YOUR INPUT please: Best DIGITAL ballast?

[Strainhunter]

.



Which 1KW (1,000 Watt) dimmable 120/240 Volt digital ballast IS the best?

I am not looking for one employing a fan design such as used in the Quantums since the fans usually go out first.

I like Galaxy™ Electronic Ballasts

& Lumatek™ Electronic Ballasts

but they can't be dimmed.

 

[Lazyman]

The new Lumateks dim, but my trusty shop told me they get ten Lumateks back for every quantum, they're very reliable! I bought 5 quantums...

 

[Strainhunter]

...

I really DO like the quantums...but people with experience have been cautioning the fan design...
Maybe I still should give it a shot?

Which Quantums did you get?

 

[America]

Quantum or Lumatek.

Quantums are UL certified and are generally a little cheaper than Lumateks, but both are quality! About the fan issue, lets keep that argument down until the fans actually start to go bad, which they won't for a long long time. I've had computer fans (which is basically what is used in the quantums) last 10+ years. If I get 10 years out of a ballast, I'll consider that a good investment.

Plus, fans are one of the best and cheapest ways to keep something cool. The lumateks get hot, too, they just aren't designed to remove that fast like quantums do, which leads me to believe the fans are just even more protection. I'd even venture to say if the quantum's fans died like they eventually will, it would function the same as a Lumatek: hotter. If you run them on a 220 then there is even less worry for heat.

Basically which do you like better, purple or orange?

http://www.dchydro.com for the cheapest quantums I've found. Use http://www.froogle.com for the lumateks.

 

[Lazyman]

I got the 1kw Quantums, they come with both 120v and 240v cords in the box, and have a 5 year warranty. Like I said in the OTHER digital ballast thread, by the time the fans both die I'm hoping we can buy good LED panels that can compete with 1KW lamps!

 

[opt1c]

why settle for a dimmable when you can get a switchable ballast instead?

 

[Lazyman]

Yeah Opt1c comes in and wins the pot. I fold!

 

[krunchbubble]

quantums hands down. ive ran damn near every digital ballast on the market except for the select a watt galaxy. if they have the problems that the old galaxy's had, bad choice.........

 

[sneakinman13]

quantums a?

gonna have to check into these. thanks guys

 

[opt1c]

i've had no problems with the newer galaxys, the select a watt is too new to know, and global greenhouse ballasts are quality as well; no flickers or issues; do both voltages; yada yada; that stuff is pretty standard nowadays

i will say i had lots of dimming/flickering problems with the older lumateks; i didn't try the newer ones on principal

 

[SacredBreh]

Lumateck here with one issue.....

Lumateck here with one issue.....

I bought a Lumateck and it wouldn't fire.... 1000w/120v. Took it back to the grow store and exchanged it no problem. Here is the real story---- I was replacing a Future Brite 1000w that the fan failed. I came home one day and smelled that acidic smell when wires are heating up ...... well checked the ballast and it was so hot it caused a blister on my hand. I make it a habit to mount on rock backer board or tile but still would have been a fire in very little time. I took it apart and found the fan number and it was easy to order on the net.... like 2 dollars or something. Replaced it and works great.

Point is though.... I could have had a fire because of a 2 dollar computer fan. Granted it was Future Brite and when electronics where first coming out but to this day even though the ballast works fine..... won't run it. Ballast--160-200....... 2 dollar computer fan 2 dollars...... fire that destroys house, valuables, memories like picture, or even families///?///PRICELESS

If a ballast has a fan... it is not there to just boost the cooling. It is built into the specs..... companies add decals and colors for sales appeal not fans. This is a true story. If anyone has a ballast with a fan in it...... it is my very humble opinion they are a timer of sorts to disaster. I don't want a fire whether I am on concrete or not. My Lumatecks get hot but never smell burning wire or unable to touch....... and always, always mount on tile or backer board. Luckily, I am in a Medical state and have paper for myself and my patients but if you are unlucky enough to still be in the shadows.... even a small fire with enough smoke could cost you 5 years and $100,000 in fees and fines and lawyers. Just my thoughts.

