much more heat than a digital ballast meaning that it isn't as efficient as a digital ballast. Loss of heat means loss of energy. Also the circuitry involved in digital also allows for a more precise flow of energy to the bulb.
Here is an article in Maximum Yield about why Digital ballasts are better. http://www.maximumyield.com/article...43&yearVar=2009&issueVar=June&featureVar=true
Another thing is the magnetic ballast creates much more heat than a digital ballast meaning that it isn't as efficient as a digital ballast. Loss of heat means loss of energy. Also the circuitry involved in digital also allows for a more precise flow of energy to the bulb.
Here is an article in Maximum Yield about why Digital ballasts are better. http://www.maximumyield.com/article...43&yearVar=2009&issueVar=June&featureVar=true
Now I can't speak for other brands, but this notion of instant on with Lumateks is completely inaccurate. Lumatek is proud of their "soft-on" start , which is supposed to be less stressful on the physical and chemical innards of these bulbs. Power is gradually ramped to the appropriate amount over a few minutes. I like the safety aspect of having the bulb monitored by the ballast too. If there's a problem with the bulb, the ballast doesn't send any juice. The efficiency in conversion is nice, but not one of the reasons I went with digitals. I've noticed that older, used bulbs look brighter in a digital than in the magnetic ones they were in. Kinda cool if you have friends that gift you with used freebies. 
Not saying fans can't be loud, but high freq buzzing from some ballasts seems to travel more than it should. I love the fact that mine are completely silent. Lumateks also come with great warranty support, which I've used once thanks to a storm. Had a replacement within 10days of them getting the fried one, and it was a newer revision!
While I've never been told by anyone they have a preference for bulbs, I did think my Hortilux 400 should have lasted longer than the 11-12 months it did. Currently running a Sunmaster MH Neutral Deluxe 400 that is about to turn 2 though.
my $0.02
Not saying fans can't be loud, but high freq buzzing from some ballasts seems to travel more than it should. I love the fact that mine are completely silent. Lumateks also come with great warranty support, which I've used once thanks to a storm. Had a replacement within 10days of them getting the fried one, and it was a newer revision!
While I've never been told by anyone they have a preference for bulbs, I did think my Hortilux 400 should have lasted longer than the 11-12 months it did. Currently running a Sunmaster MH Neutral Deluxe 400 that is about to turn 2 though.
my $0.02
GorillaGrower
Member
electronic ballasts burn bulbs fast.. especially hortilux. at 70-120$ a bulb makes it a no brainer that i can pay less for a magnetic.. and then pay less every year to run it. I also then don't have to pay for extra extra bulbs to sit around (2 at least) otherwise.
I've noticed probs on galaxy 1000w (gonna just throw it in the trash cuz im sick of returning it) and 600 w lumatecs.
400w lumatecs seem to work fine tho.(scratch that.. thinking back on it.. I have only had one bulb last longer than one harvey.. from the 400w)
In my opinion.. you might as well stick with mag.. you can fix a prob on your own w/ a spare capacitor or ignitor.. and the chances of getting a failure are a fraction of what it they are with electronics. waiting days for a replacement isn't acceptable when you could just avoid it in the first place.
mag will could last for 10 years or more no prob
electronic... could last for 10 days.. or 10 weeks.. but sooner or later.. that thing will shit the bed.
I've noticed probs on galaxy 1000w (gonna just throw it in the trash cuz im sick of returning it) and 600 w lumatecs.
400w lumatecs seem to work fine tho.(scratch that.. thinking back on it.. I have only had one bulb last longer than one harvey.. from the 400w)
In my opinion.. you might as well stick with mag.. you can fix a prob on your own w/ a spare capacitor or ignitor.. and the chances of getting a failure are a fraction of what it they are with electronics. waiting days for a replacement isn't acceptable when you could just avoid it in the first place.
mag will could last for 10 years or more no prob
electronic... could last for 10 days.. or 10 weeks.. but sooner or later.. that thing will shit the bed.
Strong customer service and support - and a good warranty are nice sure, but Quality and RELIABILITY are what I NEED.
Wow a new unit in 10 days,,, but dammit I don't buy a product to help support UPS because something has to be shipped accros the country several time.
Build it right - make it last and your customers will keep coming back.
How come Walmart dosen't think like that? And they still win?
I have to say that I like digital. They refined them quite a bit over the years. Over about 3 years, i have had about 3 bulbs fail, with a digital, and to be honest, I'm not so sure, that magnetics wouldn't have killed them just the same. But for my money, the dual voltage you can run, higher lumens, cooler runnning, soft start for the bulb, longer bulb life too (kinda). Anyways, thats my 2 cents
Whatever you choose, toke it up to celebrate!!!
Whatever you choose, toke it up to celebrate!!!
