Lumatek Ballasts - read this if you know your shit...

[LiLWaynE]

ok, i have an older lumatek ballast from about 2-3 years ago. its a 600w digital. All of my brand new lumateks that I have been using allow me to use 120v or 240v cords. So I took a look at my older lumatek ballast and it says 120v only ....is that for real? can i not put a 240v cord into is and use it as 240volts?

i dont understand much about ballasts and their innerworkings, and im wondering if it would be that big of a deal if i used a 240v plug on this instead of the 120v?

anyone know?

 

[Iron_Lion]

I think it means exactly what it say 120v only. On a standard magnetic ballast there is different taps to operate at different voltages, even though I have never seen the inside of a digital ballast I'd imagine it too has something along those lines. Electrical equipment is usually very voltage specific, so unless your willing to risk a fire I wouldnt play around with it. Also, 120v is made to run using a neutral wire, 240v is not.

 

[LiLWaynE]

yeah i was just confused about it because my other ballasts can use 120 of 240... i just looekd at the lumatek website and i guess they make then 120v or 240v specific?

i think the other ballasts im using are galaxy--- perhaps those are the interchangeables...

damn im stoned

 

[cocktail frank]

the 120v ballast is only for that voltage.
the ones w/ multi voltage cords just tapped the x-former in 2 spots, giving you the option.

 

[grow nerd]

That's right earlier Lumatek ballasts were fixed voltage ... their excuse was that it improved performance...

 

[Hydrosun]

The new ones I bought this year are fixed voltage. They sell a switchable voltage ballast but I know I am using 240 so the switch was unnecessary and another thing to break.

Peace,

 

[fatigues]

Not sure on Lumateks - but I am sure the Galaxy ballasts use the so-called "smartcord", where the ballast detects what type of voltage cord has been plugged into it and switches automatically. Perhaps that was the OPs confusion?

 

[smurfin'herb]

oh weezy, really...? You know better lol! Of course the old lumateks were voltage specific. Thats what you got when the purple one first came out. The 120volt kind were prone to catch fire, so i would be careful. I know of 3 seperate ppl who almost burnt their place down with them. 600 and 1000watt both. Thats why lumatek started hardwiring in the connection ports on either end of the ballasts.

 

[Ganja D]

I'm not positive, but on their older 1000w ballasts I think inside there's a 240 connection wire that you can splice and attach but I'm not sure exactly how it goes. I always have a pro do that stuff, but if you know your electrical shit try unscrewing the front and looking for the 240 wire.
Good luck

 

[LiLWaynE]

oh weezy, really...? You know better lol! Of course the old lumateks were voltage specific. Thats what you got when the purple one first came out. The 120volt kind were prone to catch fire, so i would be careful. I know of 3 seperate ppl who almost burnt their place down with them. 600 and 1000watt both. Thats why lumatek started hardwiring in the connection ports on either end of the ballasts.

yeah man, i know.... i own 4 different types of ballasts and they all fucking confuse me...

thanks for sharing with me about the lumateks burning down your buddies' houses - thats gonna make me sleep REALLLL well at night i havent used this purple lumatek for a couple years, but i do remember that it got really damn hot... fuckin A

 

[headfortrinity]

The original was voltage specific, I've got a 600w 240v I bought 2 years ago. They sell a few different models now, I've seen some stores where fixed voltage lumatek ballasts were going for more than dual voltage with dimmers. Recently I got a 400w dual voltage with dimmer for 160 shipped I almost bought a single voltage for more until I looked closer.

 

[jarff]

Lumatek,s are made in China ..(of course) and the Chinese run on 220 V circuits, like many other countries so when they make the 120V specific they need to use a generator to test them...and apparently it is causing problems with the 120...One of the guys from Progressive Growth (BC hydro shop) told me that the 240 is much more reliable...so that,s what I,m sticking with.Been using several for two yrs now and not a problem.Now Lumatek had 240/120 V available but I havent heard any reports on them yet. If you compare the 120 with the 240 you can see that the 120 is a bigger ballast..???my 2 cents.
jarff

 

[green_thumb...]

I have a 400w lumatek and its been pretty good so far,it runs really fuckin hot like 120-150 degrees. I freaked when I first felt it cuz I read that the digi run cooler than mag,I called lumatek support and they said that's normal operating temps,I can barely touch it I hope it doesn't start a fire dammit.

 

[Cheeb]

if its a 120v only unit - then its a 120v only unit..dont believe it can be ran at 240v AT ALL.

newer dimmable units are coming dual voltage (or smart voltage) and can be run at either 120v or 240v. these have reset buttons and are solid in my opinion.

120v 1000w units with actual fuses - watch these carefully as they obviously had a manufacturing issue. I've seen a few as well where the fuse didnt blow and they started to melt down around the fuse area.

all lumateks get hot to the touch - they have no fans and radiant their heat out of their cases. Its a PRO in my opinion vs. a con. It keeps them silent and keeps them running longer where as other fan cooled units will suck in dust, experience fan failures which leads to a toast ballast, ect. Run a lumatek at 240v and they barely create any heat vs. at 120v.