If you go to the UL database and type in inda-gro you'll see that inda-gro setup their own board design under UL approval. Then type in igrow. Nothing comes up. So take from that what you will but no legitimate hydro shop would sell a light that did not have UL approval and that approval should list the name, model number of what they're selling or the hydro shop is not looking out for your best interest.
http://database.ul.com/cgi-bin/XYV/template/LISEXT/1FRAME/index.html
As to why you would choose the pontoons over a separate flowering lamp as being essentially the same thing would be like comparing a helicopter to a jet. They both fly.
Not having to change induction lamps between veg and flower is the primary difference between these two company's approach. Inda-Gro only uses a single lamp from veg-flower which is fine but if you want to enhance flower the pontoon does what the 'flowering' induction lamp would do if it had a 660nm peak emission and could generate a lights out 730nm exclusive wavelength to trigger the phytochrome switch.
Buy whatever you want based on the best value (cheeper is not correlative to value) from the best information you can find but ultimately it's the plants response that will tell you if you made the right choice. You just gotta listen.
Well I purchased 3 new Igrow lights 2 flower and one Veg, The selling point for me was that INDA-GROW needed such an expensive add on pontoon. The Igrow had a specific Bloom bulb wich in a pinch as it turns out can be used during Veg.
When my new lights were delivered it was obvious one of the lamps was broken in shipping even before opening the box it was the Veg light by the way.
A quick call to the dealer and a new bulb arrived within 48 hr's UPS no cost to me no BS just a new bulb. I ended up having to put plants under a bloom light for a few days while I waited for the replacement Veg lamp.
And you are correct the lamps are not that easy to replace not something I would want to try with the fixture hanging but I wouldn't say impossible, I would definitely put it on a table tho.
A quick look at ballasts and your right I don't see any UL stickers of approval nor any FCC approvals hmmm.......
This company's Parent company is an American lighting company too ???? It does seam odd to me that they a Major US lighting mfg would just forget or neglect to get those certs to me too.
I just took it for granted that they were being sold in USA and had to be UL listed? bad on me.....
I do like how the Ballast's are power smart they know if they are plugged into 220 or 110 without rewiring them! just simply plug into adapter plug to run them on 220 electrical.
I am a very new grower and only had the lights now for 1.5 months I cant say how they compare to any thing else as I have never grown any thing before nor do I have any other lights to compare them too nor do I have any experience growing ANYTHING!.
I really don't know where any of this stands? but for me it was not needing the Pontoon and I think the technology the pontoon is bringing to the table is altogether something different any way as far as new Plant lighting requirements and technology goes any way cutting edge stuff I am in no way knocking it. I'm also 100% sure the IGROW would benefit from the added Pontoon/added LED lighting as well.
As far as My Judgment goes on IGROW my jury is still out, Do they work? Yes!, BUT I am too much of a noob at growing any thing to really know how to use them to their full potential yet to make a good judgment to say yay or nay on being what they say they are.
I thank Spliff Yourself Chaz and SteveG and my own freedom of choice for my decision of which lights to try in the end it was the Pontoon specifically its price tag! which when added to purchase price of a new 420 was WAY more than a single Igrow, INDA-GROW had me till they came out with the Pontoon.
IGROW had specific bulb for flowering nothing more needed, BUT I bet it would benefit from the same technology that Inda-grow is using to supplement with using the Pontoon.
I thank all of you guys for putting your ideas and feelings and experience out there on these forums for others to benefit from.