Peace

 

[krunchbubble]

I bought a Lumateck and it wouldn't fire.... 1000w/120v. Took it back to the grow store and exchanged it no problem. Here is the real story---- I was replacing a Future Brite 1000w that the fan failed. I came home one day and smelled that acidic smell when wires are heating up ...... well checked the ballast and it was so hot it caused a blister on my hand. I make it a habit to mount on rock backer board or tile but still would have been a fire in very little time. I took it apart and found the fan number and it was easy to order on the net.... like 2 dollars or something. Replaced it and works great.

Point is though.... I could have had a fire because of a 2 dollar computer fan. Granted it was Future Brite and when electronics where first coming out but to this day even though the ballast works fine..... won't run it. Ballast--160-200....... 2 dollar computer fan 2 dollars...... fire that destroys house, valuables, memories like picture, or even families///?///PRICELESS

If a ballast has a fan... it is not there to just boost the cooling. It is built into the specs..... companies add decals and colors for sales appeal not fans. This is a true story. If anyone has a ballast with a fan in it...... it is my very humble opinion they are a timer of sorts to disaster. I don't want a fire whether I am on concrete or not. My Lumatecks get hot but never smell burning wire or unable to touch....... and always, always mount on tile or backer board. Luckily, I am in a Medical state and have paper for myself and my patients but if you are unlucky enough to still be in the shadows.... even a small fire with enough smoke could cost you 5 years and $100,000 in fees and fines and lawyers. Just my thoughts.

Peace

eh, havent had a fan go out in a few years with my quantums, and i run them 24 hours on a flip flop system. plus the quantums run so cool compared to the lumateks that i have right next to them, if the fan went out, they might get as hot as the lumateks, might.

 

[hades]

I was in the market of buying a new digital ballast and found this thread. About the fans, it is not that one is running hotter than the other, just that the Quantum's are blowing the hot air out into the room, whereas the Lumatek's close it off. The big difference, like was just said, is that the Lumatek's are made to be able to run like that, under those temperatures, whereas the Quantum's are not, and a fan fail will likely mean a completely new ballast unless you are lucky enough to catch it on time.

I was thinking of getting a 600 Watt Lumatek, runs on both 120 and 240, and can be dimmed to 50% and above 100% with a "Super Lumens" feature. Two questions about this. Is there an advantage to running them on 120 or 240? And, is it safe to run a 600 Watt bulb on "Super Lumens" or would that mess with the output and bulb life?

Thanks for any answers.

 

[Strainhunter]

...

Is there an advantage to running them on 120 or 240? And, is it safe to run a 600 Watt bulb on "Super Lumens" or would that mess with the output and bulb life?

Thanks for any answers.

Running on 240 Volt is burning through less AMP's!

I don't know about that "Super Lumens" feature but if it is what I think it is then don't do it.
It has to do with running the bulb with "more juice" than what it was designed for and doing so will shorten the bulb life.

 

[whatissixbynine]

.

 

[Deaner]

How loud to the quantum's fan run?

 

[mrred]

why settle for a dimmable when you can get a switchable ballast instead?

this is genius does it run mn and hps?

 

[Lazyman]

It's not very loud, sounds like a computer fan kinda. They do stay pretty cool, barely warm to the touch.

240v doesn't burn less amps, it's just splitting the same amps across two hot 120v legs. Means you can run more wattage since each side of the breaker only deals with half the juice. Your power bill is exactly the same either way.

 

[Lazyman]

Oh, and who gives a shit about overdriving light bulbs? They should be replaced every other run anyway, and you should have a spare bulb or two on your shelf. 10% more light is not always as easy to get as turning a knob on a ballast!!! Use it and every other goddamn trick you can to blast those bitches with every lumen you can get.

 

[mikeross]

I got the 1kw Quantums, they come with both 120v and 240v cords in the box, and have a 5 year warranty. Like I said in the OTHER digital ballast thread, by the time the fans both die I'm hoping we can buy good LED panels that can compete with 1KW lamps!

I assume you bought them locally. My buddy is in the market for some new ballast and he said the online shop he recently bought his quantum ballast from only offer a 3 year.