Is there any difference between different Digital Ballasts?

[Kronikal_kiwi]

Hey there everyone.

I am looking to replace my magnetics's with digital ballasts soon.

There are two major competing hydro companies in our country, and the difference between the ballasts (lumatek, raider, lumlux) in price is a fair bit.

Will there be any difference in reality? Or am I paying for a brand name?

 

[nickdiaz209]

Yes there is a big difference. Comparing say the growlush digital ballast to anything else for instance..

 

[Guest 18340]

A great majority of them come from here:
http://www.alibaba.com/products/electronic_ballast.html
You'll notice some familiar looking designs...
Not much different.

 

[eyes]

stick with mags unless u need lightweight design. mags run any bulb and a good one will last 10 years.

 

[whatsupdoc]

Dimmable electronic ballasts are awesome. Never going back!

 

[Kronikal_kiwi]

Thanks everyone.

I think I'll save my pennies and go for the Lumatek.
Noise and weight aren't an issue for me, but I've heard digital's yield better (something to do with more lumens?) and am in the process of upgrading my gear anyway so I figured digitals were the way of the future!

Thanks for your help!

 

[nickdiaz209]

The lumlux would be just as good imo and is over 30% cheaper. Warranty wise unless you're friends with the guys in SOG the other supplier is better too.

 

[Kronikal_kiwi]

Have you used the Growlush Nick? What did you make of it?

I want to run either 3X400's and a 600 or 2X600's and 2X400's.

I have to be careful though cause my breaker keeps cutting out when I have my lights running and the wife tries to vacuum etc, but I head digitals use less power on start up so this may help the situation.

 

[ChaosCatalunya]

stick with mags unless u need lightweight design. mags run any bulb and a good one will last 10 years.

Yes, but digis constantly adjust the power to suit the bulb, so the bulbs last years with no drop off in output.

Mag ballasts just blast the bulb by comparison, so they drop off in performance rapidly. From memory, we worked out that if you yield 500g/M with one light and sell at £5/g... obviously totally hypothetically.. it is worth changing your bulbs every crop, @£25/600W bulb because after just one 10 day veg + 60 day flower, the drop off in lumens will cost you something like 3x the cost of the new bulb.


IIRC Digis do not like Generators and you cannot flip flop them with the normal relay switching circuits trick.

 

[Guest 18340]

Yes, but digis constantly adjust the power to suit the bulb, so the bulbs last years with no drop off in output.

Hmmm, I'd like to see some data to back up that claim.
When digis first came out they would actually burn out a bulb MUCH quicker than a mag ballasts'. Lots of bulb compatibility issues, especially with Hortilux's. Sure, now they have digital ballast spec bulbs that run at higher frequencies (20,000hz VS 60,000hz) but I don't believe a bulb lasts any longer in a digital ballast.

 

[TheBioMaster]

I would also like to see that data as well plz.

Digital ballast are more efficient in power consumption/output, that is about the only benefit I know of, the rest is things like it can interfere with other hardware, like meters for example. The digital ballast can cause a variety of interference problems with other hardware used.........they cost more and do not last as long either........about the only plus really is the power consumption and slightly higher output, but the trade off for the little bit gained in lumen output is not worth it...IMHO.

One example is that have already replaced a Lumatek digital ballast twice now and the other mag ballast is original and still kicking hard!! So far the mag ballast has outlasted not one but 2 digital already.....

 

[nukklehead]

stick with mags unless u need lightweight design. mags run any bulb and a good one will last 10 years.

Im ok with the lumi.... JUST sayin.. keep the ole maggie nearby.

Hell me and maggie have been through more then just one breakup.

(Caps ignitors et.) Shes rock solid .. wouldnt trade her for the world

 

[eyes]

Yes, but digis constantly adjust the power to suit the bulb, so the bulbs last years with no drop off in output.

