Digital ballast info needed

Dandaweedman · 08-18-2010, 08:59 PM

Hey guys
Anyone currently using a digital HPS ballast?

farmergiles · 08-19-2010, 02:05 AM

600w Lumatek. Not using it just this second.

What info are you after Dan?

Dandaweedman · 08-19-2010, 04:54 AM

I have read the manufacturers statements that they have cured/fixed the interference issues.
Except I have seen a couple videos on youtube that prove otherwise.

So I thought to ask someone if tis true one way or t'other

Their test was to take a video then start the ballast which then made the video cam go all wonky.
What happenes when your is running near a radio, tv, cell phone etc?

I think the digis would be awesome... but only if they have the interference fixed.

farmergiles · 08-19-2010, 04:06 PM

It makes no difference to a mobile phone or TV as far as I can tell.
I haven't tried a video cam or a portable radio. Maybe I should.

I don't think the lamp cable is shielded either.

Mine is one of the newish metallic blue ones.

I've heard stories of people having issues but this one has been fine so far.

Dandaweedman · 08-19-2010, 04:28 PM

I am assuming the only difference tween the ones we get here and yours would be amperage and cord?
Have you sat in your room and chatted on the cell much?

I am imagining your better arf calling you...
"Yes dear, I am doing the dishes. No dear I will not be sitting in the middle of my plants watching them grow"

farmergiles · 08-19-2010, 05:00 PM

Yeah I do answer calls in the room sometimes, I usually come out straight away because of the noise from the fans but there is no noticeable interference.

I think the ballasts you get are identical apart from the cables and the supply voltage.
Over here we usually use a euro kettle lead for the lamp and mostly people use 240v for the supply.

Apparently the lumateks can be a bit finicky with some bulbs (low bulb life, unreliable striking) but I've been fine with Sylvania Grolux's.

Dandaweedman · 08-19-2010, 06:41 PM

I hear Hortilux tend to not last very long. Boom.
The benefits are many, may be worth the money after all. Now all I need is one to play with to see if things are as they say...
Less voltage, more light etc

farmergiles · 08-19-2010, 07:11 PM

The ballast runs cooler and the bulbs seem to last longer.

So provided there are no reliability problems it seems like a winner.

Dandaweedman · 08-30-2010, 01:46 PM

I think you are right. I've been checking up on them on the net for a long time.
I think they make the most sense.

farmergiles · 08-30-2010, 03:12 PM

SAF mentioned some concerns over Lumatek's reliability with certain bulbs (ballasts overheating and/or bulbs failing to strike up I think it was) a while back.

I did a lot of enquiring before I acquired mine- 99% of what I heard was positive.

We had power outs for a period once. I noticed the Lumatek restruck a lot quicker and seemingly easier than the old magnetic Phillips.

The Lumatek has a boost button which gives it another 40w or something. This seems to work ok but uses more juice and probably shortens bulb life.
I wish there was an easy way to measure bulb degradation.

I think the quoted gains in efficiency are optimistic- if your mains supply was very stable and had exactly the right voltage I don't think it would be worth the outlay. But some mains supplies are very variable.

Dandaweedman · 08-30-2010, 03:42 PM

I have read the power savings are almost nil and that the stated extra lumens are also false.
The Eye Hortis are the ones that aren't supposed to last, and another but I fergit.

I was thinking about the heat and noise from magnetic ballasts.
Plus the 1K lumateks let you light 600, 750 and 1K lamps.
Any cheap light meter will show you degradation if you start with a new lamp

farmergiles · 08-30-2010, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dandaweedman

Any cheap light meter will show you degradation if you start with a new lamp

It'll show the degradation in total brightness but I'm more interested in the PAR

. But I could do with getting a light meter anyway to meter the distribution in the room. I could even use it for photography.

Dandaweedman · 08-30-2010, 05:50 PM

I bet a PAR meter is worth an arm and two legs.

08-18-2010, 08:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
Dandaweedman Old School Join Date: May 2004 Location: At the Cabana Posts: 7,407 Thanks: 699 Thanked 760 Times in 613 Posts	Digital ballast info needed Hey guys Anyone currently using a digital HPS ballast? __________________ Hanging in the Cabana

08-19-2010, 02:05 AM	#2 (permalink)
farmergiles Yahookan Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sick of the hatred and the lies Posts: 7,779 Thanks: 2,272 Thanked 3,734 Times in 2,546 Posts	600w Lumatek. Not using it just this second. What info are you after Dan? __________________ Cultivate a stoic calmness *Fuck the Monkeys* Every Kind of Vice

08-19-2010, 04:54 AM	#3 (permalink)
Dandaweedman Old School Join Date: May 2004 Location: At the Cabana Posts: 7,407 Thanks: 699 Thanked 760 Times in 613 Posts	I have read the manufacturers statements that they have cured/fixed the interference issues. Except I have seen a couple videos on youtube that prove otherwise. So I thought to ask someone if tis true one way or t'other Their test was to take a video then start the ballast which then made the video cam go all wonky. What happenes when your is running near a radio, tv, cell phone etc? I think the digis would be awesome... but only if they have the interference fixed. __________________ Hanging in the Cabana

