VAtransplant
Active member
I'm posting this because I didn't find enough decent information on these ballasts offered by Apollo Horticulture, e-z to find on Amazon. I really searched the entire internet, not just ICmag and other grow sites. I also did a ridiculous amount of reading before committing to buy any digital ballast - been growing for many many years and have always thought about it but scared myself off. That said, I'm in no way affiliated with this company or any company-check my threads 
This is an insanely long post. If you're anything like me, you read for hours before purchasing anything, especially if it's related to your babies. Skim it at least. I have been on this board for years and am OG refugee too, if you don't see any updates from me in this thread then EVERYTHING IS STILL TIP TOP WITH THE PRODUCT! I won't bail on this - if bulb blows, ballast shits the bed, cable guy comes knocking - I WILL POST!
I have built every HPS or MH ballast I've owned in the last ten years. I always buy raw components from places like 1000bulbs dot com and throw them in to creative cases. I liked their price - I liked feeling like a badass instead of forking over hundreds for the exact same internal components. I hated the weight, the buzzing noise, and the heat!
Things that scared me away from all digital ballasts:
The ballast has a female socket coming out of it, I can't think of the name of this style plug but I cut and paste the plug style in to the pic I took of my two after I unboxed em.
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Initial Impression
Packaged well, shipped in an Amazon box so stealth wasn't really an issue in that regard. Wrapped in anti static bag, 3 year warranty card in each ballast's box.
The first thing I did was wait until about 20 minutes before my timer was going to cut on my magnetic ballast. I put a radio upstairs and found a good station to listen to. Sounded good. Next, I unplugged my magnetic ballast from timer, unplugged lamp cord from magnetic, plugged in to digital, plugged digital in to timer. Then I cracked the tent open and waited for timer to cut on.
Conclusion
I've only been running this for I think 4 days and will fire up the second ballast when I start my next crop in a couple days.
I am using $20 Plusrite brand bulbs and always have - the bulb is a year old and been used for 3 harvests. I will replace it after this run. Since the bulb didn't blow immediately and hasn't blown yet, I would like to think that it's probably as good as the majority of 'grow' bulbs on the market. So, my worry of it being a crap ballast and toasting my bulb is out the window.
The only part making noise is the tiny fan that vents the ballast. It's kind of high pitch, but it may very well be that way because of how small the fan is. Can't really fit anything bigger but one day I may crack open a ballast and see what size it is, and if I can order one from the internet to replace it that has good reviews.
Since I have no apparent RF issues even with a 12 foot lamp cord, I'm cool with the situation for now. Your mileage may vary I guess, that RF shit seems like dark magic.
Price was insane, again $115 each, 3 year warranty, free shipping. Who knows, may be made by same overseas workers that make the big guy's ballasts for twice the cost.
This is an insanely long post. If you're anything like me, you read for hours before purchasing anything, especially if it's related to your babies. Skim it at least. I have been on this board for years and am OG refugee too, if you don't see any updates from me in this thread then EVERYTHING IS STILL TIP TOP WITH THE PRODUCT! I won't bail on this - if bulb blows, ballast shits the bed, cable guy comes knocking - I WILL POST!
I have built every HPS or MH ballast I've owned in the last ten years. I always buy raw components from places like 1000bulbs dot com and throw them in to creative cases. I liked their price - I liked feeling like a badass instead of forking over hundreds for the exact same internal components. I hated the weight, the buzzing noise, and the heat!
Things that scared me away from all digital ballasts:
- Price
- RF Interference, cable guys coming to my house
- Bulbs burning out mid flower
- A lot of digital ballasts are made in the same factories in China
- I'm sick of hearing the buzz/hum of my ballasts
- I hate moving the damn things when I rearrange or move out
- I found cheap decent reviewed digi ballasts
- I read I can minimize RF interference should it be an issue, by shortening the wire from the ballast to the bulb
- I plugged a small fluorescent work light in (does nothing for plant growth) - but comes on with HPS to make sure flowering cycle isn't totally effed up should a bulb stop firing.
The ballast has a female socket coming out of it, I can't think of the name of this style plug but I cut and paste the plug style in to the pic I took of my two after I unboxed em.
--------------------
Initial Impression
Packaged well, shipped in an Amazon box so stealth wasn't really an issue in that regard. Wrapped in anti static bag, 3 year warranty card in each ballast's box.
The first thing I did was wait until about 20 minutes before my timer was going to cut on my magnetic ballast. I put a radio upstairs and found a good station to listen to. Sounded good. Next, I unplugged my magnetic ballast from timer, unplugged lamp cord from magnetic, plugged in to digital, plugged digital in to timer. Then I cracked the tent open and waited for timer to cut on.
- The radio station's clarity was the same, even though I didn't shorten the lamp cord as mentioned above. I run bare bulb sockets in a vert setup so the +/-/ground cables all are exposed to the mogul too. *My cable tv and internet both are working same as before, zero issues. My neighbor/friend said the same*
- The bulb lit up faster than I've ever seen
- The bulb is FAR brighter. Yeah, your eyes aren't a fancy light meter - I know - and it's not even good to look at the bulb, but later in the night I unzipped the tent to check and was BLINDED. I've run the same tent/type of magnetic ballast/brand of bulb for years so I have a good base line.
- The ballast is just barely warm - running far cooler than my previous setups.
Conclusion
I've only been running this for I think 4 days and will fire up the second ballast when I start my next crop in a couple days.
I am using $20 Plusrite brand bulbs and always have - the bulb is a year old and been used for 3 harvests. I will replace it after this run. Since the bulb didn't blow immediately and hasn't blown yet, I would like to think that it's probably as good as the majority of 'grow' bulbs on the market. So, my worry of it being a crap ballast and toasting my bulb is out the window.
The only part making noise is the tiny fan that vents the ballast. It's kind of high pitch, but it may very well be that way because of how small the fan is. Can't really fit anything bigger but one day I may crack open a ballast and see what size it is, and if I can order one from the internet to replace it that has good reviews.
Since I have no apparent RF issues even with a 12 foot lamp cord, I'm cool with the situation for now. Your mileage may vary I guess, that RF shit seems like dark magic.
Price was insane, again $115 each, 3 year warranty, free shipping. Who knows, may be made by same overseas workers that make the big guy's ballasts for twice the cost.
