Reflector prefernces

hey you guys its buying season for me again and wanting to make the best decision as usual.

quik questions 4 u guys.

1)what is your favorite type of reflector?

examples - cool tube, SS box reflectors, dual spectrum, how can i effectively make my own cool tube?

2)Favorite type of ballast and why?

I have noticed that almost all ballasts are the same. In fact I have contacted SS to confirm this. Some of them are made in china, some are made in USA hence the price difference...other than that nothing. Question is -

Do see significant decrease in Elect bill with 240v? Has anyone had trouble with SS econogro burning out?(chinese ballast that uses copper instead of aluminum)

Thanks for the general insight you guys...always trying to make informed buying decisions.

about ballasts i got a maxibright one when i upgraded to 400 watts, seems fine, but was chatting to a hydro shop guy who said they are rubbish. he buys some used products cheap and sells them on, and says that he gets maxibright ones from the vietnamese ops that have been caught and police allow owners of the property to sell them back or something. anyway he said he noticed that they discolour, not that the colour matters lol but just means its poor quality or something wasn't entirely sure what he was on about. I have one and its fine but probably won't last that long

gvega187 said:

hey you guys its buying season for me again and wanting to make the best decision as usual.

quik questions 4 u guys.

1)what is your favorite type of reflector?

examples - cool tube, SS box reflectors, dual spectrum, how can i effectively make my own cool tube?

2)Favorite type of ballast and why?

I have noticed that almost all ballasts are the same. In fact I have contacted SS to confirm this. Some of them are made in china, some are made in USA hence the price difference...other than that nothing. Question is -

Do see significant decrease in Elect bill with 240v? Has anyone had trouble with SS econogro burning out?(chinese ballast that uses copper instead of aluminum)

Thanks for the general insight you guys...always trying to make informed buying decisions.

Click to expand...

I went with some SunSystems Ballasts, 1KW and the Yield MAster Reflectors--also Sun Systems--all made in USA (or Canada) It was the top of the line offering at my hydro shop. That was my only factor when making the decision....and if you check out my journal and the thread in my sig.....you will see why I pay more locally (in state-still a haul) and DON'T mail order to my home.

240V was just the point of a recent discussion....savings are not enough to notice on the bill, but there are benefits to it, such as running more watts per circuit than 120.

Amps=wattage/voltage so at 240 a 1kw lamp is just over 4 amps instead of 9 amps on 120v circuits. (I think you already know that from discussions on ALs old threads-but thought I would mention it)

I have always liked it(240) because I regard heavier wire as being safer, though it probably is no safer than any other circuit protected by a breaker.

Hope some of this is useful.

-OitW

haha interesting point about the 240v ballasts. I noticed that all SS ballast come with 240 and 120 now because someone spilled the beans about cost savings being bullshit. I have decided to stick with

Sun System 10 econo grow ballasts as they provide the same performance for less.

1000watt hps ballast is $160...and still has 5 yr warranty from SS. IM IN!

Mainly now I am wondering about reflectors.

1)does anyone know where to get a cheap adjust a wing cool tube type reflector? I want to try them out, but would rather not buy one overpriced as I have seen them. I mean why does a bent piece of aluminum cost more than a powder coated enclosed box of aluminum..just doesn't compute.

thanks for the feedback guys