Nanolux vs Quantum?

Aeroknow said:

When was the last time you replaced the caps in those old magnetic ballasts?
I just don't see how a new digi pushing the very same watts and bulb as a magnetic ballast could be much brighter.

But, i do know that the capacitors fade with time. We always replaced the caps every other year, to freshen up the ballasts again.

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Im still using a 600 econogrow series magnetic ballast. But id like to replace it with better energy consumption. I adore eye hortilux 600 hps bulbs for mags though im sooo torn. Any advice?

VTMi'kmaq said:

Im still using a 600 econogrow series magnetic ballast. But id like to replace it with better energy consumption. I adore eye hortilux 600 hps bulbs for mags though im sooo torn. Any advice?

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Imo, there's nothing wrong with magnetic ballasts. I had bad experiences with digi's when they came out and hated them for that reason. I was still using magnetic ballasts up to a year and a half ago. That's when I switched everything over to DE's. Now I'm 100% digi lol, except for allot of my veg lighting.

If you can't upgrade to DE, i would just make sure and replace the cap every other year, keep with the eye horti bulb. That's what i would do.

I gotta pm you aero

Thankyou btw

bryan oconner said:

couple of videos that I found interesting

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I cant veiw those on my phone but i will tomorrow when i get to a pc, thanks for posting it up and i will certainly give them a fair chance.

only ballast I will say is trash is nexgen the silver and black ones I had 3 of these and the fans got loud very loud like a bad bushing in them all 3 with in a year . I rebuild one ballasts with a new fan sold the other 2 with bad fans cheap letting the buyers know the issue . the one I fixed might of lasted 6 months longer . took a shit would not light turn on .

Aeroknow said:

Imo, there's nothing wrong with magnetic ballasts. I had bad experiences with digi's when they came out and hated them for that reason. I was still using magnetic ballasts up to a year and a half ago. That's when I switched everything over to DE's. Now I'm 100% digi lol, except for allot of my veg lighting.

If you can't upgrade to DE, i would just make sure and replace the cap every other year, keep with the eye horti bulb. That's what i would do.

Click to expand...

Totally, specially the first couple of years when Electronic ballasts arrived in our scene, Magnetics were a 'must have' to use a SPARES! Magnetics are robust and sturdy. I still own a few from the mid 90's. Last forever. In the introduction of the early electronic ballasts [there is a distinction between an electronic ballast an a digital ballast] some were actually well desgined but the lamp their operated was designed for a magnetic. The ballasts of course got the rap-- not the lamp manufacturers.

Eventually by 2011 everyone [electronic ballast manufacturers, digital ballast manufacturers, and lamp manufacturers got on the same page.

The only drawback to magnetics are:

1. Heavier
2. Hotter
3. About 10% higher overhead. Input voltage/Open voltage. Thats where the difference in radiance is coming from -- not including overdrive/superlumen features.

That's it.

The advantages of Magnetics:

1. Inexpensive
2. As Reliable as the force of Gravity.


In regards to Capacitors. Indeed, 99.999% of the time there is a problem with a Magnetic ballast it is the Capacitor. The core and ignitor can last decades. Having said that I've maybe replaced 5 capacitors (from 30 ballasts) during a ten year period. Some aluminium magnetic cores were starting to be made in exchange with copper since 2009. [copper commodities price went from $1.50/lb to $4.50/lb ] Those Aluminum cores are slightly inferior and I would not expect them to last as long. However, they are cheaper to buy [and repair].

NanoZeus said:

Totally, specially the first couple of years when Electronic ballasts arrived in our scene, Magnetics were a 'must have' to use a SPARES! Magnetics are robust and sturdy. I still own a few from the mid 90's. Last forever. In the introduction of the early electronic ballasts [there is a distinction between an electronic ballast an a digital ballast] some were actually well desgined but the lamp their operated was designed for a magnetic. The ballasts of course got the rap-- not the lamp manufacturers.

Eventually by 2011 everyone [electronic ballast manufacturers, digital ballast manufacturers, and lamp manufacturers got on the same page.

The only drawback to magnetics are:

1. Heavier
2. Hotter
3. About 10% higher overhead. Input voltage/Open voltage. Thats where the difference in radiance is coming from -- not including overdrive/superlumen features.

That's it.

The advantages of Magnetics:

1. Inexpensive
2. As Reliable as the force of Gravity.


In regards to Capacitors. Indeed, 99.999% of the time there is a problem with a Magnetic ballast it is the Capacitor. The core and ignitor can last decades. Having said that I've maybe replaced 5 capacitors (from 30 ballasts) during a ten year period. Some aluminium magnetic cores were starting to be made in exchange with copper since 2009. [copper commodities price went from $1.50/lb to $4.50/lb ] Those Aluminum cores are slightly inferior and I would not expect them to last as long. However, they are cheaper to buy [and repair].

