My digital ballast just failed mid 12/12 in the 1st week of flower.

Bought a new digital ballast last week. Tonight it went off 6 times in total, over a period of 3 hours (about 2 minutes a time and for 5 mins while I removed the new lighting and put my old cfls back in). This is a stable strain that doesn't seem to be prone to stress (i have been growing it for 18 months). I think my girls will be OK, but I would be nice if someone who has had this happen to them, could provide some reassurance.

It's the processor in the ballast.. What brand is it?

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Originally Posted by GaGrown

It's the processor in the ballast.. What brand is it?

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Exolux Dimmable Ballast 300/400/600/660

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Originally Posted by PhatJay

Exolux Dimmable Ballast 300/400/600/660

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Is it under warranty? That is a european ballast.. I can't tell you what may be wrong with it.. Totally different insides.. Versus a USA model. Sorry man!

I took it back to the store and got a new ballast. The original bulb was emitting a high pitched sound, so they replaced that aswell.

The guy serving me said he personally was uncomfortable with the idea of running a 250w bulb at 300w (This ballast is sold as being able to use 250,400 and 600w bulbs). So if I have any more issues I will use my 400w bulb and run that at 300. If it cannot run 250w bulbs I will probably take it back and buy something else.

Well..... It failed AGAIN. Looks like running a 250w bulb at 300w is a bad idea. You would think that a hydroponics specialist that supplies schools. colleges and government would know better.

Lumatek switchable 600's work great for me. I would recommend to stop overdriving your bulbs. If you get a switchable ballast, get a matching bulb. 600 with a 600. I use Digilux bulbs with the Lumatek and can run them at 600, 400 and 360 watts.

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Originally Posted by Farmer Rich

I would recommend to stop overdriving your bulbs.

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I agree, I was not comforatable overdriving a bulb by 20%, but I trusted in the advice of my grow shop. They got it wrong this time.

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Originally Posted by Farmer Rich

If you get a switchable ballast, get a matching bulb. 600 with a 600. I use Digilux bulbs with the Lumatek and can run them at 600, 400 and 360 watts.

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I can only run 250w atm due to temp issues (I have an extract fan but no intake fan), I think I will be able to step up to 400 if I get an intake fan. Lumatek don't do a ballast that switches between 250/400.

I have put a 400w Son-T in for now running at 300w (the 250's that started failing after a week were Son-T's as well) Do you know what effect that will have on the bulbs spectrum? I ask this, because I now have a decision to make and I am not sure which way to go. I think I have the following options......

1, Keep the kit I have already bought and run a 400w Son-T @ 300w (least hassle)
2, Return this kit and buy a 250/400w switchable from another supplier as this shop does not sell 250/400w switchable ballasts (most hassle)
3, Return everything and go back to growing with 500w of CFL's

Improving my induction/extraction is not going to be straightforward, so I might not be able to ever switch up to 400w of HPS lighting. Running a 400w bulb @ 300w (if it doesn't effect the spectrum too much) might be my best option. My grow shop says that because Son-T's produce light in the orange/red spectrum, running at lower wattages does not affect the light spectrum as much as it would if I were using Growlux/Sunmaster bulbs (this is my flowering tent).

I have one other issue aswell, all the bulbs I have had so far have made a high pitched whining sound, which is doing my head in. When I took the 1st lot back they said that this wasn't normal. Do all HPS bulbs make high pitched whining noises when switching on?

I doubt that light interruptions like that would cause hermies. Simulated clouds, yeah? It would take an extended effort. I believe that light leaks are a much greater threat.

I have a powerhouse magnetic ballast. It runs nice and clean with an 8 year warranty. Hard to beat that! 400w and I run a ceramic metal halide. Love it so far.

Hey PhatJay, I was looking at the feeding chart in the album under your profile. I left you a message. Nice little chart there although I use botanicare coupled with FFOF.

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Originally Posted by PhatJay

Well..... It failed AGAIN. Looks like running a 250w bulb at 300w is a bad idea. You would think that a hydroponics specialist that supplies schools. colleges and government would know better.

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Actually you're overdriving the bulb , bad idea all around. Additionally you may well wish to take a close look at what sort of RF signature that fancy digital ballast is emitting. If I have to elaborate on this factor say so. It would well behoove you to consider it.

If you wish to operate at multiple wattages it's a good idea to purchase the bulbs for each rather than overdrive or underdrive a given wattage bulb.