New digital ballast making high pitch noise?!?

[pornstache]

That's insane that they don't warn you about the noise. It sounds like its about to blow up.

Both of you are saying that ALL of your 1000w models did this? I guess its a matter of whatever component that's making the noise all being made in the same chinese factory for every manufacturer.

What I want to know is why my 600 didn't do this as well.

 

[Carolina Dream'n]

If you cool with your setup, rock that shit bro!

But yes, the new technology lets you use any wattage bulb, jus got to change the setting on ballast.

Did I mention the solis tek ballast have built in timers. Sounds minuscule, but personally I love it. Don't have to use cheap light controllers with a relay on a timer.
That was for BAMS, forgot to reply from your post.

 

[Carolina Dream'n]

That's insane that they don't warn you about the noise. It sounds like its about to blow up.

Both of you are saying that ALL of your 1000w models did this? I guess its a matter of whatever component that's making the noise all being made in the same chinese factory for every manufacturer.

What I want to know is why my 600 didn't do this as well.

All 24 of mine did it. All at once the first time I turned them on. Scared the shit out of me. Thought the spot was about to blow up.

 

[pornstache]

How long did it take to stop? Did it taper off slowly or stop all at once?

 

[Carolina Dream'n]

Took a while if I remember correctly. It will stop after a cpl hours.

 

[pornstache]

Thank you all very much for the help!

This is ridiculous that multiple companies would put out a product that shares a component that makes such an ominous noise and not warn anyone! lol

I guess i will "break it in" with my cheapest bulb. I don't want to risk damaging my $100 superHPS without knowing exactly what the cause is.

 

[Carolina Dream'n]

Thank you all very much for the help!

This is ridiculous that multiple companies would put out a product that shares a component that makes such an ominous noise and not warn anyone! lol

I guess i will "break it in" with my cheapest bulb. I don't want to risk damaging my $100 superHPS without knowing exactly what the cause is.

The cause is the ballast searching for a frequency that is not in use in your house. When it finds that frequency, the loud pitch noise stops. No damage will be done to bulbs. But better safe than sorry.

 

[SnapsProvolone]

Sounds like a Galaxy Digital Selecta watt

They make noise.

 

[pornstache]

it is actually a galaxy

So why does the 600w model not do that then?

And if you listen to the audio you can hear it switching back and forth between two specific frequencies, doesn't sound like its searching, more like its stuck.

Not that I don't believe you, that certainly does make sense. You'd just think they would mention this in the included literature if it has such an advanced anti-RFI feature.

 

[pornstache]

How did you learn about that btw? I'd love to read about that... Like how would it know when you change locations? Would it do the search thing again?

 

[Carolina Dream'n]

How did you learn about that btw? I'd love to read about that... Like how would it know when you change locations? Would it do the search thing again?

I called solis tek and talked with a rep for about an hour and a half.
Solis tek might be different from your ballasts. It's a pretty nice piece of equipment. (Not saying yours isn't) It can sense 23 other solis tek ballasts and will not fire all your bulbs at once to save your on the initial power draw blowing a surge. Remote control that let's u do just about everything.

 

[Cobnobuler]

Sounds like a Galaxy Digital Selecta watt

They make noise.

...Dam dude you are just too damned good.

 

[pornstache]

Looking on the website the solis looks almost identical to the galaxy digital logic, from the outside anyway. The remotes look alike as well. I would not be surprised if they are made in the same factory. The MSRP differs by about $60 however, so they may have some different internal parts.

http://www.solis-tek.com/digital-ballasts/matrix-1000-digital-ballast.html
http://www.galaxyballasts.com/products/digital-logic-ballast-series/1000-w-select-a-watt-turbo-charge.aspx

I'm still not ruling out a possible defect. This thing puts off more RFI at the lowest setting than my other one puts off at the highest setting.

 

[VapeEscape]

I have a new Solis-Tek Matrix 1000W running a 600W Ushio bulb at 400W. Ballast is new, just plugged in today. It is making some noise but nothing that is causing me any concern at this point. 3 year full warranty.

Maybe I will throw in my Ushio 1000W bulb to see if the noise is still there. It may be due to reducing the wattage.

good to know the new tech....im on 240v mains in Australia, but as I said in earlier post I can't justify the cost......magnetic 600w ballast = $89-$100 (rebuildable) vs Digital 600w (decent brand, lumatek, solistek, gavita) = $200-$350 (gavita all in one unit $550+)

so with their claimed power saving efficiency, and the cost of my electricity ($ per Kw/h), it would take me 3 years to pay off the cost difference of a digital ballast, and also like I said, I have enough fresh air transfer and the AC running that I don't see much of a temp difference being both my magnetics are mounted up high next to the carbon scrubber

I bought my Matrix ballast on Amazon(Prime item) for $205USD($249AUD) I really like that not only will it fire 400W,600W, and 1000W bulbs(HPS&MH) but you can also dim the 600W and 1000W bulbs. Love the built-in breaker and of course the timer. Also has a ballast life timer which could easily double as a bulb life timer if you keep a log.

If you do switch to a digital ballast, you will probably have to buy new bulbs for the high frequency so keep that in mind.

 

[BAMS]

I have a new Solis-Tek Matrix 1000W running a 600W Ushio bulb at 400W. Ballast is new, just plugged in today. It is making some noise but nothing that is causing me any concern at this point. 3 year full warranty.

Maybe I will throw in my Ushio 1000W bulb to see if the noise is still there. It may be due to reducing the wattage.




I bought my Matrix ballast on Amazon(Prime item) for $205USD($249AUD) I really like that not only will it fire 400W,600W, and 1000W bulbs(HPS&MH) but you can also dim the 600W and 1000W bulbs. Love the built-in breaker and of course the timer. Also has a ballast life timer which could easily double as a bulb life timer if you keep a log.

If you do switch to a digital ballast, you will probably have to buy new bulbs for the high frequency so keep that in mind.

yeah at one stage I was considering moving to Gavita 600, but the fact that you are pretty much limited to the Eco Tech globes sort of threw me off being not all shops carry gavita and so thought it would be a headache trying to get replacement globes if an accident should have happened.....tbh, I still look the gavita 600 up about once a month with an itchy trigger finger to impulse buy

 

[VapeEscape]

yeah at one stage I was considering moving to Gavita 600, but the fact that you are pretty much limited to the Eco Tech globes sort of threw me off being not all shops carry gavita and so thought it would be a headache trying to get replacement globes if an accident should have happened.....tbh, I still look the gavita 600 up about once a month with an itchy trigger finger to impulse buy

I know you're old school and like magnetic ballasts but you really should look into some of the newer and best electronic ballasts out now. You may like what you see and read.

 

[Kjc99]

I know this thread is a month old but I'd like to know if this ended up being normal mine sounds like an old dial up modem when it lights the bulb... It eventually dulls a bit and have to get close to hear it.... If anybody can listen to it for me and let me know.... Thanks Op for starting this thread but I still have concerns..... Did your noise eventually go away or does it still make high pitched squealing on every warm up? Here's the link guys... Appreciate any input....