Help! Digital ballast is not producing it's power!

slinkysaurus

Well-Known Member
Maxibright digital dimable ballast
200-660w

Sunmaster dual spectrum bulb.

Problem- doesn't look like it's working at 600... I can look at the bulb quite easily, there's some flickering.

I changed the bulb and still the same problem. It should definitely be brighter than this! Only done one grow with it previous and I'm still in veg of the 2nd.

Anyone run into this problem with this ballast or have a fix???
 

ISK

Well-Known Member
does it work okay at the other settings? if yes, run at a lower output or at 660w

I doubt there is away to fix it being a digital ballast....you likely will need to replace it, as it may be a potential fire risk
 

slinkysaurus

Well-Known Member
It's hard to say if the 660 setting makes a difference... I tried giving it knock (old technology fixer) and it seems to have stopped the flickering.

Chances are I will need to get a new one as you said.
Wish I had a light meter now!
Thanks for your reply :)
 
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Getgrowingson

Well-Known Member
Happened to me yesterday actually. Ballast came on and off it was wack. Was like wtf it's not even a year old! Changed bulbs gave it a whack still nothing. Finally in my infinite wisdom checked the power cord and it wasn't in all the way! Hahaha for f sakes. Double check your connections and if it still isn't good you can't really fix them unless your a electronics tech. Good luck bro
 

slinkysaurus

Well-Known Member
Great ideas!
Get growing - I checked all the plugs but that was a good call! Thanks!

Opening the ballast may be a good idea.. I'll give that a shot too... Only 4 hours left until lights on so I better get cracking. Thanks for the replies!
 

bertaluchi

Well-Known Member
Its always good to keep a back up ballast or system of some kind. I have a magnetic backup ballast should anything go wrong I can keep my grow operational until I can get to the store.
 

slinkysaurus

Well-Known Member
Its always good to keep a back up ballast or system of some kind. I have a magnetic backup ballast should anything go wrong I can keep my grow operational until I can get to the store.
Unfortunately I had planned to get all these things after I had finished this one !
After over 4k+ going into the room, I didn't have the money to get back up bits yet.
This had actually worked out for the best tho, as I'm getting quite comfortable with the system now, it allows me to fine tune what I need to upgrade and keep for spares!
 

bertaluchi

Well-Known Member
Thats usually the way it goes in this game. We all think we know what we need when we start but issues always pop up. It took me a good 4 or 5 runs to get my grow to where I have it now. I am very happy with things now and I produce some very good meds.
 

slinkysaurus

Well-Known Member
Sod's law , you try and buy the best stuff (I'm one of those people- buy cheap, buy twice!) and I end up having to fork out anyway.
So I have decided to hog out and upgrade to a 1000w Lumii Digital Ballast and bulb... It was the best priced I could find with a trusty name?

I was worried about heat issues, but it's an air cooled hood and I'll just raise it up higher and add more fans if things start getting sticky. It should really help penetrate what is now a jungle..no room even for scrogging! Those extra few weeks veg made a massive difference

Anyone have a Lumii digital ballast, 1000Watter? Any complaints?
 

slinkysaurus

Well-Known Member
Do I need to upgrade the chord set inside my hood? i.e where the bulb screws in. Or will I be ok to get 1000w bulb and ballast, plug and play?
 

slinkysaurus

Well-Known Member
So today, ordered was a Lumii Digital 1000w Ballast and and super HPS bulb.
It'll be half way through the 2nd week of flower it's going in.
Can anyone see this causing me any bennefits at that stage or would it have been best just before the switch?
 

slinkysaurus

Well-Known Member
I saw a Dominator XXXL vented hood and couldn't resist...had to add it into the package. .. Should be here in a week or so! It's so fucking bad-ass! :weed:

I have a high cap Rhino extraction, its working very well so far for keeping heat as low as 19C if you crank it to 100%
 

joshua35

Member
Maxibright digital dimable ballast
200-660w

Sunmaster dual spectrum bulb.

Problem- doesn't look like it's working at 600... I can look at the bulb quite easily, there's some flickering.

I changed the bulb and still the same problem. It should definitely be brighter than this! Only done one grow with it previous and I'm still in veg of the 2nd.

Anyone run into this problem with this ballast or have a fix???
how old is your bulb. They do need replacing about every 30,000 hours
 

slinkysaurus

Well-Known Member
I replace my bulbs every grow + 1 veg. Overkill? Possibly. For the sake of a £30 part tho, I'm not going to quibble replacing it.

Either way, it's all being replaced with a 1000w system and a Magnum/Dominator XXXL 6'' vented hood in the next 48 hours =]
Can remove and use some of the LED's for a cloning tent =]
 

joshua35

Member
OTE="slinkysaurus, post: 11421664, member: 896717"]I replace my bulbs every grow + 1 veg. Overkill? Possibly. For the sake of a £30 part tho, I'm not going to quibble replacing it.

Either way, it's all being replaced with a 1000w system and a Magnum/Dominator XXXL 6'' vented hood in the next 48 hours =]
Can remove and use some of the LED's for a cloning tent =][/QUOTE]
if your running a digital ballast make sure you have a digital bulb. A conventional hps in a digital ballast will have an extremely shortened life
 
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