Who Makes the Best Digital Ballast?

My420 · May 5, 2011

dadio161 said:
I have a 400W/600W Nextgen and I blow the fans off once a month with a can of air. Just a few short blasts to keep clean.

i had issues with the fans going out on 3 of my ballasts with Nextgen within 1 year so I went to Lumatek.. I like it much better especially for the dimable feature.

REALSTYLES · May 5, 2011

Lumatek sucks I've had 3 of them 1 600 and 2 1000watt ballast all of them went to shit after a year since then I went back to magnetic ballast they're tanks and can take a beating

My420 · May 5, 2011

Heyoka said:
I haven't seen any real reason that lumateks are considered good. I suspect that at this stage of the game that they are considered the best because they occupy the highest price point.

In this market there doesn't seem to be any kind of independent product testing and limited sharing of information. My local hydro store (a lumatek dealer) had stated that none of the brands they sell had distinguished themselves as being signifigantly more reliable than the others. They are all made in china.

I know that measuring real ouput from a ballast and bulb requires an integrating sphere which is a pricey bit of equipment and it would be a huge mistake to assume that ballasts from the same company are the same week to week . Operating environment, power quality and even circuit quality can effect a ballasts operation which makes it even more difficult to compare apples with apples.

It would be great to get what you pay for but with the dynamics of a global market that just isn't the case at all anymore. I think that you are more likely to get the best marketing department when buying at the highest price point.

I contend that there are great ballasts at all price points and that throwing money at the problem is the wrong way to go about it. I bought 2 Via Volts that may turn out to be shit. I'd heard that I could get lumateks for just 40 dollars more and at first regretted my purchase until I saw that my Via Volt ballasts actually have BETTER specs than the lumateks I was again pleased with my purchase. I do think that it would have been a good decision to buy the lumatek at that price point though. I would have kicked myself and seriously regretted my purchase if I'd bought a lumatek ballast for what some companies are charging for them.

I don't believe I would regret my purchase even if the Via Volt ballasts fail during my first grow. I haven't seen anything anywhere to lead me to believe that any of the ballasts made by any company are unreliable and that , unfortunately , failures happen.

My main reason for liking the Lumtek is the dimable feature and the super lumens output. Great for when I get clones first out and drop to 600 for a couple days then slam them into 1k watt :O

https://www.rollitup.org/general-marijuana-growing/429274-experimental-grow-pics-please-comment.html#post5680747

dnkfrmthasoilz7 · May 5, 2011

Lumatek is and will be the industry standard for HID ballast's. They are dimmable and don't have a fan component like the other leading competitor's that usually fail. Plus the ballast's them selves are pretty heavy duty last forever and run pretty cool.

DrFever · May 5, 2011

i found these and think there pretty good

http://www.sunblasterlighting.com/smart-ballasts.php

My420 · May 5, 2011

dnkfrmthasoilz7 said:
Lumatek is and will be the industry standard for HID ballast's. They are dimmable and don't have a fan component like the other leading competitor's that usually fail. Plus the ballast's them selves are pretty heavy duty last forever and run pretty cool.

Yea Had the issue with Nextgen Ballast, fans failing ballasts going out in the middle of the night

. Have not had issues so far with lumatek but ya never know..and I LOVE YOUR PIC NO TO ADVANCED NUTES. IGNORE THE HYPE, USE WHAT WORKS! I swear they target newbies because any person with experience after 1 harvest can tell it sucks something bad,,,

https://www.rollitup.org/general-marijuana-growing/429274-experimental-grow-pics-please-comment.html#post5680747

Buddy Ganga · May 5, 2011

I'm running all Lumitek.

