Matched ballast ??

can someone with first hand experience in electronics please share some info on matched bulbs and ballasts vs none matched bulbs and ballasts. I'm looking for the best 1000w bulb/ballast combo for a 1.2x1.2m area (will be cooltubed with a large adjust a wing). I keep hearing that the best ballast doesn't allwAys work best with the best bulb and the best thing to do is buy a matched combo. Can someone please explain why this is. I can understand why bulbs might be different but shouldn't a 240v 1000w ballast provide exactly that ? If so what's with all these "matched" ballasts and are they necessary?

Some bulbs can break down with certain electronic ballasts due to the frequency they run the ballast at, basically causing metal fatigue. You wont get the problem with a good old reliable mag ballast. save your pennies and stay away from the electronic ones as my experience is 2 broken unrepairable electronic ballasts inside 12 months.

I'm running a couple 600w omega maggies with omega red 600w hps and they're the dance tbh, I'm getin a new full setup and want thowys and you can't get the omega in 1000w. I like the look of the hortilux eye dual spectrum hps. Are they good on a magnetic? If not what's my best choice for a dual spectrum 1000w bulb

Use with Magnetic Core and Coil ballasts only with an ANSI rating of S52 - See more at: http://www.eyehortilux.com/products/high-pressure-sodium#sblue
they are bloody expensive though

I agree, after using both, and replacing/repairing both.... I like the old school mag ballasts, digi's just wanna burn up too fast. What good is saving a few pennies on the power bill if I am spending it on new ballasts... Can rebuild the mag ones for like $40, and keep the spare parts on standby, its a 10minute job.

personally I would just add a 315cmh bulb to the 600. cheaper than those eyehortilux dual bulbs by far.

I have an issue with dual arc bulbs as neither actual bulb is 1000w it's usually a 600hps and a 400mh. Neither having anywhere near the same intensity as a standard 1000 hps. They serve a purpose im sure but imo intensity=density

I guess you old core and coil users don't know magnetics use more power, put off more heat and put out less light, quality and quantity.

and last a hell of a lot longer. Go factor that into the cost equation. I've heard the sales pitch and bought it before, no more!

dbkick said:

I guess you old core and coil users don't know magnetics use more power, put off more heat and put out less light, quality and quantity.

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They probably do mate but like anything it's down to preference, what use is that extra output when it dies and you don't catch it for a couple days. There is no right and wrong choice it's just preference.

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ballist said:

personally I would just add a 315cmh bulb to the 600. cheaper than those eyehortilux dual bulbs by far.

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315 lec are not cheaper than hortilux lamps, they run about the same price. Having said that I just changed out two solis tek matrix and Hortilux 1 kw lamps for 2 sun systems 315 lec.
My bad, the dual arc are more expensive , I thought the discussion was super hps for some reason.

Blue brother said:

They probably do mate but like anything it's down to preference, what use is that extra output when it dies and you don't catch it for a couple days. There is no right and wrong choice it's just preference.

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I've not had one digital ballast go bad on me, maybe it's the brands you buy.

Ma

dbkick said:

I've not had one digital ballast go bad on me, maybe it's the brands you buy.

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and what would you suggest?

Blue brother said:

Ma

and what would you suggest?

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a couple sun systems lec 315, even without seeing results yet, these are nice lights. and run very cool.

I think someone just tested mag vs digital , they measured light output and temperature. The digital ran nice and cool with higher light output (by 30 percent if I remember right) and the mag ran at a couple hundred degrees F with less light output.

And depending on how far you can back those 1kw lamps off, they're just too intense for living things. Photosynthesis slows or even stops if light intensity is too high.

Blue brother said:

Ma

and what would you suggest?

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Solis Tek.

Figgy said:

Solis Tek.

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RFI/EMI has become a big thing, as far as being dependable and having all the bells and whistles Solis works. I've heard the Solis Tek Matrix has rfi/emi issues. Personally I've run two for several years and even turned on my AM radio in my truck and heard no noise from the ballasts at 20 feet away.
Some people might worry about RFI/EMI because it can be detected by you know who. Mainly it will start as a cable/internet problem IF the conditions are right it can take out the cable of several of your neighbors too calling attention to the cable guy (who has the tools to track this rfi/emi down). But as I said I didn't see any RFI with the two Matrix I run.
I'm sure there are more digitals out with rfi than without.
The only ballast I know of with an fcc listing is the hydrofarm phantoms. They have to certifications of some kind, one with the fcc and another I can't remember. That doesn't mean every other digital is going to put out detectable rfi, internal shielding is supposed to stop that but then even if the ballast is shielded you may have a cordset or socket that for some reason emits rfi.
I'll give you that, core and coil operate at a low frequency which means no rfi, the higher frequency digitals have more of a chance of emitting rfi/emi.

My Solis Tek has no interference. It sits 10ft from my xfinity and Asus routers. If your bonding and grounding are good in your home, the cable provider's line is bonded and grounded properly, and you have shielded cable then you are good.

I have been using Solis Tek Ballast, splitter and two of their 600w hps for almost a year. I can say they work quite well. I also have played with the bulbs a bit as I also have a pair of Lumatek and Hortilux. I like the Solis Tek the best. Don't know if it is because they are matched to the ballast or what but they definitely seem to have better output. And I too have no interference issues and have a router and radio in the next room.