Is this 600W system any good?

Clown Baby

Well-Known Member
ballast is an investment.
you should get a quality one.

honestly though id suggest you get either a hydrofarm magnetic, or a quantum digital.
the quantum ballasts are really nice, they are dimmable 50=75=100%, too. which is good when you're first putting clones/seedlings in your system
 

Paperhouse

Active Member
ballast is an investment.
you should get a quality one.

honestly though id suggest you get either a hydrofarm magnetic, or a quantum digital.
the quantum ballasts are really nice, they are dimmable 50=75=100%, too. which is good when you're first putting clones/seedlings in your system
Yeah you're right.

I found a Quantum 600W Balast on eBay for $150

http://cgi.ebay.com/600-watt-Balllast-HPS-MH-Electronic-Ballast-Quantum-/200379225076?_trksid=p3284.m263&_trkparms=algo=SIC&its=I&itu=UCI%2BIA%2BUA%2BFICS%2BUFI&otn=21&pmod=190454359826&ps=54

Another case of too good to be true or should I jump on it quick?

Sorry I'm just really paranoid when it comes to ordering online and I have no good hydro shops near me.
 

tibberous

Well-Known Member
You can get them cheaper than that: http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_SPM3038894902P?prdNo=8&blockNo=8&blockType=G8

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_SPM3038894702P?prdNo=19&blockNo=19&blockType=G19

Price doesn't equal quality, especially with electronics - it's all just a few dollars worth of parts, put together in China. You'd be amazed how many companies literally just buy shit from Alibaba and 'brand' it and resell it - most don't even bother to switch the picture from the manufacture provided one.
 

txpete77

Well-Known Member
I just bought the same system from Amazon last week (and found it slightly cheaper on the Sears link a couple days later - however I didn't pay for 2 day shipping with Amazon). Everything works fine out of the box, although the ballast is a bit noisy due to the internal fans. The hood seems to be decent quality, as does everything else so far. I'm going to fire up a grow journal in the next day or so (as soon as the babies have germinated), so I'll keep everyone posted on how this works out.

There is one thing... Running the MH bulb I measured the power draw on each dimmer setting:
100% / 690W
75% / 500W
50% / 400W

It seems a bit inefficient to me, but I don't have a point of reference with higher quality ballast to compare to.
 

Paperhouse

Active Member
You can get them cheaper than that: http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_SPM3038894902P?prdNo=8&blockNo=8&blockType=G8

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_SPM3038894702P?prdNo=19&blockNo=19&blockType=G19

Price doesn't equal quality, especially with electronics - it's all just a few dollars worth of parts, put together in China. You'd be amazed how many companies literally just buy shit from Alibaba and 'brand' it and resell it - most don't even bother to switch the picture from the manufacture provided one.
Well Amazon offers free shipping while Sears charges $35 so they come out to about the same. Appreciate the info though.

I just bought the same system from Amazon last week (and found it slightly cheaper on the Sears link a couple days later - however I didn't pay for 2 day shipping with Amazon). Everything works fine out of the box, although the ballast is a bit noisy due to the internal fans. The hood seems to be decent quality, as does everything else so far. I'm going to fire up a grow journal in the next day or so (as soon as the babies have germinated), so I'll keep everyone posted on how this works out.

There is one thing... Running the MH bulb I measured the power draw on each dimmer setting:
100% / 690W
75% / 500W
50% / 400W

It seems a bit inefficient to me, but I don't have a point of reference with higher quality ballast to compare to.
Nice. I'll be following your grow journal. Is the ballast so noisy that you wouldn't be able to sleep in the same room with it? Also what does your cooltube setup look like as far as intake/exhaust go.
 

LRGenius420

Member
quantum ballasts are great, I use a 600w dimmable, and have huge results, I also used a 1000 watt hydrofarm phantom ballast, it workd good but i do not rely on hydro farm at allllllllllllllllll so i got rid of it for the quantum! my plants seem to really like the 600, i feel it is more about the bulb ur pushin in there and the quality of light spread from your hood.. I went from magnumm xxl to blockbuster and saw better light spread IMO
 

txpete77

Well-Known Member
Nice. I'll be following your grow journal. Is the ballast so noisy that you wouldn't be able to sleep in the same room with it? Also what does your cooltube setup look like as far as intake/exhaust go.
I have no fans or filters inside my tent (2x4x5). I have an inline 275 CFM fan pulling from outside, attached to the socket end of the hood, venting outside the house
 

Paperhouse

Active Member
I have no fans or filters inside my tent (2x4x5). I have an inline 275 CFM fan pulling from outside, attached to the socket end of the hood, venting outside the house
Interesting. I may end up doing the same. Is the bulb still cool to touch with just that one fan?
 

txpete77

Well-Known Member
Interesting. I may end up doing the same. Is the bulb still cool to touch with just that one fan?
The bulb? Hell no, but the glass shield (I think that is what you meant) can be touched and held to for at least 10 seconds. 275 CFM is a fair amount of air movement, and keeps the temps in the tent about 5F degrees if I run it at 50%. I think I'll eventually need a fan pushing out of the tent as well, but I'll worry about that when the time comes.

EDIT: Forgot about your first question... Yeah it's loud, I wouldn't want to sleep in there with it.
 

Clown Baby

Well-Known Member
that quantum you found is a pretty good deal.

DONT GET THE CHINESE KNOCKOFF BRAND.
when it fails, you will be fucked.

quantum makes quality gear that will last.
 

tibberous

Well-Known Member
Well Amazon offers free shipping while Sears charges $35 so they come out to about the same.
Nope, it has free shipping - least it did for me. Some items have shipping and some don't - basically Sears made their own amazon. What is really sweet is that you can go to Sears, get a Sears card, then max it out on growlights -- good trick if your wondering how the fuck to get all the stuff you need to start growing. You can also do this with Home Depot to get all your ducting / electrical / wood / paint / PVC / buckets / tools / totes / ect .... In general, it's easier to get cards, and higher limits, on department store cards.
 

txpete77

Well-Known Member
Just a quick update on the light system... Four weeks in and no problems, so far I'm pleased with my purchase.
 

RawBudzski

Well-Known Member

collective gardener

Well-Known Member
You may want to think about purchasing from your local hydro shop (if you have one). Of the 22 ballasts we purchased for our current grow, 1 was bad out of the box, and 1 died in a week. We returned them to our hydro shop and walked out with a new ballast. Returning via mail is a bitch and can fuck your whole crop waiting for replacement. Our store even started stocking the nutes we use just for us.

As far as price goes, negotiate. Show them internet price quotes. If they can't match them, they'll get closer than you think. We get everything from our local store for 25% off retail. Granted, we've made some large orders, but the discount was negotiated prior to spending a dime. Hydro stores are popping up everywhere. The competition is good for us growers. They want your business, and will reduce prices to get it. If it's a good store and you're a good customer, you'll find yourself leaving with armfulls of free samples.

Anyways, just a thought. Sometimes the lowest price isn't always what's best for the grow in the long term.


https://www.rollitup.org/indoor-growing/407048-20-000-watt-medical-grow.html
 
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