Only SolisTek lamps in SolisTek Matrix Ballasts?

B

Bgurl

Member
Hi there,

I'm finding it difficult to find any online forums which discuss this exact topic. I just bought a pair of SolisTek Matrix 1000w digital ballasts and WAS going to run them with Hortilux lamps (600w for veg and 1000w for flower). That was until someone mentioned Hortilux's don't actually run properly in them so I decided to email SolisTek directly to ask them and this is the answer that I got:-

The architecture of Hortilux lamps (and many other brands) is truly designed/tuned for magnetic ballasts (low frequency technology) regardless of the marketing claims on the box. These lamps operate on a completely different frequency (hz vs kHz) and probe ignition. This will lead to lamp incompatibility, poor performance, diminished life and improper spectral output when used with a ultra high frequency ballast as two types of technology are being effectively mismatched. SolisTek lamps are pulse start which are meant for digital ballasts and utilise tinned wiring on our lamp base. This provides a far superior connection versus the standard outdated copper wiring. For reference, the lamp always sets the stage for what frequency the ballast should be tuned to. The SolisTek SE/DE ballasts and lamps are high frequency in the Khz range. Where as Hortilux single ended lamps architecture is meant for magnetic core & coil ballasts (which operate between 50-120Hz).

OKAY so there it is. I know they are keen to sell their own products but is this utter crap or is there some truth in it? I would be keen to hear from anyone who is using Hortilux lamps in these exact ballasts, and are they getting good results with them. I am happy to buy SolisTek lamps if they are up to the task, but I've heard they aren't very good hence why I want to go with the Hortis.

I also heard that when you use the splitters and don't use their lamps it can mess your non SolisTek lamps up.
SolisTek had this to say about using other manufacturers lamps with the splitters:-

The SolisTek splitter is designed to only work with SolisTek lamps due to our exclusive completely matched connection with our ballast for a low output THD%. Unfortunately we cannot guarantee, warranty, or offer support for any other combinations due to the varying range of quality of lamp/ballast components.

So can someone please enlighten me as to what on earth to do here. I don't want to waste money buying Hortis only to have them work like crap in these ballasts.

Would really appreciate some advice. Thanks
 
Jaybodankly

Jaybodankly

Well-Known Member
I run 1100W (boost) Solis Tek ballast. It is on a Y splitter to 2-600W HPS Apollo bulbs from Amazon. I am sure Solis-Tek bulbs are better but these work great. My plants love them.
 
420producer

420producer

Well-Known Member
Jaybodankly said:
I run 1100W (boost) Solis Tek ballast. It is on a Y splitter to 2-600W HPS Apollo bulbs from Amazon. I am sure Solis-Tek bulbs are better but these work great. My plants love them.
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thats cool. i have one . now i wonder if it will fire 2 600w D/E bulbs?? hmm.. and i can answer my own question after looking it up. and . its Yes..
 
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NrthrnMichigan

NrthrnMichigan

Well-Known Member
Jaybodankly said:
I run 1100W (boost) Solis Tek ballast. It is on a Y splitter to 2-600W HPS Apollo bulbs from Amazon. I am sure Solis-Tek bulbs are better but these work great. My plants love them.
Click to expand...
What type Y splitter are you using? I need to get one. Can you provide a link?
 
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J

juggernaught

New Member
Bgurl said:
Hi there,

I'm finding it difficult to find any online forums which discuss this exact topic. I just bought a pair of SolisTek Matrix 1000w digital ballasts and WAS going to run them with Hortilux lamps (600w for veg and 1000w for flower). That was until someone mentioned Hortilux's don't actually run properly in them so I decided to email SolisTek directly to ask them and this is the answer that I got:-

The architecture of Hortilux lamps (and many other brands) is truly designed/tuned for magnetic ballasts (low frequency technology) regardless of the marketing claims on the box. These lamps operate on a completely different frequency (hz vs kHz) and probe ignition. This will lead to lamp incompatibility, poor performance, diminished life and improper spectral output when used with a ultra high frequency ballast as two types of technology are being effectively mismatched. SolisTek lamps are pulse start which are meant for digital ballasts and utilise tinned wiring on our lamp base. This provides a far superior connection versus the standard outdated copper wiring. For reference, the lamp always sets the stage for what frequency the ballast should be tuned to. The SolisTek SE/DE ballasts and lamps are high frequency in the Khz range. Where as Hortilux single ended lamps architecture is meant for magnetic core & coil ballasts (which operate between 50-120Hz).

