1000w digital ballast burning out bulbs

[pdillo]

Hello, I searched around the interwebs and I couldnt find any info on this, so I was hoping one of you fine folk at RIO might be able to help me out.

Story starts when my buddy gave me an old 1000W MH ballast. I bought a sunmaster MH conversion bulb for it, then started growing. I later swapped out the ballast with a HPS/MH 1000w electronic ballast, then later switched out the bulb with one of those generic type 'super' HPS bulbs off ebay.

After running the HPS for a few weeks, I came hope to a dark room, the bulb was blown. I put the MH conversion bulb back in, and thought 'thats the last time I buy a cheap bulb!'. I hopped online and ordered a Sunmaster 1k HPS, because the other Sunmaster seemed to work dandy. Alas, 2 months later the new Sunmaster HPS was blown (I could still smell the dollar bills burning too). I now have the old trusty MH conversion bulb back in… and just wondering WTF is going on! Should I get a new ballast? Did I mention its a generic no-name ballast off ebay? Did I just answer my own question?

Thanks,
-P

 

[robert 14617]

I'm going to upgrade to 1000w in my flower room the advance ballast from Phillips is going to cost 160 bucks that doesn't include the mogul or bulb, at least i know the quality and am getting it from a local electrical supply house

 

[SSHZ]

You probably bought one of those cheap chinese ballasts they are selling all over Ebay.......... this all has to do with the firing temps the ballast puts out to fire up the gas in the bulbs.

 

[pdillo]

Yep SSHZ, I think you nailed it. Robert, I'm google mapping 'electrical supply house' right now, thanks!

 

[robert 14617]

1000watt hps cool tube Q: how many cfm fan will help control temps from the light 4" or 6" i don't need to use a carbon filter so no restrictions on the air flow

 

[pdillo]

I use a 6" ecoplus axial fan, keeps em pretty dern cool. the ecoplus is less noisy than this other cheap axial I have, so I dont have to use a dimmer w/ it, that helps.

 

[cdrippper2]

Sounds like a starter issue, not necessarily the ballast itself. Could be the ballast though. Check http://www.advance.philips.com/documents/uploads/literature/RT-8100-R02_1209_HIDPcktGde.pdf . that is the guide to testing the ballasts yourself. It tells you the voltages that it should be putting out and what to check and how to do it that is IF your interested. It would be easier to just get a new ballast kit though.
I would recommend to anyone who reads this to check out that that PDF from advance transformers website just so you have a better understanding of how those things work.

 

[maxmax7777]

Premature bulb failure with Digital ballasts.

Yes. I am having this issue and so are many of the people I know. I am trying my best to track this issue down with the manufacturers and all our experienced people on forums. I have written to Hortilux asking about this issue and this is thier response.

Our bulbs preform like all other bulbs on the market with electronic gear. Electronic gear operates at high frequency so they are tough on all lamp brands. We have had much success with Lumatek (a lot depends on the very ballast itself). Electronic gear is currently being imported so there is not a lot of controls in the process. Our lamps are manufactured in Ohio with ISO standards...every lamp is started before put into the box. I have confidence it is not a lamp issue. Hope this helps!

I will report more when the digital ballast people write back. meanwhile this is what I have learned.


Much has changed and much has been learned about digital ballasts. Frankly, the jury is still out on the digi vs mag ballast debate.
Yes Digital are lighter, yes they are extremely quiet, yes they cost more to purchase, no they do not cost less to run, yes they do produce more usable light for the plants, most modern digital ballasts are shielded now, some still are not, usually the cheaper knock off brands. Magnetic Ballsts are old, tried and true technology with little issues beyond, hot, heavy, inefficient and cheap.

#1 Issue remains, finding bulbs able to run their full life expectancy on digital ballasts.

I have researched this and poured over the forums, the overwhelming amount of reports are of definate premature failure of most bulbs when run on digital ballasts.

