newbie went and bought digital ballast, did I mess up?

papa canna

papa canna

Well-Known Member
I went to my local hydro shop with a list, and the guy behind the counter was really helpful, hooked me up with my essentials, but after I did some reading i read that a lot of people were prefering their magnetic ballasts to digitals. Especially when it came to hortilux bulbs. I'd like to use a premium bulb like hortilux, should I return my ballast? would magnetic be better?
 
papa canna said:
I went to my local hydro shop with a list, and the guy behind the counter was really helpful, hooked me up with my essentials, but after I did some reading i read that a lot of people were prefering their magnetic ballasts to digitals. Especially when it came to hortilux bulbs. I'd like to use a premium bulb like hortilux, should I return my ballast? would magnetic be better?
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Depends. What brand did you get? What wattage? The only reason I prefer mag ballast is their reliability and ease of fixing. Its all a matter of preference.
 
Nothing wrong with digital ballast. Magnetic ballast cost much more for a manufacture to make, they will go all out in thick quality boards,power supply,coils caps ect.. and thats why magnetic last longer. If you bought a good quality digital ballast, it will still last long. I have had apolo ballast for years with zero issues except a little rfi noise.im pretty sure the quality control of apolo isnt great either. I switched to dimmable solisteks and still no issues & no rfi.
 
Also if I walk in to someones house that doesnt have their shit locked down I can hear a mag ballast as soon as I walk in lol

ive put more then one person on the spot when I say so you got a 600 or a 1000

total deer in the lights if they didnt tell me they grew.

this is also a lesson on who you let in .
a exp grower can spot the tell tale signs sounds and smells lol
 
Cold$moke said:
Also if I walk in to someones house that doesnt have their shit locked down I can hear a mag ballast as soon as I walk in lol

ive put more then one person on the spot when I say so you got a 600 or a 1000

total deer in the lights if they didnt tell me they grew.

this is also a lesson on who you let in .
a exp grower can spot the tell tale signs sounds and smells lol
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My xtrasun 1000 hardly has a hum to it. Once you so much as turn on an oscilating fan, ac unit, or dehumidifier... the small amount of humming is irrelevant.
 
DirtyMcCurdy said:
My xtrasun 1000 hardly has a hum to it. Once you so much as turn on an oscilating fan, ac unit, or dehumidifier... the small amount of humming is irrelevant.
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Almost guarantee its louder then a digi besides the actual decibel level its more the tone its unmistakable to peeps like myself
 
Plus with digi you can dial it up or down . Use a variety of bulbs.
just more versatile .

just my 2
edit also reliability is something nill to me
When I buy a ballast from mmy grow store
if it fails within the warranty I take it in and get a fucking new one no ? Asked

your grow store should do the same if not they suck.
who has the time to work on their ballast and who the fuck has spare parts lol

not dogging anyone just MY2
 
Digital makes more use of the bulb. More efficient, more lumens.

I fully recommend and support apollo products....
 
Digitals were supposed to be the next big thing. They weren't. I don't know why you'd buy a ballast just to turn it down? Using lower wattage shortens the life of the bulbs and changes their spectrum output.

I use both but I never change the output on my digital. And I know what you're saying about the hum but it really is no issue what so ever.[/QUOTE]
 
Neither are there any issues digital ballasts .
to each there own right .
but I dont really think you can say with any real proof that ones are better than others.

save one. The versatility of running either hps or mh can you do that with mags ? I can't remember lol
 
And to the turn it down thing
I would rather have 600 w on my seedlings (if I were a one light grower) then 1k
just my 2
 
digital ballasts are great,have had mine for years,with no problems.i did have problems with overheating,when i used magnetic ballasts tho,especially compact ones.
 
Cold$moke said:
And to the turn it down thing
I would rather have 600 w on my seedlings (if I were a one light grower) then 1k
just my 2
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Cold$moke said:
The new digi come with a built in timer and remote .
thats just sweet
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A lot of mag ballast have a switch for hps and mh. It just controls the ignitor for the hps bulb

Built in timers w/ a remote... that is pretty sweet. Although I'm afraid to ask how much.
 
DirtyMcCurdy said:
A lot of mag ballast have a switch for hps and mh. It just controls the ignitor for the hps bulb

Built in timers w/ a remote... that is pretty sweet. Although I'm afraid to ask how much.
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Yea I thought I remember the light switch in the back but wasnt 100% with digi you just screw em in lol

and you can get a solis tek on amazon with built in timer for 200 us:)
 
Cold$moke said:
Yea I thought I remember the light switch in the back but wasnt 100% with digi you just screw em in lol

and you can get a solis tek on amazon with built in timer for 200 us:)
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Lets just be thankful there's so many good products for us growers to use at our disposal.
$200, that ain't bad. But theres just something about my good 'ol 30lb mag ballast and the lines I get in my camera when recording/taking pics in the growroom. lol
 
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