Digital Ballast with dimmer function...

I have a normal ballast on loan at the moment and want to purchase my own. i was looking at at digital ballasts...then seen one with a dimmer function.

Its a Quantum digital ballast....does anybody know if they are any good? Links and info at the bottom

600w = $205
1000w = $318

Cheers guys!


Here is some info on them, they sound great!

Another great feature of the Quantum Ballast is the three phase dimming switch. This three phase dimming switch allows you to run your lamp at 100%, 75%, and 50% power. Basically, your 1000w ballast becomes a 750w or 500w without having to switch the bulb, allowing you to change the intensity depending on what stage your plants are in. The Quantum Ballast is air-cooled and runs 15% cooler than other digital ballasts on the market.The Quantum Series ballast is covered by a full three year warranty under normal use.

article on the ballast
http://www.igrowhydro.com/blog/215/quantum-digital-ballast-series-what-you-need-to-know/

buy the ballast
http://www.igrowhydro.com/detail.aspx?ID=5908

There also generator ready....

i love mine.i have a1000 and 600 use em both with dimmers at 50 then 75 a week each then to flower at 100% i'll be sure to buy another 1000 when the time is right

what brand/model did you go for duke? or do you know which latest model has been getting the best reviews?

just getting a shopping list written up for next time

Sounds nice but I would just blast 100% all the time I think

haha, im the same! BUT maybe when they are seedliings and during the first few weeks of veg i could turn the lamp down...which means bringing them ever so slighty closer. I dont know, but it might give them more light (lumens)

just that if i have to buy my own, should i go for this digital one when i have the chance? i just need brands and models from the guys that have them!

Looks like a pretty good ballast. I wouldn't mind having the dimmer function for starting seedlings.

yeah man, does sound good! been searching the forum and people had mentioned most digital ballasts give out radio interference...which does annoy the neighbours.

i dont have a clue about ballasts to be hoenst...i was hoping some RIU member would stop by and say which brand is good/bad and even throw down a few model numbers.

any takers

There is another thread in the forum with members who purcahsed this ballast. They say the fan (built in) is noisey...but the dimmer function is good. Another member had a good point, the built in fan is just another part to go wrong...another member has said;

I went to the hydro store today to make some upgrades. I was talking with the guys and lumatek is supposed to release a dimmable ballast similar to to the quantum. They hand out free catalogs an I turn to page 11 of "Urban Gardener" issue 005 June/July and there she is in a full page ad!!!!!!

So...I might jsut hold off for a month or so and try find the illusive Lumatek dimmable ballast. If anybody has info on them...please pot it up!

Cheers!

Fore anybody thats intrested;

LUMATEK™ LK6240 ELECTRONIC BALLAST 600W 240V - DIMMABLE
More lumens generated per watt of electricity consumed - Lumatek™ ballasts have increased efficiency over magnetic ballasts. They lose fewer watts from the power supply to the lamp. This is a power factor of 95%+. The high frequency output results in low power loss
Fast start-up - they reach full brightness quickly
Completely silent
Small compact design
Produce less heat
Cut-off circuitry - cut off when a short is detected. For ultimate safety
Fully interchangeable - Lumatek™ ballasts can light both HPS and MH bulbs (excluding the 750W which is HPS only)
NEW - A dimming knob has been added which will allow them to be set at 50/75/100% (only reduce the amount of light not the power usage).
$199.96

I would much rather this ballast...no fan means the heatsink must work as it should.
Just need to find somewhere that sells this in the uk...or ships here. Anybody?

This caught my eye: "NEW - A dimming knob has been added which will allow them to be set at 50/75/100% (only reduce the amount of light not the power usage)."


If it doesn't cut power usage the new feature is useless to me.

I also noticed that...its the same speel on lots of other sites. Im gonna be thick here and just ask it "where the fuck does all the extra power go"? There i said it. I cant understand if its recuding the light...why not power? Weird.

IF that is the case...maybe a normal digital 600watter from Lumtek would be a better choice.

imanoob said:

I also noticed that...its the same speel on lots of other sites. Im gonna be thick here and just ask it "where the fuck does all the extra power go"? There i said it. I cant understand if its recuding the light...why not power? Weird.

IF that is the case...maybe a normal digital 600watter from Lumtek would be a better choice.

Click to expand...

You must of seen my post for the dimmable ballast this morning - on the what's the best ballast thread? No reps? nothing?

If the energy isn't used it doesn't go anywhere does it. I thought this was rudimentary

No, i dont think i seen your post...hit me up with a link cause im going to be buy a new ballast within the next few weeks.

Green Cross said:

If the energy isn't used it doesn't go anywhere does it. I thought this was rudimentary

Click to expand...

Well, I assumed that it wouldnt use as much power if the light was brought down. The Quantum ballast is said to do the following;

This three phase dimming switch allows you to run your lamp at 100%, 75%, and 50% power. Basically, your 1000w ballast becomes a 750w or 500w without having to switch the bulb, allowing you to change the intensity depending on what stage your plants are in.

I picked it up wrong

you posting up that link?

I have a quantum 1000 and 600. as for the fans being noise it not the case the make about as much noise as a standard 10" fan. and as far as interferance goes yes there is some AM radio will not come in within 2-300 feet FM is fine. I would recomend this ballast even though i hae no referance to compare it to

Cr8z13 said:

This caught my eye: "NEW - A dimming knob has been added which will allow them to be set at 50/75/100% (only reduce the amount of light not the power usage)."


If it doesn't cut power usage the new feature is useless to me.

Click to expand...

really, i was intrigued untill i saw this. i wonder if the ballast gets hotter when dimmed? the energy has to go somewhere.

That ballest uses the same amount of power because the ballest powers the capacitor NOT the bulb...... so you cant regulate what goes into the capacitor but you can regulate what comes out of it. I dont like the idea of a dimmer on a HID. I think that will just wear the bulbs out quicker and its just plain out too much work for a dimmer. The dimmer part WILL for sure go out quicker then a regular ballest... and what will it be stuck on? 50% / 75%............ no its just not worth it to me. Plus there just aint no since in wasteing good HID for seedlings, Unless you already keep your seeds with other plants under HID, other then that just use tubes. HAPPY GROWING!
I am an electrician but this is mostly my opinion!

@ mrduke
Thanks for your input! People that have them generally seem very pleased...from what I do see it was just one or two members that disliked their quantum ballast.

@ SlikWiLL13
Thats what i was thinking man

@ wyteboi
Tbh, i dont have a clue about electrics, so its good to see a sparks opinion. You think this ballast would get hotter when dimmed?


Maybe I should just forgot the whole dimmer thing and go with a good lumatek digital ballast instead. I really started diggin the dimmable feature as well. Bitchin!