Ballast issues..

I have a Sun System Budget Grow ballast in a secret jardin grow-tent and I just noticed the light is not as strong as it should be/was.

I went back to where I spent over $400 getting it all set up and they said I would have to bring the ballast in and then they would send it away to get fixed.. HUH? Is that the normal response I should get from a store? My girls are almost ready to go into flower mode and this guy wants me to send in my ballast? I bought a new light bulb, just on the possibility that it might be the bulb (it's not) but I thought if I had gotten the wrong size bulb I could just bring it back and exchange it for the correct size, but noooo, they wouldn't even let me do that. Like I would lie about it and swap out the bulb or something..geez.

Just seems to be piss poor customer service but I thought I'd ask here if that is just the way it is, or what.

TIA,

did you take it in to get checked out? take it in and ask for a replacement and if they don't hook you up, tell us who sucks.

This is a normal response for most shops. It's good to have an extra ballast for these situations. Hydro Farm will swap your system out if you take it to the right shop, don't think Sun System will. If you buy another ballast go to The Big Tomato on E 6th Ave just past 225 and buy Hydro Farm, they have in house repairs and usually only take a few days (still to long) to repair, if the system is under warranty they might just swap it out right there (they have done this for me a couple of times). It wouldn't hurt to give them a call they might be able to fix your Sun System also.

will give that a try. Ballast is for 1000 watt but i was told/sold a 600 was ok.
Hard azz learning curve for me.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by notsheena

will give that a try. Ballast is for 1000 watt but i was told/sold a 600 was ok.
Hard azz learning curve for me.

---

Are you using a 600w bulb in a 1000w ballast? Is it a digital ballast?

yea, if it's switchable, the 600 is certainly NOT as bright as a 1000.

However, 600 is a great wattage to use. Is the tent for just a couple plants, kept pretty short? 600 may be where you want to be...

I have a Budget grow 2, switchable between 120/240v but that's it. I have it on 120. On the ballast it says, relamp with 1000 watt, S52 lamp.

The bulbs I was sold with the ballast are Ultra Sun 600HPS bulbs. The box says, "fixture watting must match wattage of bulb" the numbers on the bulb are S106.

It is a 4 by 4 by 6 ish tent and I currently have 7 ready to be set to 12/12 off.

I was thinking of getting a 1000HPS and putting it in and seeing if it works..good idea?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by notsheena

On the ballast it says, relamp with 1000 watt, S52 lamp.

The bulbs I was sold with the ballast are Ultra Sun 600HPS bulbs. The box says, "fixture watting must match wattage of bulb" the numbers on the bulb are S106.

---

That sounds like a problem.

IMO, a 1000W HPS will be fine for your tent, I've always used Eye Hortilux Super HPS bulbs.

sounds like a fire hazzard to me, use what the ballast says and nothing else.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MEDEDCANNABIS

sounds like a fire hazzard to me, use what the ballast says and nothing else.

---

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

Took ballast back, they swapped it out, got a 1000 watt bulb and now the girls are finally warming back up!

Thanks bunches..

fyi, growing Maui, AK, Dairy Queen, Northern Lights, Cherry Lime..

Smiles all around.:):):)