Best digital ballasts
- Thread starter mj1313
- Start date
I was mostly concerned with the ballast, but I will also be getting new bulbs and probably a cool tube. I'm definitely interested in people's opinions on everything though.
qballizhere
Well-Known Member
personally I like http://solis-tek.com/products/digital-ballasts/solistek-matrix-se-de-1000w-digital-ballast-120-240v.html
the built in timer is nice and one remote will control more than one ballast if you have them
the built in timer is nice and one remote will control more than one ballast if you have them
Dr Gruber
Well-Known Member
Ive been looking at those myself but heard the timers have problems. How have they been for you?
goldberg71b
Well-Known Member
If cost isn't a concern you might consider going with 3-315 watt CMH. You'll be able to use a slightly larger footprint with less energy. They're also be a little bit cooler and they aren't air cooled so there's nothing between the bulbs and your plants. The bulbs also last MUCH longer.
I recently replaced 2-600 watt digital ballast with 3 of these. In a 4x8 tent but I haven't been able to run a whole cycle with them. My shit goes room to room and this tent is the veg tent. The coverage is better and you can see the difference in the plants. The nodes are closer together and the side branches grow with a lot more vigor! I was worried about penetration but i don't see an issue with it.
Unless something changes I plan on replacing every digital ballast I have with these. You also don't need to switch bulbs MH/HPS/Finish. I did run one flower cycle but they vegged under MH. Then tried veg and they really impressed me but because of height reasons they needed to be moved to digital ballasts in another area. I'll be closing everything down to clones and moms shortly. Something I do every spring. I regroup and thin the menu and break out the new packs and start selecting again. When I reload the tent will be filled with strains I have had for a couple years and know inside and out. I'm expecting great results!
Arkitecht
Well-Known Member
Currently I'm running Solis-tek 1000's they work very well. I do have a fan blowing on them to keep them a little more cool than they run on their own. I've also used, phantom, galaxy and hortilux as well. They all work great. I personally would go with whatever you can get the best deal on with the best warranty.
qballizhere
Well-Known Member
When they were running in the garden they were great but they have been replaced with cob leds
thenotsoesoteric
Well-Known Member
I'm running a solis tek 400w ballast and it's been descent.
TrichomeTrev420
Member
Hi-Par make a killer ballast 1000w or 600w both 400v, before i upgraded to the gavita pros that's what i used and never skipped a beat
Jaybodankly
Well-Known Member
Solis-Tek they can run just about anything up to DE bulbs. I have mine on a solis-tek splitter running 2 -600W bulbs (1100W with boost split).
goldberg71b
Well-Known Member
This is interesting. For whatever reason I thought DE was 1000w only? I need to look into this. Any info? Like results?
Jaybodankly
Well-Known Member
@goldberg71b
SolisTek MATRIX SE/DE digital ballast designed for single & double ended lamps.
Multi-voltage: 120V / 208V / 240V
Suitable for high frequency 400V electronic horticultural lamps.
Multi-Wattage, 9.81A @ 120v - 4.91A @ 240v
Wattage settings: 1100W, 1000W, 825W, 750W, 600W, 660W/600W
SolisTek MATRIX SE/DE digital ballast designed for single & double ended lamps.
Multi-voltage: 120V / 208V / 240V
Suitable for high frequency 400V electronic horticultural lamps.
Multi-Wattage, 9.81A @ 120v - 4.91A @ 240v
Wattage settings: 1100W, 1000W, 825W, 750W, 600W, 660W/600W
goldberg71b
Well-Known Member
10/4 I'll look them up. Are they 1000 watt bulbs dimmed?
Jaybodankly
Well-Known Member
@goldberg71b "Are they 1000 watt bulbs dimmed"?
Not sure of your question. You can run 1000W dimmed or boosted.
Not sure of your question. You can run 1000W dimmed or boosted.
goldberg71b
Well-Known Member
Well with my height restrictions 1000 watt DE is to much. Which is all I thought was available. After reading your post about 600 watts it made me wonder if my area could handle it at 600? I could use another ballast. Ive got a tent with CMH. Your post has me considering 600 x2 in another tent. So even if at 600 DE was to much it's not a waste because I could just use the ballast on a hood I already have with new bulbs I already have for my other digital ballasts.
After looking I think I found what I needed to know. I just can't see what the difference between the matrix ballast vs the non matrix (old model? standard model?) other than one dims to more ranges of power than the other.
I might have to buy one of these.
Renfro
Well-Known Member
Thread is a little stale. I will add that when it comes to DE HPS I prefer the Phantom Commercial ballasts. I have used many and these are the only ones that have yet to have even a single failure. Tied for second place would be the Sun System and Gavita.
calvin.m16
Well-Known Member
Personally I've been running 8 1000w DE HPS Gavita and have had zero issues either. Also its all in 1 package you can't really beat it and they can be had as a complete package bulb included for $250 usually.
There is more kewl nerdy stuff like less interference from the extension cables required for external ballasts being eliminated and all that but honestly nothing beats a double ended 1000w HPS. I've tried a $900 Commercial Growers Choice ROI-E720 and it did not perform as good as a 1000w DE HPS. Lots of growers will say that they can yield higher with LED but I think honestly its just because their environments were shit with HPS due to excess heat and they suddenly realize having the lower temps increases terpines and resin production and think automatically the light did it. No the light producing less heat did it, a 1000w DE HPS with proper tonnage of air conditioning will shit on it.
Sorry lol got a bit off topic. Buy Gavita unless you're needing sealed hoods.