Are the different lights really that big of a difference????
- Thread starter pftek
- Start date
H
HybridHydro
YES!
But, I am not rich, so I go with what I can afford, which is usually cheapy agromax bulbs, but what the hey, they work. The most important thing you have to look for is Lumen output. If you look around this site I bet someone has a chart of the lumen outputs and other information of each individual bulb that are being popularly used by growers.
But, I am not rich, so I go with what I can afford, which is usually cheapy agromax bulbs, but what the hey, they work. The most important thing you have to look for is Lumen output. If you look around this site I bet someone has a chart of the lumen outputs and other information of each individual bulb that are being popularly used by growers.
TicalionStalion
Active member
I been liking the Ushios lately.
H
HybridHydro
I've been wanting to go digital myself... at somepoint in the future..
BTW, I recently picked up one of those reflectorised bulbs, I hate the damn thing.. it spits all its light out on either side, surprirsingly the beam of light spit out the side doesn't burn the plants like I thought they would. They might be nice if you had 2 or more side by side
BTW, I recently picked up one of those reflectorised bulbs, I hate the damn thing.. it spits all its light out on either side, surprirsingly the beam of light spit out the side doesn't burn the plants like I thought they would. They might be nice if you had 2 or more side by side
Digital and magnetic ballasts are not the same. They serve the same purpose of lighting a bulb, but the technology in each ballast is completely different. "Digital" in this context means it uses electronic circuits and shit like you would see if you break open a calculator or computer. This generally means a longer shelf life, smaller size (and mass) and far more control and features than a magnetic ballast may have.
Digital ballasts run cooler and are usually encased in a cool looking metallic case with fins on it for heat dispersal. Some have a small fan for further cooling. Digital ballasts can also run both HPS + MH bulbs (not all though, read up on the one you buy), some let you dim the bulb (i.e., run the bulb at 50% power for clones), and I believe digital ballasts also have better protection against power surges and re-lighting the bulb too soon. Digital ballasts also weigh a lot less (you can mount them to a board on the wall/ceiling, which is nice.)
That being said, I have both and in practice I don't notice the difference AT ALL between digital and magnetic. Once it's plugged in and out of the way, I never look at it and whether it's digital or magnetic means nothing in my setup. I would get a RELIABLE ballast, whether digi or magnetic.
Digital ballasts run cooler and are usually encased in a cool looking metallic case with fins on it for heat dispersal. Some have a small fan for further cooling. Digital ballasts can also run both HPS + MH bulbs (not all though, read up on the one you buy), some let you dim the bulb (i.e., run the bulb at 50% power for clones), and I believe digital ballasts also have better protection against power surges and re-lighting the bulb too soon. Digital ballasts also weigh a lot less (you can mount them to a board on the wall/ceiling, which is nice.)
That being said, I have both and in practice I don't notice the difference AT ALL between digital and magnetic. Once it's plugged in and out of the way, I never look at it and whether it's digital or magnetic means nothing in my setup. I would get a RELIABLE ballast, whether digi or magnetic.
so they tell me, as it happens i'll be upgrading to my
first top-quality bulb this month along with a 100watt
bump and a proper hood.
(switching from 2x 150HPS to 1x 400CMH)
anyway, if you use a quality bulb and it only yields 1 zip
more than the cheapo, i'd have to say it was worth the
extra dough.
btw, here is an awesome discussion on the topic you
might find interesting, it convinced me.
https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=72215
peace, SOG
