Magnetic or electronic ballast?

The title pretty much says it...should I buy a magnetic or a electronic ballast?

Neither; go digital. A digital ballast is an electronic ballast, but an electronic ballast is not a digital ballast. Here's a link to a good one. This particular one is a 600w but it will run 360w and 400w bulbs as well. It also runs both MH and HPS. This is about as cheap as you'll find this product new without sacrificing quality, unless you order their package deal which comes with the ballast, a 600w hortilux hps bulb, a decent reflector, and hangers.

Ballast only:
http://www.greners.com/lumatek-600w-digital-ballast.html



Entire package:
http://www.greners.com/high-performance-grower-600w-grow-light-package.html


They have 1kw ballasts as well which can run a 600w bulb, and 400w with a 250w bulb I think. Just search around.

Thanks!
I was planning to buy a Lumatek, just didn't knew if it was worthy buying a digital.

$185 for the 600W? In Europe I've only found it at $350 or plus

Seems like they would be cheaper there since they're manufactured in the UK. Regardless though, they do ship to Spain and the UK if you live in one of those countries. They would probably get you on the shipping though.

I ordered the 600w and run it with a 400w bulb. It's by far the best ballast that I've ever owned. Runs cool and quiet, with no issues to date.

Looks like I'll have to look harder for a nicer deal!
Thanks for the pointers

You might be looking at the 600 watt duel ballast. It can run 2 x 600 watt lights at the same time. 2 in 1.

feelmyanger said:

Thanks!
I was planning to buy a Lumatek, just didn't knew if it was worthy buying a digital.

$185 for the 600W? In Europe I've only found it at $350 or plus

Click to expand...

You can find them for $150 on ebay from time to time.

whatever ballast you buy, get a good brand.
Dont buy a knockoff ballast.

Id suggest hydrofarm or quantum.

I have heard mixed results on the quantums. I'm going on two years with the lumateks and not a single problem. I even wired the wrong to a new 220 circuit and it didn't kill them oops.

but yeah, steer clear of the knock off shit.

yeah, get a digital. Also try to find one that has a dimming switch. i have 1,000 watt "phantom ballasts" and they have a dimmer switch allowing me to adjust the power of the light from 60 to 75 or 100 % . ! its great because you can veg with your 1,000 watt light at 60% = a 600 watt light. or you can flower with your 1,000 watt light at 60,75 or 100%

Digis do run nicer, but once they're fried you get to go buy a whole new fucking ballast! With magnetics, you can change the capacitor or the ignitor out and it will just keep on trucking. I know people that still run ten year old hydrofarm ballasts like they're brand new!

I used to work at a hydro store, don't get a digi with a fan to cool it, that fucker will die! Lumateks had their fair share of problems too, maybe like one in ten would come back in the first six months.

Magnetic 400w HPS ballast w/ Phillips MasterColor Ceramic Metal Halide bulb.

I felt safer plugging in the 600 lumatek.
then my 602 SG (LED)

[video=youtube;Uw3dlCBxEVY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uw3dlCBxEVY&feature=player_embedded[/video]

http://www.solis-tek.com/

watch out for these guys i love their ballast great safety features

look at the numbers and advantages, digital ballasts are superior in every way.

more efficient
put out more light
adjustable output
smaller
less heat
completely silent
wall mountable

yeah..tough decision

no matter how much power is being put through a bulb more than what it need dont really matter, its debatable i guess, but lumens dont change,

my shop does testing with light meters

Do they test the MHz that the light is being produced? This is why digital ballasts can claim that they give off more light. It's not that the light is brighter it's the fact that it is ON and providing that full light all the time

Take a picture of a grow with a magnetic ballast...bands throughout the photo. Digital.. Solid light

It's all about what you can afford. I got high every day on college but still managed to graduate cum laude and get a great job. So I but what the fuck I want for my grow room. If you have the cash, digital is superior, if you don't, magnetic will work good as well. In the end it's about grower skill anyways.

hydrofarm magnetic ballast, no need to have a digital or dimmable or whatever fancy inexpensive expensive equipment they have out there, besides they just break down quiker anyway

legallyflying said:

look at the numbers and advantages, digital ballasts are superior in every way.

Click to expand...

in every way except price & longevity. I ve seen 25 yr old ballasts still working. digital ballasts haven't been around that long so they may last that long