Magnetic Ballast Recommendations

Bricksquad2625

Bricksquad2625

Well-Known Member
I've only grown with LEDS, thinking of adding a 600W HPS/MH and I'm looking for a good quality magnetic ballast? All in one package would be great. I'm going with magnetic because of the rf issues with digital, unless anyone knows of a good digi ballast that doesn't have issues? I appreciate the advice, I have a 600w led and a 500w led and love em, just want to try and pull a couple elbows
 
KapnKirk

KapnKirk

Active Member
Definitely go with an electric ballast. Youlle be paying a little more out the gate but there is way more upside: magnetic ballasts only have a two year warrenty, and like ford trucks they conveniently break down juust after the warrenty expires (funny how they do that lol). Also the magnetic ones are much bigger. I have three electric ballasts in my room and they are screw to the ceiling out of the way, i would dare try that with a magnetic. But the main reason to stay away from them is that they claim to be cheaper to run but the longer you run them the more juice they draw, and IF it doesnt shit out after two years youlle be paying double on electric. Also the longer they run the louder the "hum" gets so after two years youlle have a big ass metal box in the way, your bills will be higher, and IF its still working it'l be loud as hell. Hope i said enough to steer you away lol happy growing
 
Stompromper

Stompromper

Well-Known Member
Disagree. Magnetics break and you can buy a 10 part and fix them. Digis shit out all the time too. I run one of each, I have no problems with magnetically at all and when my digi goes I will replace it with a much cheaper magnetic.
 
polo the don

polo the don

Well-Known Member
I only use digital balasts. I even have two cheap ones in my veg room, Apollo and ipower, and I have a tv less than 10 feet from them and have not had any RF issues at all.
 
Bricksquad2625

Bricksquad2625

Well-Known Member
Thanks everyone, I was mainly concerned with the RF issues, in the ghetto they like to put pig stations hidden into community recreation centers, didn't want to fuck with any radios or neighbors
 
Bricksquad2625

Bricksquad2625

Well-Known Member
I have one of those hidden stations in my rec center, I used to be in the construction business and this is something big cities do FYI
 
Aeroknow

Aeroknow

Well-Known Member
Stompromper said:
Disagree. Magnetics break and you can buy a 10 part and fix them. Digis shit out all the time too. I run one of each, I have no problems with magnetically at all and when my digi goes I will replace it with a much cheaper magnetic.
Click to expand...
I'm with you on this.
I've been growing indoor for about 24 yrs. Needless to say, I've owned ALLOT of ballasts.
About ten years ago (give or take), when I noticed digis in the store, I bought 4. All 4 died within 2yrs. I can't remember the warranty length, but into the landfill they went.
I can only imagine that the digis made nowadays are built better, but i'm still stickin with magnetic. I have lots of buddys rockin digis though;-)
I/we replace caps every other year, whether you think you need to or not. It's amazing how much the caps fade, before you actually know something is up. Makes a brand new ballast. Keep an extra cap and ignitor on hand and you can fix them whenever.
I've only had maybe 2-3/100 ballasts fail due to something other than the cap or ignitor(I blew up three new ones, but that was from one single, fucked up bulb/my bad). My cheap ass friend has 8 of my old ballasts from probably 20 yrs ago. The rest, I've hooked up other people with, through the years.(and one big bust :-( )
 
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Bricksquad2625

Bricksquad2625

Well-Known Member
Aeroknow said:
I'm with you on this.
I've been growing indoor for about 24 yrs. Needless to say, I've owned ALLOT of ballasts.
About ten years ago (give or take), when I noticed digis in the store, I bought 4. All 4 died within 2yrs. I can't remember the warranty length, but into the landfill they went.
I can only imagine that the digis made nowadays are built better, but i'm still stickin with magnetic. I have lots of buddys rockin digis though;-)
I/we replace caps every other year, whether you think you need to or not. It's amazing how much the caps fade, before you actually know something is up. Makes a brand new ballast. Keep an extra cap and ignitor on hand and you can fix them whenever.
I've only had maybe 2-3/100 ballasts fail due to something other than the cap or ignitor(I blew up three new ones, but that was from one single, fucked up bulb/my bad). My cheap ass friend has 8 of my old ballasts from probably 20 yrs ago. The rest, I've hooked up other people with, through the years.(and one big bust :-( )
Click to expand...
Any brands? I was going to order online
 
Bricksquad2625

Bricksquad2625

Well-Known Member
Stompromper said:
Disagree. Magnetics break and you can buy a 10 part and fix them. Digis shit out all the time too. I run one of each, I have no problems with magnetically at all and when my digi goes I will replace it with a much cheaper magnetic.
Click to expand...
any brand recommendations?
 
Aeroknow

Aeroknow

Well-Known Member
Bricksquad2625 said:
Any brands? I was going to order online
Click to expand...
Well, i've been going with sunsystem cropmaster ballasts for many years lately(was always going with hydrofarm). I've never bought less expensive from online. But i just can't imagine there being a problem with the cheaper ones. As long as it has what you want, I just don't see how you could go wrong. In the end, they all do the same thing;-)
 
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