New MicroMedical Cab Bag seed 125W CFL
- Thread starter Tripsick
- Start date
darookie2000
Member
Most bulbs aren't designed for digital ballasts, so there is some risk of blowing up any bulb with a lumatek, or any other digi ballast for that matter. If possible, buy the bulb locally, since it's a pain to ship them back with downtime in the middle of a grow.
BorkBorkBork
Member
I don't have a vortex, I have one of the "generic" 6" 400+cfm fans. From what I understand, the Vortex's are MUCH quieter, and the loud noise you hear from them is the air that it's moving. With my fan, it's definitely the FAN that you hear.
I had to stick it in the attic, build a box for it, insulate the box, then fill the box with expando-foam, AND hang it from the rafters with bungies before it was silent. Replacing that fan with a Vortex is pretty high on my list.
And Grow, I recommend doing what I did: take the temp probe from your thermometer and let it rest on the ballast, take the reading. Then point a small fan at it and do the same. I think you will be surprised by the difference (mine went from 105 - 81)
I had to stick it in the attic, build a box for it, insulate the box, then fill the box with expando-foam, AND hang it from the rafters with bungies before it was silent. Replacing that fan with a Vortex is pretty high on my list.
And Grow, I recommend doing what I did: take the temp probe from your thermometer and let it rest on the ballast, take the reading. Then point a small fan at it and do the same. I think you will be surprised by the difference (mine went from 105 - 81)
darookie2000
Member
I have a lumatek 400, and a core and coil 400 and 600 and none of them have fans. I keep them away from the plants so that I don't have to worry about the heat they put off. I also keep them off the floor (one's on a broiler pan on the floor, but the 600 is a few feet off) to get better airflow.
darookie2000
Member
Cooltubes are really only useful in tiny spaces. They create a huge hotspot that my plants hated. I got almost all the way through my first run before I realized what was going on, and I replaced it with a magnum xxxl 6". They are good for cooling, but an aircooled hood like the SuperSun 2 or magnum has a way better light spread. My plants are nearly touching the magnum without much stress.if it was just a little smaller i would use it or I'll need to get a bigger tent. I'm going to recommend it for my friends that are getting a larger tent.
Dimensions: 22.75" long x 22.5 " wide x 7.24" high
The tube should work fine and it should seal up nice but be a pain to change the bulb.
The tube is 6" x 19"
BorkBorkBork
Member
Oh, and I don't think too big a fan is a bad thing at all, room for growth, bigger filter = less chance of smell, just get a speed controller...I'm WAY oversized on fan and filter for my setup, lol. And yes, I did squeeze in the 16x20 filter in my 2x2 tent, hanging from the support bars proper like.
Mounting that, and pushing 6" ducting through a 4" sleeve (d'oh!) was a whole lot of not fun. But I'm glad I did it. Now I'm ready for another tent, and I'll STILL have plenty of exhaust and filtering to spare.
Mounting that, and pushing 6" ducting through a 4" sleeve (d'oh!) was a whole lot of not fun. But I'm glad I did it. Now I'm ready for another tent, and I'll STILL have plenty of exhaust and filtering to spare.
darookie2000
Member
I have a 6" activeair and a 4" CAP valueline fan. I've heard bad things about the CAP fans (they have a thermal shutoff switch that triggers at like 95 F which can lead to some nasty stuff going on), but I'm using it for intake, so it's fine. I think my 6" fan actually runs quieter than the 4". I use a speed reducer on the 6", but it's still pretty high.
darookie2000
Member
Definitely agree with this. I have two sets of fan and filter because I bought one that was too small and decided to upgrade it. The filter was actually the expensive part, but they last for quite a while (hopefully).
Hella THC
Member
http://cgi.ebay.com/Quantum-600w-Digital-Electronic-Dimmable-Ballast-HPS_W0QQitemZ230355312623QQcmdZViewItem#ht_1773wt_939
In looking around, $230 seemed to be the average price. No more than $250
You aren't being the guinea pig, I've seen many of these run, 600 and 1000's, and it really does work in respect to putting off less heat, less light, and using less electricity. I wouldn't recommend them to you if I had the slightest doubt about them. 
I found a 600 Quantum at Americangardensupply.com for 219 on sale, they also had the Yield Master 2 for 119, which I think would fit perfectly, as well as being one of the best designed shades on the market. When you have to clean it or replace a bulb and it's easy as pie, you can thank me.
Here it is:
EDIT: The Quantums are direct fits with SunSystems reflectors, so this or the SS2 would be plug and play!
Completely sealed – features gasketed glass & integrated restraint bars to hold glass tightly in place.
95% reflective German aluminum interior for excellent output & uniformity
Maximum air cooling with built-in 6" fittings
Includes tempered glass, built-in socket & lamp cord
Oversize design is excellent for large growing areas
Redesigned aerodynamic junction box
Compatible with all Sun System® remote ballasts
Dupont brand powder coating
Levitron brand socket
Dimensions: 18 1/2" long x 22 1/2" wide x 7 1/4" tall
I found a 600 Quantum at Americangardensupply.com for 219 on sale, they also had the Yield Master 2 for 119, which I think would fit perfectly, as well as being one of the best designed shades on the market. When you have to clean it or replace a bulb and it's easy as pie, you can thank me.
Here it is: EDIT: The Quantums are direct fits with SunSystems reflectors, so this or the SS2 would be plug and play!
Completely sealed – features gasketed glass & integrated restraint bars to hold glass tightly in place.
95% reflective German aluminum interior for excellent output & uniformity
Maximum air cooling with built-in 6" fittings
Includes tempered glass, built-in socket & lamp cord
Oversize design is excellent for large growing areas
Redesigned aerodynamic junction box
Compatible with all Sun System® remote ballasts
Dupont brand powder coating
Levitron brand socket
Dimensions: 18 1/2" long x 22 1/2" wide x 7 1/4" tall
I'm going to go out on a limb, and say because of the strong fan, I'd imagine 75% or 100% setting could be used. 50 percent is a 300watt, 75 is a 450.
Makes it real nice, I'm going to get 3-600's to replace the one's I use in a flip-flop, they work in flipflops, BTW. I intend on getting some Quantum 1000's down the road, just an awesome idea, a dimmable ballast.
