600w hps boost?

Growingitalone · May 14, 2022

I have a digital ballast with a 600w hps.
It has the 660w boost option. At what point should it be switched to the boost option for anyone who has used them. I'm currently on week 3 of flower and wondering if I should switch it now or should it be left on 600w throughout the full grow?

conor c · May 14, 2022

Growingitalone said:
I have a digital ballast with a 600w hps.
It has the 660w boost option. At what point should it be switched to the boost option for anyone who has used them. I'm currently on week 3 of flower and wondering if I should switch it now or should it be left on 600w throughout the full grow?

Long as its a dimmable bulb you using in it u can turn it up if you want

hillbill · May 14, 2022

Use that boost anytime but it will put some wear on the bulb, a lot of good has come from 600 watts though.

Herb & Suds · May 14, 2022

I would turn it up to boost until the last two weeks of flower

Growingitalone · May 14, 2022

conor c said:
Long as its a dimmable bulb you using in it u can turn it up if you want

It came as a kit with the bulb ballast and reflector.

Growingitalone · May 14, 2022

hillbill said:
Use that boost anytime but it will put some wear on the bulb

Will be getting new bulbs soon as this grow is complete

inth3shadowz · May 14, 2022

I have 2x 600w hps/MH...I personally am keeping it set at 600 til the end no boost. I'm not a fan of adding extra wear and tear to my devices.

Star Dog · May 14, 2022

For the price of a bulb wear wouldn't be a concern of mine, I'd boost it 4-5 wk 12-12.
I only use a bulb for 2 grows max preferably one, my thinking is even 1% increased yeild makes it a bargain at £25

Horselover fat · May 14, 2022

IMO it's a gimmick. I never used the boost option on my ballast. HPS in tents are scary enough without any extra worries, and I doubt you get the full 10% more photons, but I could be wrong. Adding some leds makes more sense if you need more light, imo.

hillbill · May 14, 2022

Better to stick a good 100w-150w Quantum Board beside it, buy once, no bulbs.

Growingitalone · May 14, 2022

I'm only going to use this bulb once so wear isn't a concern for me. I dont need extra light but my thinking is why not increase to 660w and try to get the most out of this bulb. If it's advisable to keep it at 600w then I would. This is my first grow so I'm still learning what is best. I will keep this one at 600w as its doing well upto now as is, I'll maybe experiment on future grows with the added boost option.

hillbill · May 14, 2022

Old bulb will be like a new 600 if you finish it with boost, there is a falloff.

conor c · May 14, 2022

I use mine but only last couple of weeks

jondamon · May 14, 2022

Star Dog said:
For the price of a bulb wear wouldn't be a concern of mine, I'd boost it 4-5 wk 12-12.
I only use a bulb for 2 grows max preferably one, my thinking is even 1% increased yeild makes it a bargain at £25

I’ve always been under the impression that “boost” ability on ballasts were meant for an older bulb that had lost some of its efficiency and then you hit “boost” to get those lost lumens back before replacing the bulb.

hillbill · May 14, 2022

Some here are “Balls to the Wall” type so it’s every watt all the time.
I can see that.

Growingitalone · May 14, 2022

jondamon said:
I’ve always been under the impression that “boost” ability on ballasts were meant for an older bulb that had lost some of its efficiency and then you hit “boost” to get those lost lumens back before replacing the bulb.

I'm not sure as I'm new to this that's why I asked the question, I did think it was to try and increase yield during flower myself, by maximising the lights output. The bulb can be replaced for £20 so replacing isn't an issue after each cycle. I'm going to leave as is though just incase I do have any issues using it.

hotrodharley · May 14, 2022

Growingitalone said:
I'm not sure as I'm new to this that's why I asked the question, I did think it was to try and increase yield during flower myself, by maximising the lights output. The bulb can be replaced for £20 so replacing isn't an issue after each cycle. I'm going to leave as is though just incase I do have any issues using it.

Check bulb manufacturers literature on it. Personally I’d just buy a 1000 dimmable before I started boosting.

xtsho · May 14, 2022

I never use the Super Lumens setting.

Star Dog · May 14, 2022

jondamon said:
I’ve always been under the impression that “boost” ability on ballasts were meant for an older bulb that had lost some of its efficiency and then you hit “boost” to get those lost lumens back before replacing the bulb.

Yes iirc that was the intended purpose but with intending to change them frequently I wanted the most from them, there's also a little more heat on boost which doesn't go wrong when I'm trying to keep down humidity.

hillbill · May 14, 2022

60 watts of power is 10% more heat

600w hps boost?

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