Sun Pulse claims to have the only bulbs made specifically for digital ballasts, however, the reports on grower forums are these bulbs fall short when it comes to comparative yeilds in side by side tests with hortilux.
I am hearing possibly now the Digilux bulbs may be better suited for digital ballasts, however more on the ground reports are needed to conclude this thread.
I want to believe digital ballasts are the way of the future, but I will need more confirmation from the industry and grower forums before the final vote. I will try to get back on this as my research pans out.
Oh, and for the record, lumetec ballasts have one of the highest failure rates in the industry. Quantum has one of the best. Phantom, the digital ballast with all the bells and whistles also has a very impressive low return/failure rate. They have similar warranties, but my supplier says Quantumn has the best no questions asked return and replace policy. Around here all these ballasts sell for the same cost $375, so there is little reason to purchase lumitec, but I am sure lumitecs work well for many people.
As said, each grower must find their own way, lets keep the spirit of HELPING each other alive. Just share what you have learned. I want to hear more on bulb failure rates and compatiblity issues with different bulb brands with digital ballasts brands.
What bulbs are you running in what digital ballast and how long are they lasting?​

 

[NoDrama]

Premature bulb failure with Digital ballasts.

Yes. I am having this issue and so are many of the people I know. I am trying my best to track this issue down with the manufacturers and all our experienced people on forums. I have written to Hortilux asking about this issue and this is thier response.

Our bulbs preform like all other bulbs on the market with electronic gear. Electronic gear operates at high frequency so they are tough on all lamp brands. We have had much success with Lumatek (a lot depends on the very ballast itself). Electronic gear is currently being imported so there is not a lot of controls in the process. Our lamps are manufactured in Ohio with ISO standards...every lamp is started before put into the box. I have confidence it is not a lamp issue. Hope this helps!

I will report more when the digital ballast people write back. meanwhile this is what I have learned.


Much has changed and much has been learned about digital ballasts. Frankly, the jury is still out on the digi vs mag ballast debate.
Yes Digital are lighter, yes they are extremely quiet, yes they cost more to purchase, no they do not cost less to run, yes they do produce more usable light for the plants, most modern digital ballasts are shielded now, some still are not, usually the cheaper knock off brands. Magnetic Ballsts are old, tried and true technology with little issues beyond, hot, heavy, inefficient and cheap.

#1 Issue remains, finding bulbs able to run their full life expectancy on digital ballasts.

I have researched this and poured over the forums, the overwhelming amount of reports are of definate premature failure of most bulbs when run on digital ballasts.

Sun Pulse claims to have the only bulbs made specifically for digital ballasts, however, the reports on grower forums are these bulbs fall short when it comes to comparative yeilds in side by side tests with hortilux.
I am hearing possibly now the Digilux bulbs may be better suited for digital ballasts, however more on the ground reports are needed to conclude this thread.
I want to believe digital ballasts are the way of the future, but I will need more confirmation from the industry and grower forums before the final vote. I will try to get back on this as my research pans out.
Oh, and for the record, lumetec ballasts have one of the highest failure rates in the industry. Quantum has one of the best. Phantom, the digital ballast with all the bells and whistles also has a very impressive low return/failure rate. They have similar warranties, but my supplier says Quantumn has the best no questions asked return and replace policy. Around here all these ballasts sell for the same cost $375, so there is little reason to purchase lumitec, but I am sure lumitecs work well for many people.
As said, each grower must find their own way, lets keep the spirit of HELPING each other alive. Just share what you have learned. I want to hear more on bulb failure rates and compatiblity issues with different bulb brands with digital ballasts brands.
What bulbs are you running in what digital ballast and how long are they lasting?​

More spam from this guy, please delete. Post reported

 

[swiftisaac]

Ya stay away from lumatek. I have a friend that works at a large hydroponic supplier and he had to package up PALLETS of lumatek ballast for return. They have some serious issues and I believe have even had recalls aswell.

GO PHANTOM!

 

[NoDrama]

Lumatek has the best warranty in the business, it does not fail any more than any other high quality brand, there are just a whole lot more of them.