2 Phantom 1000w randomly not kicking on , anyone else have this problem?

BeaverHuntr

Well-Known Member
Hortilux Eye MH bulb didn't work on my Phantom 400w ballast when I first purchased, but did work at the store. It worked for 72 hours this week, but than when I plugged it in again it flickered and that was it (which is what it did at the old house). After spending hours yesterday looking online I came to the conclusion it was a compatibility issue, got me a $25 Sylvania HPS plugged it in and it worked right away, time will tell if it keeps working.

Bottom line (not a fact just an observation) Do not use Hortilux MH bulbs with a Phantom, even though some folks say they work just fine, don't take the chance. The phantoms seem to only have issues with MH, I could not find anyone with issues using HPS, but hey I veg under 8 T5's so no biggie for me.
I use 1000W HPS Hortilux with my 1000W Phantom.. WOrks like a champ.
 

Grojak

Well-Known Member
I see that a lot and I'm so far having great luck with that old $25 Sylvania HPS... did you read my bottom line?

  • Bottom line (not a fact just an observation) Do not use Hortilux MH bulbs with a Phantom, even though some folks say they work just fine, don't take the chance. The phantoms seem to only have issues with MH, I could not find anyone with issues using HPS, but hey I veg under 8 T5's so no biggie for me.






 

Kind Sir

Well-Known Member
I was looking at a 600 watt phantom ballast thinking 1000 is unnecessary for my first grow. Phantom ballast (digital or magnet?) Oshio bulb high performance and idk what reflector yet.
 

DirtyMcCurdy

Well-Known Member
I still use digitals but after one just went up in smoke after switching from MH to HPS, instantly blows the fuse, I'm going to try magnetic. I just got an xtrasun 1000 watt switchable and I don't agree with the whole magnetic being louder argument. The digitals I'm still using, for now, use cooling fans that are louder than they probably should be. You can't hear the hum of the mag over the digi's fans. As for heat, the xtrasun mag ballast i just got doesn't really get that hot either. And the whole high frequency "advantage" is starting to proved ill-conceived because digital ballast can't control these high frequencies well enough to produce a "clean" light or a consistant wavelength. I paid $115 delivered to my door step for my 1000watt mag ballast, the price alone makes me wonder why I ever tried digitals. Just my $.02 I
 

jcommerce

Well-Known Member
Check YouTube and other online tests for PAR comparisons between magnetic and digitals, not to mention efficiency.
 

DirtyMcCurdy

Well-Known Member
Check YouTube and other online tests for PAR comparisons between magnetic and digitals, not to mention efficiency.
Yeah yeah. My biggest concern now is reliability. After I suddenly lost one of two ballast in my flower tent I had to rethink the issue. I've had enough problems I don't need uncontrollable variables, or at lest I'm trying to limit them. I will just get another light if I'm lacking PAR but after I get another 1000 watt for my tent I don't think I'll have that issue. Besides I want to supplement t5's or some other source of uv light on top of my hps
 

DirtyMcCurdy

Well-Known Member
Yeah yeah. My biggest concern now is reliability. After I suddenly lost one of two ballast in my flower tent I had to rethink the issue. I've had enough problems I don't need uncontrollable variables, or at lest I'm trying to limit them. I will just get another light if I'm lacking PAR but after I get another 1000 watt for my tent I don't think I'll have that issue. Besides I want to supplement t5's or some other source of uv light on top of my hps
And the differences are marginal. Get an honest comparison, not somebody's marketing gimmick on youtube.
 

weedenhanced

Well-Known Member
I was using digital but it would work fine for my mh bulb but when switched to hps it was dodgy
Iam now back on a magnetic and it a dual magnetic so can run both all I miss is the dimmable option
Also my mag only hums when It's firing up the bulb other wise it's fairly quiet
 

HempletonState

Well-Known Member
Was just browsing through the forums and saw that this popped back up I started this about 3 years ago. An update , I have not experienced the problem with the ballasts since having the initial problem. I don't use the dim feature anymore and I also only use them for flower so I never use metal halide bulbs with these ballasts. They work great make no sound and emit almost no heat, I like them
 

HempletonState

Well-Known Member
Yeah yeah. My biggest concern now is reliability. After I suddenly lost one of two ballast in my flower tent I had to rethink the issue. I've had enough problems I don't need uncontrollable variables, or at lest I'm trying to limit them. I will just get another light if I'm lacking PAR but after I get another 1000 watt for my tent I don't think I'll have that issue. Besides I want to supplement t5's or some other source of uv light on top of my hps
I also use t5's in my flower room along with the 2-1000's for added light. I keep them towards the bottom of the canopy and it's really reduces the larf.
 
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