Lumatek Recall

[whodair]

good news !! my magnetic 430w ballast from hydrofarm have been performing flawlessly since the mid 1990's, without recall !!. simpler times....

Lets not turn this into a magnetic, digital, lumatek, galaxy debate please. I have heard all the bs, and have been running 2 lumateks 12 on 12 off for 2 years no problem, got 9 more of the newer dimmable, been running them for a year no problem. My cable modem is in my attic and is less than 5 feet from 3 ballasts, no problems. Don't know what everyones problem is, but I'm not special and I don't have problems, and really I'm sick of hearing about how bad lumateks are when all I have had is great experiences. Lumatek is like the AN of lighting, everyone likes to knock it before they try it. I apologize for the rant, I really need to smoke a bowl.

Anyways, I own a few of these, I'm really wondering about this recall.

what i meant is, good thing some people held on to the old magnetics to use as back ups !! ive got a lumatek on the shelf in its box in case my old magnetic fails !!! ...

 

[jarff]

Got about ten Lumateks and never a problem...I have an old noisy,rusty,heavy magnetic in the shed just in case I have one Lumatek take a bad turn.
I threw about a dozen 1000 magnetics in the garbage last year after I figured out I wouldn,t have any trouble with the Lumateks.
Funny thing with new stuff is that ppl. will call them down without even trying em.....
A friend sells Lumateks at his shop and he has had one returned after selling hundreds of them.....and that was a few yrs ago when third generation 110 volt ones would quit working on occasion.....

jarff

 

[Iron_Lion]

I have 2 lumateks blazing right in a closet right over my tv and my wireless router I also run a few wireless laptops in my house and have never had a problem do to interference in my house. I also use the cheapest bulbs in my lumateks with no problems, plantmax, eiko, sylvania and growbright, no blown bulbs yet even when super lumens is used.

 

[Iron_Lion]

I myself got a visit from the cable guy after switching to the 2010 "superlumens" model 1k. As such, I consider them a security risk.

.

What did he ask you? did he mention ballasts or ask you what you're doing in your house to cause it?


How did you explain what was causing it?

 

[stillsmokin843]

Damm just when it was time to get some more ballasts. I run lumatek 600 duals now was wantin to get at least 1 more and a 1000. Local shops seems to like galaxy, not that ya can always trust them. But now I'm wondering? Hey guys do they new ones have cooling fans like the galaxys? I'm fiq why change brands if its not better ahh damm I'm gona pack another bowl. While I decide I guess

 

[vryselctiv]

so in other words people aren't afraid to sell them and could care less about their customers that's fantastic news for everyone. this news is about 10 years old and still stands out.

 

[Stay Puft]

As someone who has pushed a product through UL testing and EMC compliance, I can tell you this:
EMC compliance (Testing of a products generation of unwanted radiated/conducted noise AND susceptibility to radiated/conducted noise from other sources) versus Safety Certification (UL/ETL/CE) are two very different and seperate certification procedures. I seriously doubt a ballast could ever be a UL "Listed" product, but a ballast could be a UL "recognized" component. (there is a difference!) A recognized product must be installed within certain parameters.
I doubt I would take a distributors word on any of these issues. (hell i don't trust what the manufacturers say either)
Regards,
Puft

 

[Stay Puft]

I have been reading about these Lumatek problems for years off and on.
I suspect the interference that some are experiencing may be conducted noise (through the AC wiring) rather than radiated (through the air). I wish someone that has this problem would at least try a "ferrite bead" (clamp type) with multiple "turns" through the clamp. Or get a friend with a RF spectrum analyzer and nice collection of antennas.

 

[Phillthy]

snagged a 1000w 120/240 dimmable and a 600w 120/240 dimmable and have no issues. they strike all the bulbs i have tried and no issues to report. no heat either i will be buying 3 more 1000w shortly.

 

[jarff]

I have been reading about these Lumatek problems for years off and on.
I suspect the interference that some are experiencing may be conducted noise (through the AC wiring) rather than radiated (through the air). I wish someone that has this problem would at least try a "ferrite bead" (clamp type) with multiple "turns" through the clamp. Or get a friend with a RF spectrum analyzer and nice collection of antennas.

I have seen a few grow rooms and very few of them ever had everything wired properly...improper grounds...overloaded circuitry...
etc etc....so I can see why Lumatek or any electronic ballast have problems in some environments.
Luckily I have a friend who is an electrician and everything is over-kill....I have never had a problem with RF using my Lumateks.......

jarff

 

[sx646522]

I have been reading about these Lumatek problems for years off and on.
I suspect the interference that some are experiencing may be conducted noise (through the AC wiring) rather than radiated (through the air). I wish someone that has this problem would at least try a "ferrite bead" (clamp type) with multiple "turns" through the clamp. Or get a friend with a RF spectrum analyzer and nice collection of antennas.

Here's a quote from their website:

R.F emissions

Lumatek ballasts are now internally RF shielded and can be used with standard System Cord sets as available in each country worldwide. Our ballasts produce the least amount of EMI (electro- magnetic interference) of any electronic ballast and conform to all international Electro-magnetic emission standards. This applies to all blue and purple models of the Lumatek. The older silver models which employed earlier technology (at the time industry leading) can be upgraded for current models (and the highest EMI standards) at reduced purchase costs; for details please contact us by e-mail or by phone at:

If anything, putting a decent line conditioner in the circuit should curb these types of line noise issues.

Should be doing that with ALL equipment being run to the garden, anyway. Preparation is 90% of success.

-SX

 

[Cheeb]

Looks as though MDHydro / DCHydro has removed the mention of Lumatek from their website in regards to this so-called recall. I assume they were contacted by Lumatek or someone on behalf of Lumatek to stop spreading false information.

It now states

RETURN YOUR NON UL BALLAST NO QUESTIONS ASKED. WARNING--- SOME BALLASTS DO NOT CARRY THE UL LABEL !!!

YOUR CREDIT WILL BE APPLIED TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A UL LISTED DIGITAL BALLAST !!!

For what its worth..

 

[kushking20]

No prblem wut so ever with my brand new 1000 watt dimmable. Might buy 4 more for shits and gigs.

 

[RugerBaby]

hmmm... dchydro has me confused

 

[RugerBaby]

so why are they still selling them???

 

[feral]

Be very CAREFUL dealing with DCHydro if you value your security. Rumors are they work closely with LEO.