Is it worth getting a digital HID ballast?

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funnymunny11

Active Member
Hey,
So what's all the hype about digital ballasts? What's better about digital ballasts compared to traditional ones? and are the worth the extra $$$?

Thanks a bunch
 
pigpen

pigpen

Well-Known Member
I agree with tetra trust me when I say he know his shit. I have both and love how my digital glaxy stays cool and doesnt burn my hand when I touch it like the 400 watt from HTG. its also a 600 and runs cooler no noise and blindfully bright. Plus saves you money in the end.
 
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smutpeddler

Well-Known Member
not all non digital ballasts get super hot or super loud either. mines quiet and cool(enough). i actually heard these digital ballasts were at sometime plagued with problems. i would stick with traditional. just spend a couple extra bucks. check out the coolstar and agrostar units at htgsupply. they give out more light as well and have conversion bulbs to run both light spectrums the bitches need.
 
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BigBudBalls

BigBudBalls

Well-Known Member
Digital isn't that much more money, and as stated earlier can run HPS and MH with no prob. Has less overhead on power (the 30% savings they may state is *only* for the ballast consumption, bulb still takes its full wattage) Bulbs last longer. The quality has come along (less prob these days.)

I bought a magnetic. I can repair it myself with a trip to Grainger. no sending it back to the MFG is anything happens. (but like I said, they are a lot better then when they first came out)
 
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DR. VonDankenstine

Well-Known Member
I use GLOBAL GREENHOUSE 600 digi's---I have 6 of them ---no problems---2 of them are over 2 years old----they run cool and ultra silent and their the size of a car amp-I use to run magnetic ballasts---never again----heavy/loud/hot---not as efficient as the digi's.
 
ganjagoddess

ganjagoddess

Well-Known Member
I run 4 magnetic 1000 watts, well 5 if you include the mother MH.

I just bought them, I chose them because I am wating for digital to prove they can last.

I have seen too many problems with digis right out the box. I dont have time to waste with non-working units.

And Like Big Bud stated I can repair the thing easily if I need too.

I like that mags are pieced out, easy to replace components.

Eventually will go to digis but not for probally 2-3 years when I get sick of these...
 
ganjagoddess

ganjagoddess

Well-Known Member
Technically the run more efficiently, run cooler, and have the ability to increase power as the bulb begins to get dimmer to compensate.

Maybe not brighter altogether but consistently the same instead of decreased performance from magnetics.
 
A

Audone

Active Member
after some investigation I found that my Digital greenhouse 400w digi ballast was shutting down because the base of the hps bulb had insufficient contact and had melted the lead. I suppose that it was a good thing that it shut off when it did. I replaced the bulb with a homedepot metal halide and it is back up and running great. Whew!!!!
 
trapper

trapper

Well-Known Member
i have digital and non digital,the digital blew 2 bulbs already,and they may warm up 5%faster,but they do not give out more light and they are not much cooler then my others, i would never bye digital again.unless they are improoved upon,mind you they are lighter.
 
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DR. VonDankenstine

Well-Known Member
trapper said:
i have digital and non digital,the digital blew 2 bulbs already,and they may warm up 5%faster,but they do not give out more light and they are not much cooler then my others, i would never bye digital again.unless they are improoved upon,mind you they are lighter.
Click to expand...
Should have got a GLOBAL DIGI...
 
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