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Solis tek 600w dimmable ballast, cheap or no?

T

thinn

Well-Known Member
Recently decided to grow, as you can tell by my post count im more or a reader/lurker than a poster. I found a setup on ebay with 600w dimmable ballast, plantfarm 600w hps and reflective hood for around 180 bucks new. My problem is with anything i do, I want my equipment to be very good-best. Your outcome is only as good as your equipment. I try to get really decent stuff if im going to spend the money, no half stepping here! Anywho, the above said kit is within my pockets striking distance. My local store (Brew and Grow) has a 1000w solis tek ballast thats out of my range right now but when i get my taxes in a few month i am going to go ape shit and load up proper. For now im looking for something to hold me over and put my first grow in the books.


Any one have this ballast, and if so, is it worthy of purchase. Im going to be buying/building something around 4x4x8 or 5x5x8. So from what i gathered by reading info on the site is that a 600w setup will suffice in this amount of space, yes? I hate being the noob but remember that time when you were? I know the question has been asked repetitively involving other ballasts but from what i could gather, it seems to be decent, just want someone with hands on experience to give me an honest review.

Thanks in advance!


Here is what im looking at.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/190729547476?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
 
snap1234

snap1234

Active Member
I have a 4x4x7 space and I use a 600 watt dimmable, but it is lumatek. If you can save up for lumatek, i'd go with them. I believe lumatek ballasts also come with a warranty, and they are of very good quality.

Snap
 
T

thinn

Well-Known Member
Thanks snap, does lumatek have built in timers? This is the goal, but will use my budet up for the week, then i will have to wait til next week for bulbs, hood, exhaust etc...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBlEt-_DmEw&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Lumateks are looking pretty nice with the color finish! As long as it gets me growing i dont care! Just want quality..i have a couple lumateks in my list now so if this brand doesnt pan out i will be buying one in the next day or 2. Thanks for the reply again.
 
Slipon

Slipon

Well-Known Member
agree, and if your new to the use of big HID lights I would advice you to look in to a cool tube or even better a hood, as they get pretty hot, very good investment IMO, not just for a more trouble free grow with lower temps, but also as you can keep the light closer, a 600W have a foot print on 4x4 and with a good cool hood its possible to get that covered and get it close enough to provide strong light, with that said I would still build it a bit bigger as its nice with some room to work with, can get crowded late in flowering, want to keep good air circulation, remember to get a good ventilation and a filter to match, so you can keep a good air/co2 flow, and keep the temps and odour under control ..
 
Brother Numsi

Brother Numsi

Well-Known Member
I've seen the Lumatek LK-600 for as little as $150. A good A/C reflector can cost between $85 YieldMaster II Supreme and $157 6" Blockbuster. I own Lumatek. A friend of mine builds things from scratch and hangs vertical reflectors...gets away cheap.
 
T

thinn

Well-Known Member
Slipon said:
agree, and if your new to the use of big HID lights I would advice you to look in to a cool tube or even better a hood, as they get pretty hot, very good investment IMO, not just for a more trouble free grow with lower temps, but also as you can keep the light closer, a 600W have a foot print on 4x4 and with a good cool hood its possible to get that covered and get it close enough to provide strong light, with that said I would still build it a bit bigger as its nice with some room to work with, can get crowded late in flowering, want to keep good air circulation, remember to get a good ventilation and a filter to match, so you can keep a good air/co2 flow, and keep the temps and odour under control ..
Click to expand...

In a couple months I should have the money to throw. I am planning for the works including a co2 generator, i plan to run a seperate exhaust stack thru my attic, and a few other things for ventilation. pretty much i want to make sure i have a green thumb opposed to the black hand of death, lol. For enclosures i am currently looking at these

http://www.gorillagrowtent.com/


I still have to do some research on cooling/ venting. I also have plans to turn a stand up freezer into my mother and cloning headquarters. I have already removed the freon and predrilled holes for the ballasts, just have to aquire the equipment now....
 
Clown Baby

Clown Baby

Well-Known Member
Just so you know, almost any ballast on the market is a rebranded, chinese-made ballast.

Your best bet would be to buy locally instead of online. If you buy locally, you can take your burnt out ballast into the shop and they can replace it on the spot. If you buy online, you can be looking at easily 1 week+ without a ballast. Just find something with a good warranty.

FWIW when I was working at a grow shop I saw a LOT of defective CAP ballasts and a decent number of lumateks. Lumateks also seem to kill bulbs faster. But it was probably people using the "superlumens" mode. Quantum seem to be hit-or-miss.
You can't go wrong with hydrofarm. Sold a ton of hydrofarm phantom ballasts and never had one come back.

Edit: If you're looking for a reflector, this is a great resource.
http://www.greners.com/reflector-test.html
Radiant reflectors have a good price and score really well.

double edit: slipon is right. Unless you live in Alaska you're going to need to aircool if you're using HID in an enclosed space.

Cheaper fans are louder, but they have warranties and get the job done. Best fan for only one or two lights IMO is the 6" Maxfan. Smaller than other 6" fans, uses less electricity, quieter, and has a built-in speed controller. You do have to pay a premium for it, though.

