JimmyHamilton21
Active Member
Don't say that already my light hasn't even made it to the from porch yet.
Apollo horticulture vs. ipower 400w?
- Thread starter Bluegrassgrower
- Start date
RodriguesIV
Active Member
I run 6 iPower ballasts and the local cable provider said they tracked a noisy signal causing an outage to over 400+ people coming from my house. They replaced the buried Quad shield RG6 with even more shielded RG11 for free and they blamed my electric dog fence but I knew better. After they replaced all the cable and ends they said there was still some noise but it was within an acceptable limit.
I did a lot of research after this incident and if the cables are healthy and the connectors are secure and tight no ballast should cause a problem but once there is a "leak" signals can find there way in very easily.
I did a lot of research after this incident and if the cables are healthy and the connectors are secure and tight no ballast should cause a problem but once there is a "leak" signals can find there way in very easily.
DemonTrich
Well-Known Member
one huge thing, the light timers that come with the apollo kits are utter GARBAGE. dont bother using therm. both mine pooped out after ONE fakin hr of use on the same day when switching from 6500k 24/7 to 18/6. went out about bought 2 new timers for 22.50@. after a week, so far so good.
my only reasoning why i preferr the 1000 vs the 600 is the light foot print. ive got 7 plants in 3 gallons pots, and another 4 in 1 gallon, and one stragler in a .5 gallon pot. im always shuffling the 3gal around for optimal light.
my only reasoning why i preferr the 1000 vs the 600 is the light foot print. ive got 7 plants in 3 gallons pots, and another 4 in 1 gallon, and one stragler in a .5 gallon pot. im always shuffling the 3gal around for optimal light.
JimmyHamilton21
Active Member
Damn, I have a similar setup, but I am going to be scrogging 9-12 plants on a harvest per month cycle in 3 gal smart pots as well. Ill see how they turn out and maybe in a year or two upgrade to the 1000 as well. I got a 30"x26" cool tube hood so maybe they will be covered better with the scrog.
jojaxx
Well-Known Member
l saw both on amazon. I went with the 400w Apollo kit. couldnt go wrong with all that came with it for only $125.00. That was in feb.....it worked out fine so i bought another kit the following month to replace the old ballast that i had.
So i have 2 400w Apollo kits, one 5 month and one 4 months old....both working fine and everything that came with them is working as well.....never used the ipower before.
So i have 2 400w Apollo kits, one 5 month and one 4 months old....both working fine and everything that came with them is working as well.....never used the ipower before.
CruzinPenguin
Active Member
I just ordered the 400w Apollo kit from Amazon as well.. should be here in 4 days.
smokeytokeybear
Well-Known Member
dude.my apollo 600 ballast works great, dimmable,$115
smokeytokeybear
Well-Known Member
dude.my apollo 600 ballast works great, dimmable,$115
miisteranderson
Active Member
So I've got my light all put together and it has some trouble starting up. The first time I plugged it in it didn't fire it did nothing.
So then I played with the bulb a little inside the socket. It fired up, and ran until my timer shut it off.
But it never fires in the morning unless I unplug the ballast for 5 minutes or so, plug it back in and jiggle the bulb (while the ballast is running) this has been the ONLY way to get my light to turn on.
Is it the mogul socket? Do you think its just getting intermittent connection to the bulb? Can't be, because the bulb stays on for 12 hours, it just doesn't start up again without moving it around in the socket.
This is the lighting kit:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
And yes I know its a cheaper setup, but the light works, it just bitches and bitches turning on.
So then I played with the bulb a little inside the socket. It fired up, and ran until my timer shut it off.
But it never fires in the morning unless I unplug the ballast for 5 minutes or so, plug it back in and jiggle the bulb (while the ballast is running) this has been the ONLY way to get my light to turn on.
Is it the mogul socket? Do you think its just getting intermittent connection to the bulb? Can't be, because the bulb stays on for 12 hours, it just doesn't start up again without moving it around in the socket.
This is the lighting kit:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
And yes I know its a cheaper setup, but the light works, it just bitches and bitches turning on.
RodriguesIV
Active Member
I had this happen and after trying 3 different bulbs it ended up being a bad digital ballast. Starting seemed to be totally random...
CruzinPenguin
Active Member
Are you having problems with the Apollo or the Ipower because that link doesn't go anywhere..?
GandalfdaGreen
Well-Known Member
So you are saying that the Apollo puts out a signal that draws the tv cable service to my door?
mycomaster
Well-Known Member
These are exact reasons I went ahead and got a Lumatek. I've had mine since they were first coming out a while ago, but I knew you buy the best and they stand the test. I'm really sorry to hear of your problems, If you can, get a refund, and get a Lumatek. I've also heard Galaxy are alright ballasts. Peace out.
immaculus
Member
After months with no issue or sign of interference on my end from my ipower 600w digital, Comcast came knocking. They claim that they are getting interference and have narrowed
it down to my location. I said I don't know what the hell you are taking about, all my equipment is working fine. They then sent someone back to install a grey box outside my house
at my line connection. I'm assuming that the box eliminates the interference from affecting their systems? Needless to say... I moved all Comcast lines away from grow room and
pulled my crop 3 weeks early. I guess magnetic ballast for me from here on out.
it down to my location. I said I don't know what the hell you are taking about, all my equipment is working fine. They then sent someone back to install a grey box outside my house
at my line connection. I'm assuming that the box eliminates the interference from affecting their systems? Needless to say... I moved all Comcast lines away from grow room and
pulled my crop 3 weeks early. I guess magnetic ballast for me from here on out.
Lo Budget
Well-Known Member
I noticed my Apollo was putting out enough rfi to make my sennheiser wireless headphones almost unusable. And the ballast is on the other side of the house in the basement. I was horrified! My ballast was way up high on a shelf, the outlet I use for it is on the ceiling. I had all the wires looped up there too, hanging from the ceiling. When I moved the ballast near the floor and got rid of all the loops of wire near the ceiling I had no more issues. The headphones are now noise free. It never affected the tv or internet that I could tell. I never considered rfi when buying a ballast, but if you have a lot of close neighbors or nearby ham radio operators it may be a spec you should consider before choosing one. And, I think you can make matters better or worse depending on how you have your stuff set up.
iblazetoomuch
Active Member
http://bigbudsmag.com/grow/article/marijuana-Comcast-Xfinity-HID-digital-ballast-grow-room
"They claimed my neighbors were having Comcast “connectivity problems,” which the techs alleged was caused by “excess voltage emanating from your house.”"
Sounds similar to this guys situation on bigbuds article. They will claim they have right to come on property due to the agreement, even to enter the household.
"To my amazement, they pushed past me and started going around the house looking at wires and the Comcast Xfinity equipment."
That guy sounds unlucky, but yeah I'd look into those low frequency square wave technology ballasts,
badass ballasts
www.youtube.com/watch?v=afcRNgo_cU8
banks dank
Active Member
Fuck comcast i have my personal production license i cant wait till they come knocking
blacksun
New Member
...Or just get a high quality digi ballast that's actually shielded instead of cheaping out...