What are the good brands of digi ballasts these days?

[HidingInTheHaze]

I will buy a phantom and try it out! Thanks!

You'll like it, they stand off the wall like 2 1/2 inches to give them better air flow around ballast and have a built in universal reflector cord so you don't to have a conversion cable to swap out lights, also there is a clip to securely fasten ballast to lamp cord, only down side is there is no super lumens just 3 way dimmable.

 

[Treetroit City]

If you're serious about growing, buy Gavita's and don't look back.

Seriously!

 

[Snype]

If you're serious about growing, buy Gavita's and don't look back.

Seriously!

Can you explain how many watts they are and why they are better? What gram per watt are you getting with them and how long of a veg?

 

[Treetroit City]

Phillips double ended Green Power bulbs.

Adjustable from 600-660-750-825-1000-1150.

I'm getting around 2 per 600-825. Four plants per light average around 8 per plant at six foot tall topped once or twice.

I don't have the head space to run at 1150, I only have 8 1/2 foot ceilings. Recommended distance is like 30 inches at 1150. I tried and burnt my shit up.

Get one Snype and let us know.

Two plants on the right will each come in right around 8.

 

[Snype]

Phillips double ended Green Power bulbs.

Adjustable from 600-660-750-825-1000-1150.

I'm getting around 2 per 600-825. Four plants per light average around 8 per plant at six foot tall topped once or twice.

View Image

I don't have the head space to run at 1150, I only have 8 1/2 foot ceilings. Recommended distance is like 30 inches at 1150. I tried and burnt my shit up.

Get one Snype and let us know.

Two plants on the right will each come in right around 8.

View Image

Wow that sounds pretty crazy in a great way. Im still skeptical though. Have you plugged in the ballast to a watt reading device to see what it actually draws on those settings? Im very interested to know. Even if the power draw was 20% and i could get 2 ps per 600 watt, id be ready. I would only use it on my rdwc style that I do now. I think there comes a point where after a certain point in the dim feature that the bud increase per gram per watt decreses but finding that happy medium is what its all about. I have the perfect room for this test too. 7600 watts and 24 plants. I will put 1 system under gravitas and the other under my hortilux's. With my variables and conditions able to be the exact same, i can do the perfect side by side test. Thanks! Cant wait!

 

[Treetroit City]

No problem, would love to see test #'s

I run from 600 on entry up to 825 right now but still dialing.

That 4x4 on the left of the pic, I just turned up to 1000 to see if we're good. I've burned up many a plant trying to dial in this room.

 

[anon0988]

I would really love to see a side-by-side with gavitas. +1 vote for this being your next test, Snype. Ever since I started reading here I've had gavitas at the top of my list based on the things I've read vs other brands. I just haven't been able to afford them yet.

 

[blaze02]

fukin galaxy s mang all day/.

i wouldnt buy used ballasts thats just me tho

 

[Snype]

No problem, would love to see test #'s

I run from 600 on entry up to 825 right now but still dialing.

That 4x4 on the left of the pic, I just turned up to 1000 to see if we're good. I've burned up many a plant trying to dial in this room.

How much space will I lose from the light itself? The reflector looks awkward with the ballast coming out if it verticaly. What is the measurement from the bottom of the reflector to the top where you hang it too? Include all obstructions in the calculations. Also how nigh from the plants does the reflector have to be for a 600, 750 and 1000 setting? Tryin to see if I can even use these here.

 

[nachoconqueso]

But can one gavita cover a 4 x 4? Reason I ask is because I can't put 4 gavitas in a 4x8. Too much initial cost and they only run 240v so no go for apartment growers. Also, saying someone isn't serious about growing because they don't own gavitas is moronic. As if people who buy the newest equipment are the only ones growing good weed w/ high yield...how beginner of you.

 

[nachoconqueso]

Sometimes the internet is not the truth... If one does fail, I will be sure to let you know.

You're the Internet and your word means as much as anyone else's around this shithole. I can only go by quantity of complaints not the quality of the complainer. I don't know you or your crew. Please don't let me know about your failures. I'm sure it'd be more than an earful.


Either way, I doubt anyone could name a ballast manufacturer that has gotten at least half the complaints I've read about lumatek. It's a pretty basic observation...

 

[Snow Crash]

Either way, I doubt anyone could name a ballast manufacturer that has gotten at least half the complaints I've read about lumatek. It's a pretty basic observation...

I have to agree on this one. I return a lot of LumaTeks.

The ones from 4-6 years ago are pretty dependable, they are all HydroFarm plugs. But when they altered the manufacturing and added the Sun Plug models that's when they really went to shit. Recently though it looks like they are back on track. No more HydroFarm plugs but the newer LumaTeks with the Sun Plugs have been okay for the last 4-6 months. Time will tell but they may have gotten their shit together...

I would never buy one. But I'm less inclined to suggest against them today than I was last year.

 

[nachoconqueso]

I have to agree on this one. I return a lot of LumaTeks.

The ones from 4-6 years ago are pretty dependable, they are all HydroFarm plugs. But when they altered the manufacturing and added the Sun Plug models that's when they really went to shit. Recently though it looks like they are back on track. No more HydroFarm plugs but the newer LumaTeks with the Sun Plugs have been okay for the last 4-6 months. Time will tell but they may have gotten their shit together...

I would never buy one. But I'm less inclined to suggest against them today than I was last year.

Doesn't lumatek only make ballasts? A company has got to be pretty bad when they fuck up their one and only product. They were also notorious for blowing hortiluxs a few years back. Fuk em. There's way better companies out there with way better track records.

 

[draco]

i had a Lumatek that puked at 1 month, replaced at no charge to me..


since then i have had two adj Lumatek, been running them for over four years with no problems whatsoever. love the adjust-ability.

whatever digital you run, put a small fan on it. i have heard that cool ballasts last longer...