Digital Ballasts

Mogie

I got mine from HTG Digital Electronic 600 watt about a year ago. After reading this I decided to get one. The prices are now about the same as those heavy nosiey old ones.

The DIGITAL GREENHOUSE ballast features patented ”soft-start” technology which increases lamp life and stops voltage spikes on your power meter. The soft-start technology allows for 50% less power consumption during lamp startup and drastically reduced energy consumption overall.

The DIGITAL GREENHOUSE electronic ballast is lighter, smaller and more reliable than standard technology ”core and coil”ballasts. It is also virtually silent, no noise or hum.! The ballast is totally sealed, which protects the unit from dust and dirt, ensuring a lifetime of trouble-free operation.

The DIGITAL GREENHOUSE electronic ballast has a built in ”smart chip” and AUTOMATICALLY adjusts to Metal Halide or High Pressure Sodium bulbs. There is no need for a ”switch”or to change systems, simply change from MH for vegetative growth to HPS for the flowering phase of growth.

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BloodShotI'z

I should have done a bit more investigating before I got my last light/ballast.

My next questioln if anyone knows is....Can any light be coupled with a digi ballast? And can a ballast switch be made without too much hassle?

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ISO2BWELL

Any lamp of the proper rating (ie: 400W lamp with 400W ballast) can be operated. The difference between the HPS and MH lamps is that the MH does not draw as much current as the HPS, so if you use a HPS ballast to operate a MH lamp you might lose about 20% of the total lamp life due to the gases being overdriven by the additional current. Waveform is the same to both lamps and technically most digital HPS ballasts will operate with MH lamps

Biggest hassle in switching ballasts is the lamp cord's can have different plugs (that go into the ballast). You might have to re-wire the lamp cord (10 minutes max) and you are set to go. Be sure to get the right ballast-to-lamp cord when you order the ballast.

Hope that helps!

ISO

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knottyd

Anyone have any updates as to elec. costs drops or issues. Gonna grab a digi ballast soon, I'm pretty much sold on digi ballasts just need that extra push.

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Pappy

A few days ago, someone stated that the digital ballast reduced overall cost by only $10 - $20 per year. I still use the old Mag/coil type. The lowered current draw upon starting with the digital ballast, does seem to be a help for stealth.

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tokecrazy

Hey Guys&Gals,I like the digital alot ,I have two 400 watt Galaxy digitals.They are quit you dont know there on.Just warm to the touch,I can pick it up and hold it.Draws 3.25 amps so it dose save a little on the electric bill.The only thing is if you are testing your hydro mix in the res or Dwc buckets and the ballest is close{with in two or three feet} it will mess with your ph meter readings.But five feet or farther away no problems.No heat problems low amp draw,cheaper on electric,no noisy hum,runs both hps&mh blubs,soft start up,automatic switching,all round the digitals are the best for me. PEACE

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bam86aus

im just running a new lumatek 600watt e-ballest top notch will let you all know how it go's

BaM

jangel

I have a question that doesn't really fit here but maybe it does.

Say if you have a 400w ballast and do not need 400w of light, can a smaller bulb be used or will it blow it out? I know on a regular lamp you can use a say, 40-60 or 100w bulb. What about a ballast? Say if I wanted to just veg on a ballast. I have 400w one, with a convesion hps bulb in it now for flower. Could I run a 250w mh bulb if I wanted to veg in a smaller area with it? Or must it be a 400w bulb?

Thanks guys.

Peace

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j-angel


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bam86aus

most ballests wont work or you will get a false start up causeing a blown lamp or a flashing light with some or others just make some real bad noises i wouldnt recomend trying it

how are you jangel

tokecrazy

Hey Jangel,No you cant run a lower watt bulb then what the ballest is.400 watts will run a 400watt lamp.400 watts you can run a bigger watt lamp but it will not put out any more than the watts of the ballest.You can not use a smaller watt lamp then the ballest is to run.If you try to run a smaller watts lamp in a higher watt ballest it will BLOW UP FOR SURE.A 600 watt lamp in a 400 watt ballest you will get 400watts of light and the other 200 watts are wasted.Peace

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Anything I may say or do is stickly for entertainment only.This is all make believe and is not To believe by me or anyone