OKAY so there it is. I know they are keen to sell their own products but is this utter crap or is there some truth in it? I would be keen to hear from anyone who is using Hortilux lamps in these exact ballasts, and are they getting good results with them. I am happy to buy SolisTek lamps if they are up to the task, but I've heard they aren't very good hence why I want to go with the Hortis.

I also heard that when you use the splitters and don't use their lamps it can mess your non SolisTek lamps up.
SolisTek had this to say about using other manufacturers lamps with the splitters:-

The SolisTek splitter is designed to only work with SolisTek lamps due to our exclusive completely matched connection with our ballast for a low output THD%. Unfortunately we cannot guarantee, warranty, or offer support for any other combinations due to the varying range of quality of lamp/ballast components.

So can someone please enlighten me as to what on earth to do here. I don't want to waste money buying Hortis only to have them work like crap in these ballasts.

Would really appreciate some advice. Thanks
Click to expand...

I would say ST's reply is fraught with inaccuracies and misleading information.

FIRST: HID bulbs can operate at any frequency, high or low. Bulbs are not designed to operate at a specific frequency, if so you would need many different bulbs to pair with the many different frequencies of ballasts on the market because all these ballasts have different operating frequencies. Bulbs don't say what frequency their supposed to run on because it doesn't matter.

To understand the bullshit of SK's response you should understand what "ballast frequency" is and means. The frequency the ballast operates at means how often the power is supplied to the bulb. A 1000w HPS bulb generally requires 250 volts for the bulb to stay lit. The ballast will deliver the 250 volt pulses to the bulb 60 times per second for magnetic ballasts or 80,000+ times per second to the bulb for electronic/digital ballasts. The bulb is not designed around the frequency provided by the ballast, rather the bulb is designed around the voltage supplied by the ballast. If the ballast does not provide the proper voltage to the bulb, then you see issues with compatibility, which usually 9 time out of 10, the problem is within the ballast not the bulb.

SECOND: Hortilux sells both Probe Start and Pulse Start MH bulbs. These terms have nothing to do with HPS bulbs so don't let that confuse you. If you know anything about HID bulbs you can clearly see the Hortilux eStart bulbs are Pulse Start MH bulbs. There are components in Probe Start bulbs that are not necessary in Pulse Start bulbs. If you look at the eStart bulbs you can see those components are not there making them Pulse Start bulbs.

Hortilux also sells the Hortilux Daylight Blue MH (my favorite lamp by the way, makes killer trichrome production). This bulb IS a Probe Start bulb. But the 600w Blue is not a Probe Start bulb, again just look at the components in the bulb.

THIRD: Hortilux has their own high frequency ballast (Gold Series) which operates at 120,000hz. I run this ballast with their lamps with zero problems. I have tried the SK ballast because I got a couple for free to test and they would not run the 600w Hortilux Blue, yet the Gold ballast ran it just fine. Same thing with the 1000w Blue. Full disclosure i also run Galaxy ballasts and quantum ballasts with not issues. I have run Phantom ballasts with the Horti Blues but that ballast won't run this bulb.

I wouldn't recommend running a splitter as that is reducing the power generated by the ballast and delivered to the bulb. Think about it, 1000w of power split in two = 500w of power going to 600w bulbs. even if the bulbs light up they will not be running at max capacity. something to think about.

I am a huge Hortilux fan. Love their stuff but i have tried a lot of other products and keep coming back to the Horti's. My advise stick with the Horti's because they produce, get another ballast.
 
Jaybodankly

Jaybodankly

Well-Known Member
"I wouldn't recommend running a splitter as that is reducing the power generated by the ballast and delivered to the bulb. Think about it, 1000w of power split in two = 500w of power going to 600w bulbs. even if the bulbs light up they will not be running at max capacity. something to think about".

Solis Tek run at 1100W or 550W per bulb. I run cheap iPower bulbs. Works great for me.
 
jonsnow399

jonsnow399

Well-Known Member
Jaybodankly said:
"I wouldn't recommend running a splitter as that is reducing the power generated by the ballast and delivered to the bulb. Think about it, 1000w of power split in two = 500w of power going to 600w bulbs. even if the bulbs light up they will not be running at max capacity. something to think about".

Solis Tek run at 1100W or 550W per bulb. I run cheap iPower bulbs. Works great for me.
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Do you think a nanolux 1200 watt ballast would work with the solistek splitter? I know the manufacturer says no but you never know when they're lying.
 
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