Digital Ballast 1000W HPS/MH

[stupids]

I need opinions from people that use these new digital ballasts...Is there really a difference (Energy use / light output / noise)

I like the fact that you could switch from hps/mh without switches

Should I stick with the normal core and coil...damn thing sounds like a diesel truck.

They claim I can get 10 -20 % more light output then the regular ballast...

Im skepticle !
:cool:

[killerweed420]

I've got a 1000w electronic ballast and a 600w digital ballast. The digital is definitely quieter and less heat. Couldn't tell you as far as performance though. They both work good.

[raeitek]

â?¢ raeitek 1000w electronic ballast size: 12 3/8l X 5 1/8w X 3 1/2h
â?¢ more lumens-20-30% more lumens than magnetic ballasts
â?¢ raeitek ballasts are 8-15% BRIGHTER than other brands on the market
â?¢ completely Silent-leave the humming and buzzing behind
â?¢ small compact Design-under 8 pounds
â?¢ completely Sealed from the inside and water resistant
â?¢ fast Start UP-Reaches full brightness in under a minute
â?¢ no Fans-Resin sealed industral case to ensure reliability
â?¢ cut-Off-Circuitry-Automatically shuts off in case of short
â?¢ reliable-every ballast is factory tested for 12 hours
â?¢ available in 240V and 120V
â?¢ microprocessor-controlled to ensure proper performance with every bulb

[Dutch Pimp]

is it UL rated?

[raeitek]

YES, it is FCC CE UL rated

[Dutch Pimp]

I've been waiting for digital ballasts to become UL rated...:thumbsup:

what's the difference between digital and electronic ballasts?.... How much for the raeitek 1000 watt?

[the image reaper]

one important trait to consider, if you live in an area that has unstable electricity, like my trailer park did, (occasional power outages, etc.) the digital ballasts are more vulnerable, and don't hold up well ... one advantage of the old magnetic-ballast systems, is their bulletproof 'use any electrical source' dependability ... or, so I'm told by career electricians ... :smokin:

[Dutch Pimp]

one important trait to consider, if you live in an area that has unstable electricity, like my trailer park did, (occasional power outages, etc.) the digital ballasts are more vulnerable, and don't hold up well ... one advantage of the old magnetic-ballast systems, is their bulletproof 'use any electrical source' dependability ... or, so I'm told by career electricians ... :smokin:


I agree IR. I'm magnetic all the way...:thumbsup:

but if the digitals are UL rated?...now?...(that used to mean UL put their tit through the ringer?)

[bananaslug]

one important trait to consider, if you live in an area that has unstable electricity, like my trailer park did, (occasional power outages, etc.) the digital ballasts are more vulnerable, and don't hold up well ... one advantage of the old magnetic-ballast systems, is their bulletproof 'use any electrical source' dependability ... or, so I'm told by career electricians ... :smokin:

If you use digital ballasts like I do, you should always use them with a surge protector. You have to treat them like they are little computers.:rasta:

Otherwise, they are great. Almost no noise, very little heat.

[oldmac]

one important trait to consider, if you live in an area that has unstable electricity, like my trailer park did, (occasional power outages, etc.) the digital ballasts are more vulnerable, and don't hold up well ... one advantage of the old magnetic-ballast systems, is their bulletproof 'use any electrical source' dependability ... or, so I'm told by career electricians ... :smokin:

Yup IR, the iron core ballasts are bullet proof, kinda reliable as a rock and about as advanced. You do pay for this though.....the typical iron core ballast uses between 10-20% above the bulb wattage, depending on the primary core windings (cheaper ballast use aluninum vs. copper windings and use more power).

The 1000w ballasts my partner is using in a cheap, quick grow we have going (I think they are hydrofarm) states on the label it uses 9.6amps @ 120volts; that's 1,152 watts per 1000watt bulb. Just by going to an electronic ballast you save 150watts, not to mention the noise. But I must admit, standing in the bloom room the humm of those two ballasts is hard to hear above the air noise of the fan used/needed to cool the lights!

Bannaslug makes a good suggestion about using a surge protecter to help protect a digi ballast. Also keep in mind electronic ballasts have already improved in the short time they have been around. Many of the first generation had a hard time firing enhanced bulbs and high output hps bulbs, where as the new ones don't seem to have that problem. Same thing with thier use on a generator, first generation digi ballast where not happy unless they saw a nice pure AC waveform, newer ones don't have this problem.

If you do decide to go to an electronic ballast (I would) go with an established mfg that builds a good product, I have used Lumatek (have a 600watt currently using a 600w MH for veg/moms) to avoid many problems.

Now I'll let you in on a secret, even digi ballasts are inefficent. In the same bloom room that has 2- 1000w hps (covering 4'x8') I have 2- TI pro-bloom LED lights, bolted together as one light, (covering 4'x4') and those 2 LED lights have a total power consumption of 660watts and they outproduce 1 HPS that uses 1,152watts. Yeah I said it, LED can produce MORE and BETTER then HPS, and save almost 500watts! Expensive solution tho.....if I hadn't bought them in better times I wouldn't be using them now.