Flip Flop ballast

[41hope]

How long do ballast (flip flop) last before replacing? Do they really use energy spikes to determine if you are growing?

 

[smellychronic]

The flipbox is actually not a ballast. You can run 2 lights with one ballast, 12 hours for one light, 12 hours for another light on the same ballast.

Pay your electricity bill every month and you'll be fine.

 

[STFU]

If your running alot of ballasts in lets say a residential house and your using the original power breaker, the surge when the ballasts turn on could trip the breaker. The flip flop which you have been researching would essentially keep the ballasts on 24/7, thus eliminating the surge that is noted on powerup..

 

[Tactician]

The flip relays will last about two to three years if you leave ballast(s) on 24/7. The contact point on the DPDT relays will arc slightly. After about a 1000 times of arcing on both sides of the NC and NO contacts, carbon from oxidizing builds up. If the ballast(s) can be powered off and on, for even a split second or a few minutes, then the flip relays will last years. Any manufacturer who offers a 5-year warranty, I would question them on why it can last that long.

 

[growshopfrank]

If your running alot of ballasts in lets say a residential house and your using the original power breaker, the surge when the ballasts turn on could trip the breaker. The flip flop which you have been researching would essentially keep the ballasts on 24/7, thus eliminating the surge that is noted on powerup..

FWIW flip flop set ups are to establish a continuous consumption of energy rather than a tell-tail 12/12 cycle. 1000w hid ballasts do not have a start surge they slowly ramp up in current as they light.

 

[STFU]

Ok yah I think I said in my post that the point of a flip flop is to keep ballasts on 24/7 which ment they would have a continuous power draw. What causes surges then if hid ballasts don't?

 

[guest456mpy]

The bulbs "warming up" are the cause of the spike, not the ballast.
Flip flops save cost in duplicate ballasts, but do NOT hide the inrush current spike.

 

[STFU]

I stand corrected. Thanks Hempy.

 

[Snagglepuss]

I was interested in one of these relays awhile back.What i found was that they run on 220 power .The idea is the relay splits the 220 ,allowing you to flip back and forth between 110/110.This was not useful to me cause i have 120 ,and have not upgraded the electric yet.

 

[]A[Boss]

stay away from the HIDSMART products!!!!!!!!!!!

think they got shut down anyways...........