Bulb and Ballast Question (+rep avail)

Hey guys

I'm ready to purchase my equipment from Canada Wholesale Hydroponics online...and I have a few questions.

When choosing options for my 400WHPS kit - I have a few questions...

Ballast: Do I stick with the regular ballast "enclosed ballast in ballast box" or upgrade to a digitial ballast? What are the advantages of a digital ballast?

Bulb: The standard kit includes the Phillips bulb. I have the option to upgrade to: Hortilux Super HPS (69.99 extra) What are the benifits of this other bulb?

Reflector: I plan to go with the Silverstarr cooltube (the only cooltube they offer) Is this a decent/known brand?

HPS QUIET? Would any of these upgrades help with the sound coming from my grow area? I want to keep the sound to a minimal - so keep in mind that for me; investing in sound control will be worth the extra coin

Thanks a LOT guys +Rep avail for your help

im selling my dual ballast set up lol. 430w system with 8 bulbs as well, but digital is easier and quiet to use, hortilux has more spectrum and is used for growing while the other is more industrial use but not worth it go with agro bulbs the sell them in dual spectrum as well and alot cheaper the tube is ok if cooled

The magnetic ballast will be quieter.

The normal bulb will be fine.

The cooltube should be fine as well.

I find digital ballast to be quieter than magnetic. That reflector should be fine.

If you're on a budget, stick with the cheap bulb. If you can afford it, get the Hortilux. You're plants are always going to want some of the blue spectrum, even during flowering. That's what this bulb provides.

I find most noise comes from the fan more than anything else. Just the price of doing business.

dpjones said:

The magnetic ballast will be quieter.

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sorry dude, this is false,
a magnetic ballast is way louder than a digital ballast,
also digital ballast are far more efficient.
I'm not sure how you came up with this info

Digi ballast if u can afford it. cheaper on power usage, more efficient, will give a more constant light. if the bulb is a Sont a gro made by phillips it will have the 33k of extra blue (433watt) so dont waste your money on the hortilux. A cooltube is a cooltube they are all about the same. get one with a shade on top to spread light.

Madazz

madazz said:

Digi ballast if u can afford it. cheaper on power usage, more efficient, will give a more constant light. if the bulb is a Sont a gro made by phillips it will have the 33k of extra blue (433watt) so dont waste your money on the hortilux. A cooltube is a cooltube they are all about the same. get one with a shade on top to spread light.

Madazz

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How can a digi ballast be cheaper on power usage? Other than a quicker start up, a 1000w bulb will draw the same power to burn the bulb no matter which ballast is supplying the power. But digi's do stay cooler than magnetic ballasts. And they are a hell of a lot lighter. As for the bulb I have always used hortilux with great results and I use all cool tubes. the cool tubes are basically the same, but like the poster above said...get the one with a shield reflector on top.

Electronic ballasts are more efficient than magnetic ballast in converting input power to the proper lamp power, that's why a magnetic ballast will run hotter. With a digital ballast more power actually get's through to the bulb so you're going to get more lumens per watt of electricity consumed.

Magnetic ballast also degrade over time and become less efficient as time goes on. Digital ballast can fail but they won't lose efficiency over time.

I can't remember for sure but I think a digital ballast is ~15-20% more efficient than a magnetic ballast.

tat2ue said:

How can a digi ballast be cheaper on power usage? Other than a quicker start up, a 1000w bulb will draw the same power to burn the bulb no matter which ballast is supplying the power.

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end of the line said:

sorry dude, this is false,
a magnetic ballast is way louder than a digital ballast,
also digital ballast are far more efficient.
I'm not sure how you came up with this info

Click to expand...

Oh cock sorry, I meant to write digital

However, i am building my own hood, what part do i need to order in order to connect the lamp to the ballast. I know it is a socket but is it something special... Im searching online and cant figure it out!

Here is a link to the ballast that is comming....

http://www.wormsway.com/detail.aspx?t=prod&sku=LDB138&AC=1

Thanks , CC

Wormsway carries a socket/cord set.

http://www.wormsway.com/detail.aspx?t=prod&sku=SSC190&AC=1

customcloset said:

So if i just bought my 25- digital ballast on ebay. It comes with nothing just the ballast. Now i Know i need the cord set to get the power and that is on the way.​

However, i am building my own hood, what part do i need to order in order to connect the lamp to the ballast. I know it is a socket but is it something special... Im searching online and cant figure it out!

Here is a link to the ballast that is comming....

http://www.wormsway.com/detail.aspx?t=prod&sku=LDB138&AC=1

Thanks , CC

Click to expand...

HELP i just got a new mh hps switchable ballest and reflector, i havnt tried my hps but my mh bulb wont fully light up it just, the coil is burning blue
and wnt fully come on, do blown bulbs even do that or is that a sighn that it is blown??

Thanks again Techno Mage +rep thats two probs you have check off my list

Thanks,
CC

Why the DIY reflector? Not knocking it, I build my own compact T5 setups but you can buy a cooltube, which will include the socket and cord, for under $100.

TechnoMage said:

Why the DIY reflector? Not knocking it, I build my own compact T5 setups but you can buy a cooltube, which will include the socket and cord, for under $100.

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The DIY was mainly because i was planning on making the hood custom fit for the grow area of 2ft by 3ft. but you make a good point.

(i went to the home depot this morning and tallyed up the cost and it would be like 50 bucks to make w/o the cord set...

I found this one on worms way...


http://www.wormsway.com/detail.aspx?t=prod&sku=CJ106&AC=1

what do you think?

CC

Looks good to me but it might be a tight fit, remember you need to fit the duct hose in their too. HTG has a cooltube that's only 19" long if you need something shorter. http://www.htgsupply.com/viewproduct.asp?productID=48137

how do you build one anyways and what do you need to put in to hold up the light and ballast? i'm trying to figure this out cause i wanna swap to a hps for flowering instead of cfl's