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Caps in enclosed ballasts get hot as fuck. They have a rough job lol.
Back in the 90's, we used to only replace the caps when they were noticebly on there way out, or out/dead and bloated.
I got a light meter and was farting around with it. It's then when I noticed that older caps totally fade. I got into the habit of replacing the caps every other year, and that seemed to have been perfect.

Do you remember the old diamond brand ballasts? I got a friend that still has a few of them still lmao.

Aeroknow said:

Caps in enclosed ballasts get hot as fuck. They have a rough job lol.
Back in the 90's, we used to only replace the caps when they were noticebly on there way out, or out/dead and bloated.
I got a light meter and was farting around with it. It's then when I noticed that older caps totally fade. I got into the habit of replacing the caps every other year, and that seemed to have been perfect.

Do you remember the old diamond brand ballasts? I got a friend that still has a few of them still lmao.

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Do I remember them?

You're pulling my leg.

I built them for years in Cali. DMH400/DMH1000/DHPS400/DHPS430/DHPS600/DHPS1000 and of course the MH/HPS1000 Multi-ballast with the X1 ignitor switch. That ballast was so OG!

-Cheers

NanoZeus said:

Do I remember them?

You're pulling my leg.

I built them for years in Cali. DMH400/DMH1000/DHPS400/DHPS430/DHPS600/DHPS1000 and of course the MH/HPS1000 Multi-ballast with the X1 ignitor switch. That ballast was so OG!

-Cheers

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Nice! Bay area guy here. I'm glad the industry didn't end up with the diamond pattern as a standard too. That would've sucked.

Aeroknow said:

Nice! Bay area guy here. I'm glad the industry didn't end up with the diamond pattern as a standard too. That would've sucked.

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My digi ballast is not fan cooled, whats the difference and why? save me some time googling it maybe...

Kingrow1 said:

My digi ballast is not fan cooled, whats the difference and why? save me some time googling it maybe...

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Must not need it? None of my phantom DE ballasts have them either.

NanoZeus said:

Totally, specially the first couple of years when Electronic ballasts arrived in our scene, Magnetics were a 'must have' to use a SPARES! Magnetics are robust and sturdy. I still own a few from the mid 90's. Last forever. In the introduction of the early electronic ballasts [there is a distinction between an electronic ballast an a digital ballast] some were actually well desgined but the lamp their operated was designed for a magnetic. The ballasts of course got the rap-- not the lamp manufacturers.

Eventually by 2011 everyone [electronic ballast manufacturers, digital ballast manufacturers, and lamp manufacturers got on the same page.

The only drawback to magnetics are:

1. Heavier
2. Hotter
3. About 10% higher overhead. Input voltage/Open voltage. Thats where the difference in radiance is coming from -- not including overdrive/superlumen features.

That's it.

The advantages of Magnetics:

1. Inexpensive
2. As Reliable as the force of Gravity.


In regards to Capacitors. Indeed, 99.999% of the time there is a problem with a Magnetic ballast it is the Capacitor. The core and ignitor can last decades. Having said that I've maybe replaced 5 capacitors (from 30 ballasts) during a ten year period. Some aluminium magnetic cores were starting to be made in exchange with copper since 2009. [copper commodities price went from $1.50/lb to $4.50/lb ] Those Aluminum cores are slightly inferior and I would not expect them to last as long. However, they are cheaper to buy [and repair].

Click to expand...

what about the 40 % more par out put light the plant sees ? according to solistek proven 40 % that is HUGE. I would call that number a difference . 40 % is a lot of extra yield for the same amount of electricity and some magnetics actually draw less power then digital by 50 or 75 watts but no savings when your losing up to 40 % par .

bryan oconner said:

what about the 40 % more par out put light the plant sees ? according to solistek proven 40 % that is HUGE. I would call that number a difference . 40 % is a lot of extra yield for the same amount of electricity and some magnetics actually draw less power then digital by 50 or 75 watts but no savings when your losing up to 40 % par .

Click to expand...

I feel like the answer is going to be just market hype unfortunately...

Aeroknow said:

Must not need it? None of my phantom DE ballasts have them either.

Click to expand...

Correct. A fan allows for a smaller form factor. Holding all things equal, a No-Fan option requires a larger housing and/or perhaps heat sinks or fins to dissipate the heat at the same rate a fan would do.

Kingrow1 said:

I feel like the answer is going to be just market hype unfortunately...

Click to expand...

It usually is.

My biggest vexation is when someone makes yield claims and/or asks me how much he/she will get per light.

