digital 1,000 on dimmer?

FREEROLL said:

I just purchased the 1000w/120v Dimmable ballast on 2/25/10. The instructions are not very instructive so I called Lumatek (866-369-8943) and they say that I can use 3 different bulbs 600w/750w/1000w. Just set the switch to the right output setting. I can also use a 1000w bulb and still use any of the dim settings. (Why dont they provide this info in the instructions? duh?) Super Lumens setting is 110% output. Seems like a versatile ballast to me. All Lumatek ballasts are internally RF shielded and supposedly have the lowest EMI levels of any electronic ballast. The new versions of their ballasts can strike up to the required voltage needed for most HID lamp requirements ie: which helps with the lifespan of your expensive bulbs. My seller said Eye Hortilux users are having issues still with lamp failure and recommended the Ultrasun 1000 watter... hmmmm we'll see how this all goes.

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I just started running the same ballast w/ 1ooow hortilux eye with no problems at all, 75% early veg, now 100% flower... i will see the difference in the elect bill if any soon.

FREEROLL said:

The instructions are not very instructive so I called Lumatek (866-369-8943) and they say that I can use 3 different bulbs 600w/750w/1000w. Just set the switch to the right output setting. I can also use a 1000w bulb and still use any of the dim settings.

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Yes their instructions are generic, they should atleast provide more info with their dimmable line. I had also called them not too long ago. Only hps bulbs are dimmable. Also if you plan on dimming your 1000w bulb to 600w, you will greatly reduce the life of the bulb. Spend the extra $ and get the 600w bulb.

if my calculations are correct, it doesnt matter what you dim the switch to, its still getting 1000 watts to the ballast. the ballast is restricting the flow of electricity to the bulb, and the remaining electricity that is not being used just turns to heat.an example would be a simple resistor. the electricity flows through a resistor, but it reduces the current/voltage , and the result is a hot resistor and lower electricity current/volts. so youre pretty much wasting your money if you dim your ballast. just be a man and use your ballast as it was intended, grow some dank ass bud ,and close this thread. depending where you live, 1000 w x 18 hours a day x 31 days is like 50 bucks extra on the electric bill. i would pay 50 bucks for 3 months if it gave me a supply of a qtr lb to half lb or more.

I planned on using the dim setting to 600w only for a short while to lessen the shock to my babies. They are currently growing under 90w UFO LED. I was afraid they would get smoked by my 1000w and not by me. That would be a bummer, but shortening the life of my lamp would also be wronggggggg. All I can do then is set the reflector as high as I can go (prob 7' from the floor)and hope for the best??? maybe buy some Oakleys for each plant? You know Thermo-Nuclear Protection and all. hahahahaha Any suggestions???

Has anyone had a look at the New Quantum digital ballasts?
I just ordered a 600w and a 1000w.They are dimmable ,FCC UL and CSA approved .
They are also MH/HPS switchable.You do have to use a comprable wattage bulb for each ballast ie. the 1000w digi uses a 1000w bulb no matter what you have the dimmer set to.

Flyboy420 said:

if my calculations are correct, it doesnt matter what you dim the switch to, its still getting 1000 watts to the ballast. the ballast is restricting the flow of electricity to the bulb, and the remaining electricity that is not being used just turns to heat.an example would be a simple resistor. the electricity flows through a resistor, but it reduces the current/voltage , and the result is a hot resistor and lower electricity current/volts. so youre pretty much wasting your money if you dim your ballast.

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....so where do you calculate the heat will come from? Ballast or the bulb?

you guys are crazy! you cannot put a 400w or 600w bulb in your 1000w lumatek. You will have to run the correct wattage bulb for your ballast no matter if your dimming it (with the built in dimmer) or not. Trust me! I've been running my dual 600w for some time now. Also you CAN dim the MH bulbs. you can run both MH and HPS at the same time and dim either to any level.

MT Marijuana said:

you guys are crazy! you cannot put a 400w or 600w bulb in your 1000w lumatek. You will have to run the correct wattage bulb for your ballast no matter if your dimming it (with the built in dimmer) or not. Trust me! I've been running my dual 600w for some time now. Also you CAN dim the MH bulbs. you can run both MH and HPS at the same time and dim either to any level.

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lol, you are wrong dude. Lumatek even says you can in their ad.

maybe they have made some changes. I have the dual 600W and in my instructions is says specifically to only use 600W lamps with my ballast.
I stand corrected.
I wonder if us use the other bulbs if you sacrifice efficiency as opposed to running the lamp it is designed for. It is also a waste of money to buy a bunch of different wattage bulbs when you could just dim the 600W to a 400W output if you wanted.

MT Marijuana,
I know that the NEWER ballasts are different than the old. I was told that lamp life will be shortened if you dim a higher wattage bulb just as Sleepy79 wrote. What I write is all straight from Lumatek. BTW I did man up and put my babies under full 1000 watts for 2 days, then went SUPER LUMENS on their azzzzzzzes. I read on another site that during the veg stage is the time to BLAST, and to back off during flower. I tend to agree with that theory as I know the more leaves on the plant, the more secondary growth sites will develop. Found that out 30 years ago as an outdoor grower. As in nature, when September/October comes around and the final weeks of bud growth and trich production are at their peak, the sun does shine less intensely. So why shouldn't my indoor lighting replicate that??? Just my opinion.

Flyboy,
Did you notice the Lumatek ad where it says *Both input and output power are changed? How are your "calculations" now? LOL

Opinions are nice I guess but facts still "walk the walk"

hitman40 said:

My 1000w digital goes 1000, 800, 600 but uses the 1000 watt bulb to do this. The dimmer would have to be something hooked up to the inter workings of the ballast not like a regular light dimmer.you need a wiring diagram for the ballast and a 3 way switch and a drill to pop a hole in the case to mount the switch and then figure out how to hook up the switch.Hitman40

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Please tell us more... and I want Photos! Grand Idea

SunPulse. have you ever used those bulbs? I'm thinking that is the next Lamp I would like (3K) Do you have any personel exp. with them?

MT Marijuana said:

Please tell us more... and I want Photos! Grand Idea

SunPulse. have you ever used those bulbs? I'm thinking that is the next Lamp I would like (3K) Do you have any personel exp. with them?

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hitman40's idea will not work, you cannot simply wire a dimmer switch into a ballast and dim the bulb. It may require a multi tap transformer.

I am running a 600w 3k SP bulb, i think it is great. Being a MH bulb I am sure it does not have the same lumen output as a HPS but because it runs cooler (allows you to bring the light closer to the plant) and provides a fuller spectrum I think that is all that really matters.

I have no previous grows to compare with. I will be comparing it against a 600w solarmax later on.