Hey everyone,

I am looking to buy my first big light setup (HPS), and I am trying to decide whether it is worth the extra money to buy an electronic ballast (1000w Lumatek) or just to get a magnetic ballast such as a Sun System 1000w. If there is a noticeable difference that makes the electronic ballast better, I would be more inclined to spend the extra cash. Also, could someone tell me the differences between the Sun system 1, 6, 10, etc? Thanks a lot

high wattage digital ballasts (1k) will tend to fail at a lower mean time than magnetic, however, many come with warranties which makes this moot. A lifetime warranty leaves only inconvenience if it fails.

Digitals tend to generate less heat than magnetics, though the newest magnetics from sun system run very cool.

Personally I'd get whichever one has a better warranty for the least price. At this point either one will serve you well. Though I would highly reccomend you run a good bulb, like the eye hortilux super hps, for example.

I would choose the electronic only because of heat and failure rate.

I have always used magnetic. A warranty surely does not make a ballast failure a moot point. It could mean a totally messed up grow, something a warranty will not cover...months of wasted work.

Somethng else to think about on this topic, IMO....

while most ballasts are warrantied, what do you have to do to get TO that service when things go wrong?

Lotsa folks on the Net badmouth hydro stores...but if you buy at a mom/pop store chances are VERY good that they have a loaner ballast you can use while yours is in the shop WHEN something does go wrong.

Buy on the Internet...yeah..you may save some $$$...but when the **** hits the fan and the ballast craps out...no one from the Internet will care or give a rat's ass about your grow.

check the Quantum dimmable ballasts if you go e-ballast. Worth the extra $$$ IMO because it is so incredibly versatile.

shine brightly, regardless

ww

Another thing to consider while purchasing a ballast is that the standard metal magnetic ballasts are very heavy and costly to ship whereas the digital are lighter BUT make sure you keep them at a distance from other digital equipment like your television.
The waves will cross and become distorted
It will still work but your television may have a lot of static.
..........might have to put it on the other side of the room

Hi there,
IMO three main reasons to go with the electronic, first, it will not start if your light bulb is not right (magnetic ballasts will always start even if your bulb is not giving enough lumens); second, electronic ballasts will save you power$$$, and third, no more heating problems with the electronic ballasts
Hope this help
Peace

As I said in my post, having a ballast under warranty fail leaves only the inconvenience of your warranty being honored. I've had ballasts fail on me before (under warranty) and have had a new ballast within 24 hours each time.

I also purchase ballasts locally, to ensure the minimum inconvenience possible.

I'm sure there are Internet dealers that would overnight you a new one with a return box, but I don't know of them.

If a ballast burning out ruins your grow, something is wrong.

Not only will this happen but it does mess with tri-meters. It will cause them to give you false readings. So if you get a elec. ballast make sure to keep away from you meters.

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The thing with the ballast is that it is expensive and the warranty replacement might not get to you very fast. If you don't have the money to buy a replacement, you might have a problem.

I would go for the one with the lowest failure rate.

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I've had 6-600 watt Lumatek ballasts cranking away less than 6 ft from my Trimeter for 2+ years now and have seen no interference. Likewise with the TV/phone/etc. Nada.

The ballasts also run warm/hot. I mounted mine on 1x's and a peice of wonderboard just to be safe rather than directly on the wall.

Instant light. Kick em off and on and there's none of that "did it fry the lamp? Why is it taking so long to relight? crapola! BAM. Light.

I still have a dozen mag coils sitting around for spares.

nyuk..nyuk. now there's a warranty...

ww

Thank everyone for the input, I am still unable to move for a month or so, so theres no point in making a purchase yet, I am just trying to decide what it is I will buy when the time comes. So far i think the Lumatek 1k sounds like what I WANT to buy, but it is going to really be an expensive light setup to buy the lumatek 1k, bulb, and reflector all at the same time. worth it i bet

You can save some money by taking a trip to the DIY section.

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Hey Ibgmd7, Well there's alot to be said about ballest,so here's what I have and know.I run Galaxy 400watt ballest,one has been in operation for 3 years now and no trouble and the other one is doing fine too.Yes it's cheaper to run elec ballest than the mag type.The warrenant are differner,galaxy is 5 years 3 are full replacement the last two are prorated.Now adays the ballest are RF sheilded so there's no interference with other electrons.The old ones didnt but the newer ones do.I dont like lumteck they are over priced for the same ballest of other makers.Now If you want a hydro store that stands by what he sells and will bent over backwards is are sponsor juston at HIDHUT.You have a problem with anything he sells he's on it and fixing it right away.Somebody here had a blub that didnt work and called HIDHUT and juston send him one out after he hung up the phone,he didnt wait for the bad one to come back.Now That's service.Back to the ballest,the eletronce ballest are the way to go,they run cheaper,cooler{heat},and you get all the lumnes it puts out,as a mag over time lessens it's out put.Three main ballest that most use are the 1000,600 and the 400 in there grow area.The 400 and 1000 runs both MH&HPS blubs,where asthe 600 you have to get a conversation blub for the MH,it runs the HPS just the MH you need a conversation blub.If you would look at HIDHUT ballest they are good ones and he stands behind them too.For my money I run galaxy and HIDHUT ballest and the 400 blubs are cheaper too.There's the blubs,I dont buy the eye and all the pose to be better blubs I run the $14.00 ones and have just as good of a harvest as the other guy.Well that's my take on Ballest. Peace

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galaxy makes a good ballast...as does Lumatek.

But to say that Lumateks are overpriced is incorrect, IMO. Maybe a few years ago this was true...but not today. Look around and see...both are comparable price-wise....and the Lumateks are often cheaper. like this example:

Lumatek 600 Watt Electronic Ballast HPS/MH 240V - eBay (item 320380943753 end time Jul-06-09 18:56:21 PDT)

Galaxy Digital Ballasts - - Galaxy 600 Watt Digital MH / HPS Ballast - 120 / 240 Volt

I like my 600's...but if I were building another room I'd go with 1000's. Less hoods/ducting/lamps/etc to F' with....all of which takes up space and in the end, will cost the user about the same to purchase on a multiple light set up.

my $.02 anyway.... great thread.

Rock 'em no matter what, Boys!

ww

I have a couple points to make, first is, yes I failed ballast (alone) can ruin a grow, and months of work. Pot plants tend to get pissed off if you mess with them, and a failed ballast, (a missed light cycle) can cause hermies.

Also you make a good point on your buying local. I do not buy local, only because I have a good relationship with two online vendors I've dealt with for a long long time. I do believe in customer loyality. Hid hut, a sponser here, is great to deal with and a recent problem I had with a failed ballast I bought about 5 years ago, yeah a magnetic one! lol I bought it from htgsupply and without any questions, they sent a replacement free of charge. That was pretty nice of them to do considering it was out of warranty, I believe they did this because I am loyal to them.

thank you everyone for the responses, and thank you oldman for your input. I decided to go local and ended up with a 1000w lumatek w/ a 6" magnum xxxl reflector. i have yet to have it all set up and fired up but it should be quite a bright one.

anyone have any guesses about how much temperature would rise with a 6" inline fan, carbon air scrubber, and air cooled 1000w light? Its a cool basement with ambient of about 65-72... not too worried, just curious

you need to tell what the cfm of the fan is, there is actually a math equation for this somewhere.