digital ballasts, aircooled hoods vs what I've got?

james42

james42

Well-Known Member
I see everyone talking about much better digital ballasts are compared to my old stuff. I put my grow room together in a hurry and on a budget. I'm not apposed to upgrading in the future, but I really don't understand how there superior.
I picked my stuff up used on Craigslist. I have 3, 1000 watt switchable ballasts with normal reflector hoods. I actually have one air cooled hood, but no inline fan or anything to make use of it.
I havea huge room with tall ceilings and lots of open space around the grow. I have really good ventilation and temp control.
Would air cooled hoods be any benefit to my grow, other than cooling the bulbs and prolonging there life?
Same question for the digital ballasts. Am I really loosing out on anything significant by using my old school setup?
 
Shakedown St.

Shakedown St.

Member
I actually prefer magnetic ballasts made in the USA, they are cheap and simple to fix and usually have a much longer warranty. Plus some of the digital ballasts operate at a frequency which is very noticeable, I'm not a fan. If you don't have air cooled hoods you just have to keep your lights farther above the plants; however that can effect the quality of your bud. The closer your can get your plants to the light source the denser they will grow, plus you can attach a carbon filter to the ducting to suck the smell right out of the room.
 
loftygoals

loftygoals

Well-Known Member
Have a look at the attached table.

You can see:
a 1000w magnetic ballast HPS puts out 1.02umol/w (their 400w tested at 0.94umol/w)
a 1000w electronic ballast HPS puts out 1.3 umol/w
a 1000w DE HPS puts out 1.7 umol/w

So you're getting around 30% extra PAR from an electronic ballast (or 70% extra PAR from a DE HPS) compared to a magnetic ballast HPS.

In addition to the lower PAR, a magnetic ballast HPS has to do something with that extra wattage which isn't used to make light... it turns into heat.

So by running a magnetic ballast over an electronic (or DE) fixture you're losing PAR and also having to handle more heat.
 

Attachments

james42

james42

Well-Known Member
loftygoals said:
Have a look at the attached table.

You can see:
a 1000w magnetic ballast HPS puts out 1.02umol/w (their 400w tested at 0.94umol/w)
a 1000w electronic ballast HPS puts out 1.3 umol/w
a 1000w DE HPS puts out 1.7 umol/w

So you're getting around 30% extra PAR from an electronic ballast (or 70% extra PAR from a DE HPS) compared to a magnetic ballast HPS.

In addition to the lower PAR, a magnetic ballast HPS has to do something with that extra wattage which isn't used to make light... it turns into heat.

So by running a magnetic ballast over an electronic (or DE) fixture you're losing PAR and also having to handle more heat.
Click to expand...

Ok thanks. That makes sense.
I figured there was a reason why people were so big on them, but sometimes people just like to spend money.
I'll try to budget a couple aircooled hoods in for the near future, but I'll just stick to the ballasts I've got for the time being. I hate being on a tight budget. Every little purchase feels like a huge decision
 
researching

researching

Well-Known Member
Digital are nice because they can dim if you need them to be, more efficient, no buzzing sound, etc...

Air cooling does more than just cool the bulbs, it helps evacuate hot air from the room, plus in the case of a bulb explosion, your plants are protected.

Save up and switch to COB led!
 
Shakedown St.

Shakedown St.

Member
The thing about magnetic ballasts are that it's a real old standardized technology, every brand is designed the same so you know what you're getting; and everyone knows how to fix them. Let's say the company went out of business, it wouldn't matter. You also notice you still use your "older stuff", still working today. Digital ballasts on the other hand are not to be tampered with, nobody but the manufacturer can service them. As for the dimable feature, I guess that's just a personal preference thing but I don't like it. Some use it to operate the bulbs cooler but it changes the spectrum of the bulb big time, I would just get the bulb I need and run it at full power; an inline fan takes care of the heat. So yeah I don't think the ballasts make that much of a difference compared to the type of hood, definitely air cooled hoods are worth it.
 
CryBby247

CryBby247

Active Member
researching said:
Digital are nice because they can dim if you need them to be, more efficient, no buzzing sound, etc...

Air cooling does more than just cool the bulbs, it helps evacuate hot air from the room, plus in the case of a bulb explosion, your plants are protected.