4 600w dimmable/w super lumens, and a 1000w dimmable/w super lumens.

captainair1 · Jun 28, 2011

i was thinking about running the micro mole ballast from Humboldt county, but i am unsure if it runs both hps AND MH bulbs? i really want the ballast because it focuses more on efficiently distributing PAR and not lumens. and it also puts out more on the light meter when compared to lumatek. search the ballast on youtube from monster garden to see what i am talking about; PLUS it runs waaaaay more silent

dadio161 · Jun 28, 2011

A response from someone who has one post . Sounds like SPAM to meeeee.

captainair1 said:
i was thinking about running the micro mole ballast from Humboldt county, but i am unsure if it runs both hps AND MH bulbs? i really want the ballast because it focuses more on efficiently distributing PAR and not lumens. and it also puts out more on the light meter when compared to lumatek. search the ballast on youtube from monster garden to see what i am talking about; PLUS it runs waaaaay more silent

itslogics · Jun 28, 2011

I was just looking at new ballasts today, and I have found the one I wanted, Humbold County's Micromole. Check out the vid it's 12 mins but its definitely informative, its showing the difference in between lumatek and micromole. The micromole is blowing lumatek out of the water imo.

[video=youtube;PYcsQgInT8A]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYcsQgInT8A[/video]

captainair1 · Jun 28, 2011

no it's not spam i am a little new to the forum and that was my first post since i have just been lurking and learning. and i wanted to know if anyone here can tell me if the micro mole can run hps and mh bulbs cause i am not sure? i really want to buy the ballast but i dont know

itslogics · Jun 28, 2011

captainair1 said:
no it's not spam i am a little new to the forum and that was my first post since i have just been lurking and learning. and i wanted to know if anyone here can tell me if the micro mole can run hps and mh bulbs cause i am not sure? i really want to buy the ballast but i dont know

it can not run both lamps, thats the only downside of it, just use hps all the way through the grow.

Dubbz0r · Jun 28, 2011

I'm using two 1000w Baddass low frequency digital dimmable ballasts and they rock. Compared to all other 1000w digital ballasts, I would have to say that Baddass (advanced nutrients) really hit a homerun with these bad boys. Not to mention a 5 year money back guarantee!!
That's a sore dick right there........

can't beat it.

captainair1 · Jun 28, 2011

itslogics said:
it can not run both lamps, thats the only downside of it, just use hps all the way through the grow.

yea i guessed that much guess i was being too hopeful lol. i want to make sure that my first grow is legendary. btw dont i need mh bulbs to get a good vegetative stage, if i dont the plants will stretch i think and without hps lights the buds come out puffy and fluffy if i remember correctly. either way i want to run good lighting for my girls.

fishwhistle · Jun 29, 2011

I have been running a 600w quantum and soon will be running 6 with a flipbox so basically 24/7,has anyone else running a flip box with their ballasts?If there is a problem its sure to show when running twice as much.

420hydro · Jul 5, 2011

Anybody familiar with the Soli-Tek brand of digital ballasts. I stumbled across them the other day and liked what I saw ..... http://www.solis-tek.com/1000_watt_electronic_ballast_dimmable.html

crf450x · Jul 5, 2011

phantom for sure

ClosetSafe · Jul 12, 2011

itslogics said:
it can not run both lamps, thats the only downside of it, just use hps all the way through the grow.

I'm not entirely sure, but i think the Micromole Ballast is based off the gavita Digistar ballast.

And the micromole is advertised as being able to strike either MH or HPS.

MicroMole digital ballast. 120/240 V. MH/HPS. Fully adjustable multi-wattage (1000 watt suitable for 600/750/1000 watt lamp, 600 watt suitable for 400/600 watt lamps).

http://waytogrow.net/store/product/5003/MicroMole-Digital-Ballast-1000/

The GAVITA DigiStar ballasts have been developed to drive a wide range of HPS / MH lamps.

Gavita

http://humboldtcountylights.com/

itslogics · Jul 16, 2011

Well I stand corrected! Thanks for the info!

poorjunkie · Sep 9, 2011

420hydro said:
Anybody familiar with the Soli-Tek brand of digital ballasts. I stumbled across them the other day and liked what I saw ..... http://www.solis-tek.com/1000_watt_electronic_ballast_dimmable.html

I run 6 of them, and the Ignition Control feature is HUGE!!
check this out:
[video=youtube;Uw3dlCBxEVY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uw3dlCBxEVY[/video]

The lights will fire 1 at a time, with soft starting.. my electrician loves it, its the most well designed and efficient ballast on the market, i think u guys should check them out...

also the ballast runs cool as hell on 240v. i can put my face on it. no more than 80 degrees.

-pj

Who Makes the Best Digital Ballast?

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