One thing is to evaluate and compare a driver [ballast] and a whole other thing is to compare/contrast between lamps. One drives the other, but they are still separate multipliers in the end product: light. And light-- together with--Nutrients, Air, Temp, Cultivation Style, Tools, Cultivators skill, Genetics, etc, all together--correlate to yield.
To associate yield to a single product type, or even worse, to a brand, is extremely lofty and ambitious and will most likely be inaccurate.

Though I have always been ferociously skeptical about yield claims, I must happily admit that I do remember when the indoor 1-Lb/light barrier was broken.

Then the 2-Lb/light barrier was broken.

Now recently 3-Lbs/light being a norm in commercial facilities. Seen even higher grams/watt yields in trick SOG applications.

Clearly not all due to improvements in just lighting gear. It is due to improvements in *all* the factors that contribute to yield.

This is all a result of the industry maturing, learning, and naturally improving.

The Diamond "thumbs-up". <should crack a smile>

Good times.

NanoZeus said:

Correct. A fan allows for a smaller form factor. Holding all things equal, a No-Fan option requires a larger housing and/or perhaps heat sinks or fins to dissipate the heat at the same rate a fan would do.



It usually is.

My biggest vexation is when someone makes yield claims and/or asks me how much he/she will get per light.

One thing is to evaluate and compare a driver [ballast] and a whole other thing is to compare/contrast between lamps. One drives the other, but they are still separate multipliers in the end product: light. And light-- together with--Nutrients, Air, Temp, Cultivation Style, Tools, Cultivators skill, Genetics, etc, all together--correlate to yield.
To associate yield to a single product type, or even worse, to a brand, is extremely lofty and ambitious and will most likely be inaccurate.

Though I have always been ferociously skeptical about yield claims, I must happily admit that I do remember when the indoor 1-Lb/light barrier was broken.

Then the 2-Lb/light barrier was broken.

Now recently 3-Lbs/light being a norm in commercial facilities. Seen even higher grams/watt yields in trick SOG applications.

Clearly not all due to improvements in just lighting gear. It is due to improvements in *all* the factors that contribute to yield.

This is all a result of the industry maturing, learning, and naturally improving.

The Diamond "thumbs-up". <should crack a smile>

Good times.

Click to expand...

Very informative info and thanks for sharing it.

I personally hate the light industry for their bogus claims, led and cfl by far the worst offenders but hey they make a killing of new growers from it. Pretty sure they be selling candles next that kick out 100 lumens lol

Ha ha ha!!! Candles! Candles! What a great idea! High-PAR Candles!

Be completely off the grid!!!

Thank Jesus that the lighting side of the hydro industry is the only one making insane ADD/HD claims.

Because, champion gold medals from "World Science Fair of 1940" --- "#1 Plant Perfecter" -- "#1 Extra Grower",

along with 'Science Miracles in each drop'..

.....is totally legit.

bryan oconner said:

what about the 40 % more par out put light the plant sees ? according to solistek proven 40 % that is HUGE. I would call that number a difference . 40 % is a lot of extra yield for the same amount of electricity and some magnetics actually draw less power then digital by 50 or 75 watts but no savings when your losing up to 40 % par .

Click to expand...

Ive had chance to watch both videos, first one shows little difference between ballasts wether digi or magnetic although there is a small difference there which would mean more to big time growers who run multiple ballasts. I doubt in a small tent we would notice this though.

Second video, yes definate increase in par for the genesis bulb, 30% easy (good vids from monster gardens always). Does par equal extra yeilds over a wider spectrum, probably not or if so no where near 30%. Lumens will all be similar but many tests have shown wider spectrums are more beneficial.

If we look at par we see that flouros work better with wider spectrums not just par. I guess its down to the grower work outt where in the light spectrum they want their lumens. A debatable subject really, hard for me to say which spectrums yeild the most and also how much uv is needed. Peeps could split hairs all day long but yeild wise i doubt there will be that much of a difference, some bulbs have been better than others but no one has found that large of a difference in yeilds to push us one way or the other.

No hype just great tests, long term youll find the bulbs that give you that extra edge, im running a sunmaster so not that great par but awesome none the less.

Aeroknow said:

If you had never replaced the caps, I guarantee you that those magnetic ballasts weren't giving you all they could have

Some of my friends still rock my older ballasts that were put out way before digis came out. Keep the caps fresh and the ballast is still good.

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Caps? I've got some old magnetic ballasts that buzz & others that do not (at least not much).
Is it a simple swap?

Chunky Stool said:

Caps? I've got some old magnetic ballasts that buzz & others that do not (at least not much).
Is it a simple swap?

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Hella easy, but from my experience, the buzzing is not from the capacitor.
Pretty simple replacing the cap. Just don't touch both of the connections on top at the same time. Supposedly caps can remain energized and fuck you up if you do. I've never been shocked though, and I've done it many times.