Save up and switch to COB led!
Click to expand...
I don't know cobs can suck sometimes you might be wasting your money better do tons of research all those will be flame on if you know what I mean
 
researching

researching

Well-Known Member
CryBby247 said:
Yes my tongue is by my cheek but the point is okay point is some led stuff is flame on central
Click to expand...
That's what I thought, and I get your point. So you're saying my shit is not the best? I mean since I run a diy led I am elitist evidently... 8)
 
CryBby247

CryBby247

Active Member
researching said:
That's what I thought, and I get your point. So you're saying my shit is not the best? I mean since I run a diy led I am elitist evidently... 8)
Click to expand...
Wow I have like no idea how good your chit is but if you going to make a led light for yourself that's one thing but recommending someone who you have no idea their ability is just dumb but if ya recommend a led from a real co than that's makes sense you know seems the hardcore led co forum posters are the ones to avoid the most
 
L

Ludi

Well-Known Member
james42 said:
I see everyone talking about much better digital ballasts are compared to my old stuff. I put my grow room together in a hurry and on a budget. I'm not apposed to upgrading in the future, but I really don't understand how there superior.
I picked my stuff up used on Craigslist. I have 3, 1000 watt switchable ballasts with normal reflector hoods. I actually have one air cooled hood, but no inline fan or anything to make use of it.
I havea huge room with tall ceilings and lots of open space around the grow. I have really good ventilation and temp control.
Would air cooled hoods be any benefit to my grow, other than cooling the bulbs and prolonging there life?
Same question for the digital ballasts. Am I really loosing out on anything significant by using my old school setup?
Click to expand...
my trusty magnet-ballast started a cablefire, and then it fizzled 2v later.
i guess its all cool if you got failsafes.
 
Evil-Mobo

Evil-Mobo

Well-Known Member
CryBby247 said:
Wow I have like no idea how good your chit is but if you going to make a led light for yourself that's one thing but recommending someone who you have no idea their ability is just dumb but if ya recommend a led from a real co than that's makes sense you know seems the hardcore led co forum posters are the ones to avoid the most
Click to expand...
If you have the patience and look for the info it's all there. But yes it does seem to be the kryptonite area of this website. But we are not all like that. There is plenty of help to be found and you can save a lot going DIY. But you're right on your point too so it's a matter of opinion which everyone is entitled to have their own.

Cheers :)
 
researching

researching

Well-Known Member
CryBby247 said:
Wow I have like no idea how good your chit is but if you going to make a led light for yourself that's one thing but recommending someone who you have no idea their ability is just dumb but if ya recommend a led from a real co than that's makes sense you know seems the hardcore led co forum posters are the ones to avoid the most
Click to expand...
I did not recommend the OP build one themselves. I said save up for one. Why? because it is efficient and I am very pleased with the performance of said COB's.

So I will ignore the dumb part since it in no way relates to what I posted. You are welcome. lmao
 
Evil-Mobo

Evil-Mobo

Well-Known Member
james42 said:
I see everyone talking about much better digital ballasts are compared to my old stuff. I put my grow room together in a hurry and on a budget. I'm not apposed to upgrading in the future, but I really don't understand how there superior.
I picked my stuff up used on Craigslist. I have 3, 1000 watt switchable ballasts with normal reflector hoods. I actually have one air cooled hood, but no inline fan or anything to make use of it.
I havea huge room with tall ceilings and lots of open space around the grow. I have really good ventilation and temp control.
Would air cooled hoods be any benefit to my grow, other than cooling the bulbs and prolonging there life?
Same question for the digital ballasts. Am I really loosing out on anything significant by using my old school setup?
Click to expand...
Your situation as you have explained if correct is good to go. There would be other places spending cash would give you more yield. So what do YOU want. Is the rest of the grow perfect and you have nothing else to upgrade? Upgrading ballast won't double your yields or anything so I'd just upgrade to digital when the magnetic give out.....if at all........

My two cents as a newb
 
CryBby247

CryBby247

Active Member
researching said:
I did not recommend the OP build one themselves. I said save up for one. Why? because it is efficient and I am very pleased with the performance of said COB's.

So I will ignore the dumb part since it in no way relates to what I posted. You are welcome. lmao
Click to expand...
Okay I will ignore your dumb part too hahahah!!!!
 
coreywebster

coreywebster

Well-Known Member
Having used both digital and magnetic I prefer digital, less buzz which you can get with cheap magnetics or old magnetics and less heat on the ballast. I have dimmable but in my experience it shortens the life span of the bulb unless you switch the bulbs out to the wattage you are dimming to, which is what is recommended but not always mentioned because sellers want to sell more units not put negative points across to the customer. The efficiency is obviously a key factor with digitals. The price is has always been a negative but they have got a lot cheaper. Cheapest option to improve your situation is to keep your bulbs replaced every 6 months.
Its worth knowing that with digi dimmables that have a boost you are supposed to let the ballast start and light the bulb fully and then boost the switch, not leave it on boost because that can blow the bulb. I did it to a few bulbs before I knew that. One of which lasted 5 days from new and it was a hortilux. :-?
 
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