Mag ballasts just blast the bulb by comparison, so they drop off in performance rapidly. From memory, we worked out that if you yield 500g/M with one light and sell at £5/g... obviously totally hypothetically.. it is worth changing your bulbs every crop, @£25/600W bulb because after just one 10 day veg + 60 day flower, the drop off in lumens will cost you something like 3x the cost of the new bulb.


IIRC Digis do not like Generators and you cannot flip flop them with the normal relay switching circuits trick.

i partly agree- the electronic ballasts do keep the power steady and the power factor is high, but ive seen them not be able to light mh bulbs after 6 months. also, they burn bulbs out faster due to higher frequency. i do have galaxys- but not by choice. when these things shit the bed- off to the hydro store and wait . so u always got to have a backup. for convienience they are hard to beat- for reliability- they have a ways to go.

 

[samba]

stick with mags unless u need lightweight design. mags run any bulb and a good one will last 10 years.

I agree. With all the problems I've read about, I would stick to mag fo now.

 

[RanchoDeluxe]

I own 6 lumateks if ya want them for 100 bucks a piece they're yours. I'm going with Solis-Tek. SunPulse bulbs are the ONLY bulb that is compatible with digital ballasts. After a year+ of use they are still very bright, the bulb is clear and does not rattle. One year with a SolarMax bulb and it's smoky, rattles and honestly looks dangerous.

Problem I have with the lumateks with using the SunPulse bulbs is that if the power flickers the SunPulse bulbs will not turn back on even after 24hrs...I mean it's cool that they dont hotstart but shit.
I talked to Dan at SunPulse and he told me lumateks are shit and they just barely made the list to be compatible with their bulbs. He told me Solis-Tek is the best out there. I bought a PowerBox the other day and in their catalog Solistek was the brand they preferred as well.

Anyone run a Solis-tek??

 

[philcollins]

i made the jump to digital...got a lil 250 hydrofarm phantom digi...it was touted as being rf interference free....cable company showed up outta the blue one day, and said digital interference was coming from my house, and it was ruining the whole neighborhoods internet service....I would never buy any digital ballast.

 

[RanchoDeluxe]

Yes, but digis constantly adjust the power to suit the bulb, so the bulbs last years with no drop off in output.

Mag ballasts just blast the bulb by comparison, so they drop off in performance rapidly. From memory, we worked out that if you yield 500g/M with one light and sell at £5/g... obviously totally hypothetically.. it is worth changing your bulbs every crop, @£25/600W bulb because after just one 10 day veg + 60 day flower, the drop off in lumens will cost you something like 3x the cost of the new bulb.


IIRC Digis do not like Generators and you cannot flip flop them with the normal relay switching circuits trick.

So are you saying that bulbs last for years? Cuz, they sure as hell don't. Or are you saying it's worth it to buy new bulbs every crop cuz of the loss of lumens? Confusing post to say the least.

 

[RanchoDeluxe]

Hey Phil, How long ago did you try your digital ballast out? I had the same problem with lumateks about 5 years ago. They swapped them out for me for free without having to wait for them....this did take multiple angry phone calls and the phone number on their website magically disappeared shortly thereafter. Only problem I have now is that they wont restart SunPulse bulbs if the power flickers.
Peace

 

[Hammerhead]

I have been using digi for years with no issues. I will always run digi. If your changing out your bulbs every 6 months something is wrong or your just being picky. I change my bulbs out every year. I do have old bulbs that where bought 4 years ago they still fire. Never had any bulb not fire. The only issue I have had is running the eye bulbs on super lumen they only last 6 months. I switched to plantastar no issues with these. If your running the bulb in constant super lumen they will fail early..

To get back to the OP question for the most part they are the same. Some of the vendors have better specs and use better parts.

 

[habeeb]

RANCHO,

what color do you use on the sunpulse bulbs?

I remember there being a big talk about one spectrum that made plants yellow... ??? everyone said all the others are ok though..

only thing I don't like about sunpulse is seems cheap, made in China..


thanks for any info