ballast selection need help

[Guitarphene]

1st which is better quatum or lumatek digital?
is true the dual mag that run mh and hps arent as good as just a single
purpose mag?
looking to get a 400 watt if you had to run only hps or mh which would you choose?
I ask that because if I get a mag might not have enough to get both
right now
and what would be better one of the ballast kits or the full ballast
if kits where to buy good parts? also on mag's what should I avoid
I dont want soething thats going to blow up
thanx guys

 

[nukklehead]

1st which is better quatum or lumatek digital?
is true the dual mag that run mh and hps arent as good as just a single
purpose mag?
looking to get a 400 watt if you had to run only hps or mh which would you choose?
I ask that because if I get a mag might not have enough to get both
right now
and what would be better one of the ballast kits or the full ballast
if kits where to buy good parts? also on mag's what should I avoid
I dont want soething thats going to blow up
thanx guys

Welcome and no disrespect but sounds like you are a newb.. cont to search and educate yourself.. thats what we are here for. As far as your question there is a multitiude of answers as you will see with future posts. As far as Im concerned, when I was a newby I cut my teeth on a 400hps cheap magnetic ballast. Veg for 7-14 days and flip the switch. I have since moved to switchable 1k mag. and will go with a dig quantum soon. If I am right on above assertions you wont be disappointed as a place to start your learning curve. By the time that ole 400hps wears out you will have graduated to new and better things. FWIW stick to clones form outside sources or less then expensive seeds ( mandala, nirvana, female seeds) till ya get it down then when that happens go from.. there.. Keep it green!!

 

[Guitarphene]

thanx the price for a dig and mag are about the the same would you go mag or dig? I am a newb when it comes to light if dig is as good as mag then I can use mh and hps bulbs and
have no worries I just hate to be doin a crop with 1 ballast and have a breakdown that couldnt be fixed fast that my big worry

 

[One Love 731]

Grab a Quantum from ebay, there is a few 1000 watt adjustable's that can run hps, MH, 400, 600, or 1000, also 120 or 240 volt. That's allot of ballast for $150-$200 delivered.1

 

[Marshall]

I have never owned a digital, nor do I plan on buying one anytime soon. Digital ballasts seem to be an extremely hit or miss type thing. Some report problem after problem, horror stories about crops with no light, stores who send the ballast back to the vendor with no loaner etc. Then you have peeps with 10 digis for 3 years who have not had a single problem.

But there is no denying that mags are more reliable and you do not read the type of stories that you do on digis.

If you have to choose one ballast, go HPS. I veg under HPS all the time.

A MH and HPS ballast are the same except a HPS has an ignitor. When you flip from HPS to MH, it removes the ignitor from the circuit.

 

[stonedar]

I own both digital and magnetic ballasts, I am partial to the magnetic. Mostly because of old man syndrome if it ain't broke don't fix it.

-digital ballast issues happen more with 1000w ballasts then smaller 400w ballasts
-any rumors about switchable magnetic ballasts not being as "good" as non-switchable are bunk. if you want a switchable ballast buy it.
-buy a manufacturer-ed ballast the difference in price in DIY and pre-built isn't much
-400w switchable and digital are nearly the same price online, unless your local hydro stores are different than mine they may no longer carry magnetic
-if you buy digital check out it's warranty and replacement/loaner policy at the shop. magnetic they will probably repair on site or you can

whatever ballast you chose remember to match your reflector/socket assembly to your ballast as there are two standards of wiring. naturally there is an adapter for $10

 

[nukklehead]

thanx the price for a dig and mag are about the the same would you go mag or dig? I am a newb when it comes to light if dig is as good as mag then I can use mh and hps bulbs and
have no worries I just hate to be doin a crop with 1 ballast and have a breakdown that couldnt be fixed fast that my big worry

Very little to break down in a mag when they are new.. If it fires up when you get it it will be good for a long long long time.. With hard usage a capacitor MAY go out at the 4 year or so mark. There may be other little small things I dont know about but either that or the igniter seem to be the only things that prematurely go "bad" for a mag. Honestly I replaced one capacitor on a used 400 I bought years ago and never did any thing to it. It is in storage at this time for emergency. Running a 1 k switchable for 4 years now without a hitch. Will probably replace the capacitor on it as it goes into the "emergency spare box) after getting a new quantum ( 6 mos from now is the plan). I veg;d for quite a while with a hps at 400w. No real difference in plants size or whatever. MH bulbs are expensive but will last forever as you only use for 2 weeks or whatever. If spectrum is that important to ya get a hortilux bulb for your HPS. I did and to be honest it made no diff. then a plain ole HPS. I think once you get at 600 or above some things like spectrum/lumens may make a difference. For you , get a halfway decent assembled cheap HPS, -----bulletproof and hassle free

 

[Guitarphene]

thanx guys for your input many thanx

 

[dansbuds]

I bought 2 of these about 6 months ago . (new version ) the older lumiteks had problems with over heating the wiring inside but its been fixed & have been working flawlessly for me so far .

http://www.bghydro.com/BGH/itemdesc.asp?ic=HLBADILT04360&eq=&Tp=

 

[Shcrews]

i swear that in my stadium setups, the buds that were near the digitally-driven bulbs were fatter and frostier than those of the mag-driven bulbs

best ballast bulb combo in my considerable experience: 600w Galaxy digital ballas and 600w Ushio bulb.