Just remember when buying equipment that this stuff will last you for years and will pay for itself in mere months. It's worth it to buy quality gear your first run instead of having to upgrade 6 months from now.
 
T

thinn

Well-Known Member
Well my local grow store has the solis tek matrix 1000 dimmable for $330, remote costs 15 extra. I just found some on ebay for 248 shipped with remote and i could swing that now. Man, choices, choices, choices.
 
Brother Numsi

Brother Numsi

Well-Known Member
Clown Baby said:
Just so you know, almost any ballast on the market is a rebranded, chinese-made ballast.

Your best bet would be to buy locally instead of online. If you buy locally, you can take your burnt out ballast into the shop and they can replace it on the spot. If you buy online, you can be looking at easily 1 week+ without a ballast. Just find something with a good warranty.

FWIW when I was working at a grow shop I saw a LOT of defective CAP ballasts and a decent number of lumateks. Lumateks also seem to kill bulbs faster. But it was probably people using the "superlumens" mode. Quantum seem to be hit-or-miss.
You can't go wrong with hydrofarm. Sold a ton of hydrofarm phantom ballasts and never had one come back.

Edit: If you're looking for a reflector, this is a great resource.
http://www.greners.com/reflector-test.html
Radiant reflectors have a good price and score really well.
Click to expand...
C.A.P. products seem to suffer from returnitis. The Lumatek problem is definitely attributable to the superlumens settings. Buyer beware...be aware of where they are made.
I can't get into the Grener's site at the moment.
 
T

thinn

Well-Known Member
Brother Numsi said:
C.A.P. products seem to suffer from returnitis. The Lumatek problem is definitely attributable to the superlumens settings. Buyer beware...be aware of where they are made.
I can't get into the Grener's site at the moment.
Click to expand...
+1 on the greners site, just stuck loading... will check later. So is jorge cervantes correct when he says parabolic white ceramic/ porcelain are the best reflective surfaces for reflectors?

When i finally get setup I will do my due dilligence and write a tutorial with links/ vids for the new guys so all pertinent info can easily be located in one area of the forum. Have to turn full circle you know!
 
T

thinn

Well-Known Member
Clown Baby said:
330 is a lot of money for a 1kw ballast...
https://rasahydroponics.com/lighting/hid-ballasts/1000w-ballasts/digital-1000w/phantom-1000w-120-240v-dimmable-ballast

Like $100 less for a big name brand with a good warranty
Click to expand...
Thats what i was saying, i could not justify buying it for $345 locally combined with remote when i could get the same thing on ebay at $100 dollars cheaper $248 shipped, But i do understand the warranty deal with having to wait incase it drops out on me. I guess a back up would definitely come in handy!
 
Brother Numsi

Brother Numsi

Well-Known Member
thinn said:
+1 on the greners site, just stuck loading... will check later. So is jorge cervantes correct when he says parabolic white ceramic/ porcelain are the best reflective surfaces for reflectors?

When i finally get setup I will do my due dilligence and write a tutorial with links/ vids for the new guys so all pertinent info can easily be located in one area of the forum. Have to turn full circle you know!
Click to expand...
The guy I was talking to yesterday is a sevant when it comes to all plant growing and he swears by the vertical way....again even a pro is an opinion giver...just a lot of experience behind it.
This place has a good selection, but no Solis:
http://www.plantlightinghydroponics.com/grow-light-ballasts-c-357.html
 
Slipon

Slipon

Well-Known Member
so many things to agree on, and quote, but yea buy local, or atleast check em out, I normal do my research at home/online and then visit them, nice guys, if there price is totally off Im usealy able to get it down or get some kind of freebies, with the shipping cost the different is often minimal, and I also like to get good advice, the product right away and in my hand before buying it (often there is a reason why sumthing is cheap and not allways visible on a pic online) and just the fact that you can go back if sumthing is wrong is nice ..

and sure a good 6" ventilator will be needed for a 600W cool hood, agin don't want to go down on the gear, and a 4" will most likely be to small, a 5 might do it ..


sumthing like this:

51F9igKRR1L._SL500_AA300_.jpgGrow-Light-Medium-Reflector-Hood-6.jpg



I build my own to fit my Lamp:

DSC01088.jpgDSC01089.jpgDSC01090.jpgDSC01091.jpgDSC01134.jpgDSC01135.jpgDSC01250.jpgDSC01251.jpg


made my Temps drop from +82F to 78F and allowed me to bring the light down from 18" to 12" best thing I have done in my grow room and already much better result then my summer grow with out a cool hood and temps on 85F :wall:
 
dbkick

dbkick

Well-Known Member
check out the THD on those lumatek to whoever is pushing that brand. I run one 400 watt dimmable lumatek in veg but since I visit one hydro store I see all the returns, one was downright scary,melted the end , dual 600. not cheap either. on the other hand op , look at that THD from the solistek. right up there with the phantom I run in flower. forgot to post the link :/
I'm sure the thd differs with certain lamps but this gives a good indication.
http://sunpulselamps.com/Certified_Ballasts.html
 
Warlock1369

Warlock1369

Well-Known Member
When things get better I will be going with solis tek. What I have now works but want better and newer. So will save these for back ups.
 
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