08-19-2010, 04:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
farmergiles Yahookan Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sick of the hatred and the lies Posts: 7,779 Thanks: 2,272 Thanked 3,734 Times in 2,546 Posts	It makes no difference to a mobile phone or TV as far as I can tell. I haven't tried a video cam or a portable radio. Maybe I should. I don't think the lamp cable is shielded either. Mine is one of the newish metallic blue ones. I've heard stories of people having issues but this one has been fine so far. __________________ Cultivate a stoic calmness *Fuck the Monkeys* Every Kind of Vice

08-19-2010, 04:28 PM	#5 (permalink)
Dandaweedman Old School Join Date: May 2004 Location: At the Cabana Posts: 7,407 Thanks: 699 Thanked 760 Times in 613 Posts	I am assuming the only difference tween the ones we get here and yours would be amperage and cord? Have you sat in your room and chatted on the cell much? I am imagining your better arf calling you... "Yes dear, I am doing the dishes. No dear I will not be sitting in the middle of my plants watching them grow" __________________ Hanging in the Cabana

08-19-2010, 05:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
farmergiles Yahookan Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sick of the hatred and the lies Posts: 7,779 Thanks: 2,272 Thanked 3,734 Times in 2,546 Posts	Yeah I do answer calls in the room sometimes, I usually come out straight away because of the noise from the fans but there is no noticeable interference. I think the ballasts you get are identical apart from the cables and the supply voltage. Over here we usually use a euro kettle lead for the lamp and mostly people use 240v for the supply. Apparently the lumateks can be a bit finicky with some bulbs (low bulb life, unreliable striking) but I've been fine with Sylvania Grolux's. __________________ Cultivate a stoic calmness *Fuck the Monkeys* Every Kind of Vice

08-19-2010, 06:41 PM	#7 (permalink)
Dandaweedman Old School Join Date: May 2004 Location: At the Cabana Posts: 7,407 Thanks: 699 Thanked 760 Times in 613 Posts	I hear Hortilux tend to not last very long. Boom. The benefits are many, may be worth the money after all. Now all I need is one to play with to see if things are as they say... Less voltage, more light etc __________________ Hanging in the Cabana

08-19-2010, 07:11 PM	#8 (permalink)
farmergiles Yahookan Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sick of the hatred and the lies Posts: 7,779 Thanks: 2,272 Thanked 3,734 Times in 2,546 Posts	The ballast runs cooler and the bulbs seem to last longer. So provided there are no reliability problems it seems like a winner. __________________ Cultivate a stoic calmness *Fuck the Monkeys* Every Kind of Vice

08-30-2010, 01:46 PM	#9 (permalink)
Dandaweedman Old School Join Date: May 2004 Location: At the Cabana Posts: 7,407 Thanks: 699 Thanked 760 Times in 613 Posts	I think you are right. I've been checking up on them on the net for a long time. I think they make the most sense. __________________ Hanging in the Cabana

08-30-2010, 03:12 PM	#10 (permalink)
farmergiles Yahookan Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sick of the hatred and the lies Posts: 7,779 Thanks: 2,272 Thanked 3,734 Times in 2,546 Posts	SAF mentioned some concerns over Lumatek's reliability with certain bulbs (ballasts overheating and/or bulbs failing to strike up I think it was) a while back. I did a lot of enquiring before I acquired mine- 99% of what I heard was positive. We had power outs for a period once. I noticed the Lumatek restruck a lot quicker and seemingly easier than the old magnetic Phillips. The Lumatek has a boost button which gives it another 40w or something. This seems to work ok but uses more juice and probably shortens bulb life. I wish there was an easy way to measure bulb degradation. I think the quoted gains in efficiency are optimistic- if your mains supply was very stable and had exactly the right voltage I don't think it would be worth the outlay. But some mains supplies are very variable. __________________ Cultivate a stoic calmness *Fuck the Monkeys* Every Kind of Vice

08-30-2010, 03:42 PM	#11 (permalink)
Dandaweedman Old School Join Date: May 2004 Location: At the Cabana Posts: 7,407 Thanks: 699 Thanked 760 Times in 613 Posts	I have read the power savings are almost nil and that the stated extra lumens are also false. The Eye Hortis are the ones that aren't supposed to last, and another but I fergit. I was thinking about the heat and noise from magnetic ballasts. Plus the 1K lumateks let you light 600, 750 and 1K lamps. Any cheap light meter will show you degradation if you start with a new lamp __________________ Hanging in the Cabana

08-30-2010, 05:50 PM	#13 (permalink)
Dandaweedman Old School Join Date: May 2004 Location: At the Cabana Posts: 7,407 Thanks: 699 Thanked 760 Times in 613 Posts	I bet a PAR meter is worth an arm and two legs. __________________ Hanging in the Cabana

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