Apollo ballast users DO NOT USE USHIO BULBS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DemonTrich

Well-Known Member
my new bulbs came in. one had glass bits inside the bulb. lowballer is sending me out a free replacement plus 2 more bulbs for all my troubles lately with the other ballasts that pooped out. bulbs are only 25.00 each, but I like spares and free goodies are always welcomed.

hope the ballasts show up today so I can fire up that 3rd hood in my flower room (3x600hps in 5x10x7 tent). :)
 

thatguytom

Active Member
^^
truth!!

ushio refunded my money for the 3 bulbs, Low_Baller (amazon Apollo/ballast guy), is replacing the blown ballast, PLUS a ballast that's only been working on MH and not MH/HPS as it should. so 2 new ballasts are on their way. plus the 3 new bulbs and 1 new ballast that I just paid for with FREE 2nd day air (covered by LowBaller). so all in all, im only out return shipping on the 2 ballasts. win win for me. ill just keep to the Apollo bulbs in the Apollo ballasts for now on. another reason why I like dealing with 1 or 2 companies for the majority of my growing needs.

I was really hoping to give those ushio bulbs a try and see the results compared to standard hps bulbs.
I get my products through same place and person never had a problem with my Apollo 400 watt works just fine seemingly goes great with my cheap little brinks home security 24 hour mechanical timer... Oh and with my dollar store oscillating 16" fan and my 3$ tote and the ever so expensive duct tape.. but what do I know I'm the noob that's searching for tips of the trade. But here's a pic of the oldest going for the light I know stretched out but its my 2nd grow and 2nd week ever in hydroponics last was a fail in soil prefer this method myself personally
 

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DemonTrich

Well-Known Member
once again, THIS thread is about running (well rather BLOWING up) Apollo ballasts when using ushio super red bulbs. nothing else. not pics of your grow, or your home depot brinks timer, ect.

but that's for your posting.
 

ButchyBoy

Well-Known Member
Could it be in part that Apollo ballast's are dirty??? I have a 600 watter and it is terrible for electronic interference.
 

DemonTrich

Well-Known Member
I run 3x600 Apollo ballasts in flower and 1x600 Apollo ballast in veg. No issues at all. no RF, or any othe issues in the 3+yrs of running that brand. minus the ushio bulb issue I just had.
 

ButchyBoy

Well-Known Member
I run 3x600 Apollo ballasts in flower and 1x600 Apollo ballast in veg. No issues at all. no RF, or any othe issues in the 3+yrs of running that brand. minus the ushio bulb issue I just had.
I only know about the interference because I am a ham radio operator. The Apollo is very dirty compared to the Thunder ballast I use next to the Apollo. I can drive around the hood and point out all of the possible grow sites using my 10 meter radio.

I am having a hard time believing a specific brand bulb wont work with a specific brand ballast. I would chock it up to faulty equipment. I would be willing to bet that replacement ballast's and bulbs of the same brand's would work just fine! My Thunder ballast died 1.5 months after I bought it. They warrantied it and it has worked flawlessly for almost a year now. I figured it was bad stock....
 

DemonTrich

Well-Known Member
I could chalk it up to faulty equip if it just happened to 1 ballast and 1 bulb. ALL 3 ballasts AND all 3 bulbs shit the bed after 30 mins of firing them up. the bulbs were brand new out the box as well as 1 ballast was new. the other 2 ballasts were 1.5yrs old on 12/12. so I have to disagree with the faulty equip theory.

and I don't live in the "hood". so no RF issues here. comcrap (aka Comcast) would have already know about my grow if it were an issue.
 

ButchyBoy

Well-Known Member
Just a thought ......... Weird they all did it!

I do not live in the hood either LOL!!! I just can't spell neighborhood... :mrgreen:
 

butsack

Well-Known Member
this is what happens when you buy the cheapest possible ballast you can find. :cry:
I bet next time you try 1 at a time instead of all 3 at once lol!! sorry bout your luck :bigjoint:
 
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