Question about Lumatec/ all digital ballasts

I am getting either a Lumatek 400 or a Phantom 400. Which do you think is better? I am not going to spend $100 on a bulb, will these work with the $10-$25 hps bulbs? Thanks everyone.

the phantom is supposed to be the better ballast from what i've read.. i've heard a lot of bad stuffs about the lumetek digitals, and i wouldn't get one for that reason.. i had originally gotten the phantom, but had to return it for some reason i don't remember at the time.. i ended up getting the galaxy 400 watter, and love it thus far..
as far as bulbs go, i'm a believer in getting the better bulbs.. i tend to run the eye horilux with added blue spectrum and i also just picked up my first digilux bulb as well...
there was a thread on here before where dude did a side by side with i think it was the eye bulbs, and a cheaper brand one, and the difference's were enough for me to want to spend the extra couple of bucks for the better bulb..
it's really up to you though.. get the cheaper one now if you want, and see if you're happy with it, you can always go ahead and get a better bulb down the line if you're not happy with the one you have now, no harm no foul...
where the more expensive bulbs come into their own is in the lumen outputs, and also sometimes they have a much broader spectrum that is better suited for growing with, instead of just lighting up say a dark parking lot or what have you.. most bulb manufacturers will have a lumen chart, as well as a spectrum chart.. compare the two, and i'll bet the more pricey bulb will beat the cheaper ones in both dpts..

I have some lumatec's and have another 4 on the way. They have come a long way in a couple years so I decided to bite the bullet due to heat more than anything. I have noticed that they don't like cheap bulbs and do burn them fast. You can tell a cheap bulb by the base and than by the specs. I used Philips and some others but have standardized on eye extended spectrum. I use them for a year than sell them for 40$ used. I pay 80$ each by the case. Racerboy has good info.

First the big question, why do you want a digital ballast?

I have been warned off Lumatec ballasts and got a 600w Phantom instead. The build quality looks good and it runs just fine. It gets no hotter then my 400w magnetic one (it's a little cooler I think) and I like that it wont try to strike a hot bulb after a quick power outage. It's also quite compact compared to a magnetic ballast. Other then that I just don't see an advantage. I've been runing Ushio bulbs in it.

There is a shit ton of hype surrounding lumatek & the extremely overpriced gear they sell,they certianly are not worth the money.

Do your wallet a favor & buy a system from HTG Supply & get a complete digital lighting system shipped to your home for less than their overpriced standard equipment.

For $320 you can get a complete 600 watt system along with good quality bulb and a massive high quality air cooled 3ft x 3ft reflector,if you want a 1,000 watter then just add $40 more & its at your door in 3 days.

I own 24 600 watt digital systems all from HTG Supply & they are every bit as good as the other systems i own from hydrofarm & sunlight supply.

Dealers hype about build quality but there is nothing inside a lumatex that isnt inside a HTG ballast.

Thanks everyone for the advise. I want a digital for the safetly features and less heat. I think I will go for the Phantom, it will not hot start a bulb and this is a concern for me as I get lots of power flickers where I live.

I really wanted to get a digilux bulb but running at $50 puts me over budget. I have a $200 budget for lighting and I can get the Phantom, a hydrofarm wing reflector, and a sylvania 400 watt hps bulb. Like racerboy said I can always upgrade later. Does anyone have experience running a simular bulb with a digital ballast? I just want to know if it will be reliable and safe. I don't need shit burning or exploding.

I just bought a grow lab 60 and the 400 will be going in there, should give nice results. Cooling will be with a 4 inch inline @ 170 CFM, passive intake, carbon filtered. I currently am running a Florolux 150 watt HPS, it's barely enough light right now but the damn thing sucks 3.2 amps at 120! That's almost 400 watts right there!

I am rocking a 1000 watt dimmable lumatek and I have not encountered any problems as of yet time will tell

All digitals ballasts should be getting cheaper, quantum just dropped there wholesale price's and word is the others will follow.

I got a 600/400 MH/HPS lumatek and its awesome. I use the 600 hps for flower and the 400 MH for veg. was like 200 bucks. Also, you can pummp the 600 by 10 percent for more lumens but it burns your bulb faster.