Quantum Dimmable Electronic Ballast
- Thread starter N51
- Start date
thedudeknows
Active Member
I just bought one of these ballasts as well thanks to my buddy who owns a local hydro shop. I got this one because it was the same price as a Lumatek which doesn't have dimming. He said digital ballasts have solidified after their first couple years, and these haven't broken that pattern at all (meaning, he hasn't had any returns or defectives). He uses them himself and highly recommends. I got the 1000w with the Hortilux EYE HPS rated for 145,000 lumens. I also got a 6" ducted Hydrofarm hood (polished reflector), but I haven't ducted it yet since this is just an evolution of my first small grow in the corner of a room.
So far the dimming feature has been very useful for me. Heat output is very much proportional to the % you choose to run. On warmer days I can turn it down a notch, and on cooler I can run 100% without issue. Even without venting the hood I can keep the plants 1-1.5' from the glass, no problem.
The color temperature seems to get progressively warmer/oranger as you drop the %.
I'm setting up a full room after these 4 plants come to fruition (sooner if they are all males
) and will be getting another one of these light combos to make a 2-stage flower box. Also I posted another thread (thanks Woody for the x-link) asking some technical q's about this ballast: https://www.rollitup.org/indoor-growing/161486-quantum-ballast-does-dimming-affect.html
N51 keep us posted on how it works out! Peace
So far the dimming feature has been very useful for me. Heat output is very much proportional to the % you choose to run. On warmer days I can turn it down a notch, and on cooler I can run 100% without issue. Even without venting the hood I can keep the plants 1-1.5' from the glass, no problem.
The color temperature seems to get progressively warmer/oranger as you drop the %.
I'm setting up a full room after these 4 plants come to fruition (sooner if they are all males
) and will be getting another one of these light combos to make a 2-stage flower box. Also I posted another thread (thanks Woody for the x-link) asking some technical q's about this ballast: https://www.rollitup.org/indoor-growing/161486-quantum-ballast-does-dimming-affect.htmlN51 keep us posted on how it works out! Peace
thedudeknows
Active Member
Oh - forgot to mention, I don't have experience with other ballasts or ballast technology, but this unit stays cool (it's self-cooled through the length of the case) and it's very quiet, almost inaudible.
Basically it's seems the Veyron of the ballast world... :-O
Basically it's seems the Veyron of the ballast world... :-O
homebrew420
Well-Known Member
the electronic ballasts run at ultra high frequency. I believe in upwards of 15,000 htz. Which allows them to be much more efficient. I am not sure but i think that even though these are dimable you may not get any energy savings as a result. I believe the frequency changes to dim the lamps, and your wattage probably stays roughly the same. Dimable ballasts are great for other aplications I personally don't see the point. That being said it is still a sweet ballast and I am still a bit jealous. Nice pics by the way. Good luck in all you do!
thedudeknows
Active Member
N51, you mean the ballast? Could you be witnessing the almighty efficiency of the 600w configuration? 
homebrew, that's an interesting idea. If they are stepping up/down amperage, wouldn't they also need to adjust voltage to maintain the same wattage? I'm no electrician but aren't they directly related?
I think they built this dimming feature with 2 things in mind: 1) hardening off after introducing new plants to the light, 2) if needed you can dim the light if say, your plants get too tall in late flower.
homebrew, that's an interesting idea. If they are stepping up/down amperage, wouldn't they also need to adjust voltage to maintain the same wattage? I'm no electrician but aren't they directly related?
I think they built this dimming feature with 2 things in mind: 1) hardening off after introducing new plants to the light, 2) if needed you can dim the light if say, your plants get too tall in late flower.
Woody808
Well-Known Member
At 50% is 300 watts and 45,000 lumensCompare to a 250 watt HPS ballasts at only 29,000 lumens
thats was from the ebay auction
At 75% is 450 watts and 67,500 lumems
Compare to a 400 watt HPS ballasts at only 55,000 lumens
At 100% is 600 watts and 90,000 lumens
Equal to a 600 watt HPS ballasts at 90,000 lumens
Compare to a 400 watt HPS ballasts at only 55,000 lumens
At 100% is 600 watts and 90,000 lumens
Equal to a 600 watt HPS ballasts at 90,000 lumens
thats was from the ebay auction
N51
Well-Known Member
well i'm no pro an any of this,but i can say FOR NOW my very very happy.it dimms when i need it to on hot days,it looks cool,it has a 3 year warenty,and best of all i got it all for less then i paid for my 400watt digital green house form htg supplys.i plan on useing the 400 watt for mother/clone box.and use my 600 for flowering 6 or 8 plants at a time
thedudeknows
Active Member
cool, well if anything goes wrong let's make sure we post about it here since we're all sub'd?
happy growing
happy growing
xochipili
Active Member
Most electronic and/or digital ballasts do run at a higher frequency anywhere from 22000hz up to 44000hz, which is why bulbs designed to run on standard house hold frequency ( 60hz ) tend to burn out prematurely. The quantum however, runs on 50-60hz, a feature not seen in many other e-ballasts. Ive been looking at this particular ballast for a while now, and I'm getting more and more convinced, that its the way to go!
AeroKing
Well-Known Member
Damn, 300w of HPS for clones? You're nutz! j/k.
Really, though, most plant's won't use the full 600w their whole lives. It really only makes sense to blast them with full power while they are in peak flowering. This ballast is genius... as long as they are reliable.
BloodShot420
Well-Known Member
Oooo... i'm getting 2 digital 600s soon and thought i had decided on lumatek...
this is an AWESOME alternative.... i wonder if running at 1/2 power uses half the amperage?
this is an AWESOME alternative.... i wonder if running at 1/2 power uses half the amperage?
N51, great post. I also just received my Quantum 600W ballast but I got mine with the Arctic Sun hood, also got it from MGS supply off of ebay, for $266.00 delivered to the door. I previously had a 400W Floralux and although I've only had the Quantum for a few days now, I love it. I had no idea this 600W would be so much hotter than my 400W was but it shot my temps up about 10 degrees and that's running on my 4" just because I haven't gotten a 6" fan yet. So far I'm very pleased with mine.
LegalizeCannabisHemp
New Member
how is everyone liking the quantum?