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Mfc
02-05-11, 05:36 PM
Im thinking of updating to digital to digital ballest. is anyone using them? Are they good as everyone says? can anyone answer my question?

Grub
02-05-11, 05:39 PM
You'd get a better response if you post in the correct section mate. (I have moved it for you).

Digi ballasts run quieter and cooler but at the end of the day do the same job as mechanical ballasts.

Mfc
02-05-11, 06:15 PM
thanks m8.....

cocogrower
02-05-11, 06:29 PM
They're also much lighter and they draw less electricity but the ammount is negligible. A 600w mag uses about 640w, a 600w digi uses about 620-630w.

Cheddar
02-05-11, 07:31 PM
You'd get a better response if you post in the correct section mate. (I have moved it for you).

Digi ballasts run quieter and cooler but at the end of the day do the same job as mechanical ballasts.

Agreed, saves a couple of quid a month my local shop says

Mfc
02-05-11, 07:31 PM
ok thanks i like the idea of being able to turn them down to 400w then back up 600w

gbcheeky
03-05-11, 12:37 PM
i didnt relise you could buy dimmable ballasts...

cocogrower
03-05-11, 12:38 PM
you cant turn them down to 400w mate, if you buy a 600w one, you stuck with 600w

Yes you can fella, A Lumatek digi 600w ballast can be dimmed to 360w,400w & 600w. Also has a superluem switch.

TheGreenMachine
03-05-11, 12:42 PM
Found some blurb about Digi Ballasts on Greens.

http://www.greenshorticulture.co.uk/Grow-Lights-182/Ballasts-Digital-Ballasts-472/Maxibright-Digital-Ballasts-1382.asp

I also see the Lumateks come with a warranty that allows you to buy replacements if they go wrong in the fourth year for 75% off the RRP and in the fith year you can buy replacements for 50% off the RRP.

http://www.greenshorticulture.co.uk/Grow-Lights-182/Ballasts-Digital-Ballasts-472/Lumatek-Digital-Ballasts-1270.asp

Would be nice to own a pair of those babies but £300 is something I don't have atm.
I do like the idea of cooler running ballasts AND a reduced starting power spike!!!

gbcheeky
03-05-11, 12:43 PM
yeh my mistake mate.. havent got one myself.. just had a look about dimmable lumatek digital ballast there about 160 quid
no wonder i know nothing about them.. well outta my price range:)

Mr_Bimble
03-05-11, 11:29 PM
I bought the lumatec 250/400W dimmable and got it for £130 and it works a treat - no buzzing, quick startup, I can overdrive the bulbs to get a bit more light out of them. best is I can veg under a 250W MH and switch to a 400W dual spectrum HPS for flowering by swapping bulbs and turning a dial.

up2nogood
03-05-11, 11:37 PM
I bought the lumatec 250/400W dimmable and got it for £130 and it works a treat - no buzzing, quick startup, I can overdrive the bulbs to get a bit more light out of them. best is I can veg under a 250W MH and switch to a 400W dual spectrum HPS for flowering by swapping bulbs and turning a dial.
yeah thinking of getting ome myself but a 600w dimmable one..

Strider
04-05-11, 09:38 AM
I've been looking at Digis for a wee while now and looking to get some this week, my Mag ballasts are seriously messed up, v loud, v hot and suffer intermittent faults like overheat shutdowns plus they WRECK contactors, just not had the $$$ to prop replace

Had my eye on the Lumatek Dimmable 600s for a while now, 160/70 is still a bit 'Fuckin ERK!' though, I notice their competitor Lightwave (Gold ballasts) has pretty much vanished off the market, i've been looking at the cheaper (£110) Maxibright ones, but dunno how much i'd trust them, i;ve had MB branded stuff fuck up before, and know folk who have had bad luck with budget digitals :S

The Green Giant
04-05-11, 10:08 AM
i got mine - £100 to my door - 600w + 600w super lumen switch
and it's dim, goes down to a 400w + 400 super lumen.

quite and saved me shit loads compared to running my usual 2 x 250 mag ballast's

https://www.thctalk.com/gallery/data/500/medium/Greens_G_s_Ballast.JPG (https://www.thctalk.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/71521/title/greens-g-s-ballast/cat/500)


if your interested PM - i'll apoint you the way!:)

edit ; can get a 400w for £75 - but not sure if they have many more 600's as they were flying off! - but i can ask np

The Green Giant
04-05-11, 10:23 AM
forgot to add - you don't have to use a contractor as it's a digi, but most people do, just to be on the safe side, i have it plugged st8 in the wall with no prob's
and another thing lads, cos its digi, you can take pictures better(don't get them horrible lines like pics with mags) just nice n clear

example
https://www.thctalk.com/gallery/data/500/medium/Monster2.JPG

makes life a little easier i supose if you need clearer pics for diagnosis:)

Mr_Bimble
04-05-11, 07:04 PM
I hadn't noticed that - but you're right, the ones in my diary were all taken with the lights on and there's no banding on any of them.

I still use a contactor (because I had one already) but the guy in the shop said because its soft-start then it would be OK with just a plug-n-grow heavy duty timer.

maxpower
04-05-11, 09:20 PM
oohh all these new gadgets for the grow room i just want them all, i may have to invest in a couple of digis for the next grow. I like the fact that they run cooler thats goin to help a lot

Strider
05-05-11, 01:34 PM
i ended up ordering two of the Maxibright Digilight 600w digital ballasts yesterday, swithered for a while over the dimmable lumateks but couldn't justify the extra 100 odd quid it would have cost me, plus its mainly the temp/noise, softstart and power savings im interested in the Maxi's come with a 2 year warranty so first sniff of trouble ill trade em back towards a Luma

I'd have certainly got a better price if id used fleabay or similar, but they dont like me, i am bandito anathema to them