What are the best balasts out there?

[Biosynthesis]

I have been away from growing for quite some time and was wanting peoples input on todays best balasts. What are peoples reviews, how many lumens are the highest. Back when I remember, 120,000 lumens is what I was getting from a 1kw bulb. Whats the best on the market right now. Im lazy and dont want to go net surfing, besides they will all say theirs are the best, right?

 

[watts]

supposedly in todays market lumens are for humans and a lot of the companies are pushing PAR instead. I don't really buy into all that too much though.

I prefer Ushio bulbs and phantom digital ballast or global green house lighting ballast. If you want a magnetic ballast i recommend sun system 1 or xtrasun.

 

[Biosynthesis]

Thanks! can you tell me about the magnetic balast and the benefits of using that? What kind of prices are we talking? Sun system has been around forever and trust them. The ballasts I have are sun systems I do believe. They buzz pretty loud and run hot. Are the newr ballasts any cooler?

 

[watts]

The digital/electronic ballast run much quieter and a bit cooler. They are lightweight and small compared to magnetic ballast. Magnetics usually last longer and you can replace capacitors and ignitors, something you can't do with digital ballast. Sun System 1 magnetic ballast is a top of the line magnetic and cost more than a lot of digital ballast. Xtrasun magnetics are around $120 and are very reliable for the money. A 600 watt digital ballast is around $130. A 1000 watt digital is around $250

 

[KidKId]

....

 

[Biosynthesis]

Ballasts, much like Power Supplies for computers, all come from the same couple of factories.

With most Ballasts, you are paying for the name and not the quality. Unless there is a very specific feature on the Ballast you are looking for, chances are it is just as reliable as any random Ballast straight from Hong Kong you can get on Ebay.

To be sold in most countries, they must pass certain regulations.

Some companies may instruct the factories to build with certain components, however a large majority of the time this does no happen.

Thats what I wanted to hear! Ive got 2 old ballasts with batwings from Canada that I have been using for ten years and they are great, paid 250$ for them complete ready to burn back then. The newer ballast by Sun systems stopped working the other day after just a few years use. I paid around 400$ for it complete and it runs a bit hotter and louder than the reasonably priced ones from Canada. I saw a digital ballast the other day for 319$. It looked fancy, but is it really worth it? am I going to get a brighter burning light? Sounds like I would be just as well off to stick with the cheaps at this point!

 

[michaelswines]

Check out Gavita when you get a moment, I get a 5X5 foot print off it, no joke. Running temp is slightly less than most. Cost a little more, but this is a bad ass unit. Good luck

 

[Muleskinner]

For the "best" 1000w ballast I'd go with Hortilux's 1000w e-ballast, warrantied for 5 years, made in Japan. Unfortunately they don't make any smaller ones.

 

[j78z]

Hortilux is coming out with a Gold series e-ballast 600 or 1000 watts

 

[highsteppa]

I'm very pleased with the Solis Tek 1000 watt digital. I got the "matrix" which has a timer in the ballast for $260. It also will run 400 and 600 bulbs and pulls the corresponding wattage vs. running smaller bulbs and still pulling 1k watts. I had been running 15 yr old hydrofarms, and almost stuck with mags but these have been killer and really throw some light.

 

[Muleskinner]

Hortilux is coming out with a Gold series e-ballast 600 or 1000 watts

I actually called to ask them about this, the woman said that the Gold series had been delayed won't be coming out in 2013. Too bad, it was supposed to have a 400w version.

I think P.L. Lighting is the same company, they are selling 600w and 1000w e-ballast lamps, so they must have the hardware for 600w.

Would be very cool to get a 600w that dims to 400w. I think a lot of people would pay the extra cash to get higher quality.

 

[Biosynthesis]

Check out Gavita when you get a moment, I get a 5X5 foot print off it, no joke. Running temp is slightly less than most. Cost a little more, but this is a bad ass unit. Good luck

Are the buds tight at the outside perimiter? What kind of numbers are you getting? Im lucky to get 1.5 per. 1000s im talkin here folks. Thanks.

 

[Biosynthesis]

Oh and the gear showing up on craigslist looks pretty tempting. People giving it a shot and finding its not theyre thing. Their loss our gain. We got lots of outdoor in the area and it cant touch the indoor in taste and high. I heard a rumor that weed when legal is going to be indoor only by regulations.

 

[313Ninja]

Digital: Solis-Tek and Phantoms (I am running both and have been for quite some time with no hiccups)

Magnetic: Doesn't matter too much if you either A:know how to replace ignitor and capacitor or B: your local hydro shop will fix them on the spot. The least amount of problems come from Sun system and XtraSun ballasts.

 

[usda101]

So if i can get my capacitor and ignitor replaced for under a $100 will that bring the ballast to basically being new or are there other parts to consider ? My local shop had a sale on new Ballast for a $100 bucks .

 

[shredGnar]

Ballasts, much like Power Supplies for computers, all come from the same couple of factories.

With most Ballasts, you are paying for the name and not the quality. Unless there is a very specific feature on the Ballast you are looking for, chances are it is just as reliable as any random Ballast straight from Hong Kong you can get on Ebay.
.

I certainly disagree with this.. Maybe components are all manufactured in the same factories but assembly still plays a role.

I have bought a dozen cheap 1000w digital greenhouse ballasts and only have two still working after one year. Not to mention burning out hortilux's on the regular..

Got a few quantams that are several years old and still going strong,and never blew a bulb.. I ended up upgrading to all quantams no looking back

Growers house.com has them for 200 to your door..

 

[Biosynthesis]

I certainly disagree with this.. Maybe components are all manufactured in the same factories but assembly still plays a role.

I have bought a dozen cheap 1000w digital greenhouse ballasts and only have two still working after one year. Not to mention burning out hortilux's on the regular..

Got a few quantams that are several years old and still going strong,and never blew a bulb.. I ended up upgrading to all quantams no looking back

Growers house.com has them for 200 to your door..

Thanks man, I went to growershouse and they have them this month 168$ delivered! Do you use the digilux with it? Their prices are pretty good. Could of swore I was paying 100 at the grow store for a hortilux back when. Digilux- under 60 Bucks.

 

[watts]

what do you do if the fan breaks on quantum's? Think about that in case you don't have a local store and have to wait a while to get it replaced dealing with the manufacture.

Also digilux bulbs haven't gotten the best reviews overall.

 

[Hammerhead]

I have been testing the Extreme Nano Ballast for about 13 months now. It has worked like intended it does run completely cool not even warm. If you have not seen one there about the size of a car stereo. It can be repaired

 

[watts]

I actually called to ask them about this, the woman said that the Gold series had been delayed won't be coming out in 2013. Too bad, it was supposed to have a 400w version.

I think P.L. Lighting is the same company, they are selling 600w and 1000w e-ballast lamps, so they must have the hardware for 600w.

Would be very cool to get a 600w that dims to 400w. I think a lot of people would pay the extra cash to get higher quality.

Sunlight Supply has a new ballast out called Galaxy Grow Amp and it dims to 400.