Seeking Reliability

After dipping my feet in the water testing things out with CFL's (still vegging right now) I have really become interested in the idea of getting a 600 watt HPS setup going for the flowering stages.

This is all new to me so I have much to learn but the way I always go about things is trying to find quality items to ensure durability and less hassle. I settled on 600 watt because of the somewhat limited space (have around 4-5 feet around but 7-8 ceiling height)

I have done lots of searching around and can't really seem to find any solid answers on a good solid reputable brand, I really need some input. I also want to go with a digital ballast and not sure on a cool tube but I definitely want a air cooled hood but still at this point not sure how much heat 600 watters put off but this will all be done in my bedroom which has a medium sized window that i can utilize.

so basically, I just need input on what setup would be ideal for what is listed above.

thanks guys

I use magnetic, but on the plus side, if it breaks, I can fix it... No sending it back to the company and missing my light for a couple weeks. I got a budgetgrow II 600w hps with cool tube and reflector. Paid upper 1's I think. It works great and has been a huge improvement over the cfl's I had.

All the digital ballasts are basically Chinese shit with the exeption of eyes more expensive -japan built German engineered digital ballast.
I run galaxies lumatechs and phantoms of the 3 the lumatechs have had the most problems but that's just my experience.
Sunlight supply still makes there top magnetic ballast in the USA with Quality components and would be the most reliable.

You can pay upwards of a thousand bucks for a 600 setup if you want.
There are plenty good digital ballasts out there.
I'm a fan of the cooltube XL reflector type of setup. The air flows fast to keep the bulbs cool, and they have a pretty good light spread.
So far I have 6 of these package deals that come with a Reflector, Digital Dimable Ballast, MH and HPS bulb, Timer, and rope ratchet hangers.
They run under 220 bucks a piece for the whole package with free shipping.

I have 1 going on 3 grows.
2 going on their second, and 3 more I just bought.
Haven't had the slightest problem with em at all.
I think it's a damn good deal.
Check out the grows in my sig.


This is where I get them

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Lumitech 600w digital ballast $250.00
Hydrofarm 6" cool tube $105.00
600w HPS bulb @ $60.00
Can-Fan 6" centrifugal fan, high out put 392 CFM $190.00
6" duct hose @ $20.00
6" duct hose clamps @ $12.00
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Around $637.00 for a really decent set-up.

Unless there is some specific reason why you want a digital ballast, would also recommend getting a magnetic. They are overall more reliable, and for the most part can be fixed if they break, and for much less than the cost of a new ballast. If you are thinking that they make lots of noise, or are cumbersome, that's not really the case either. They do make a quiet buzzing while they run, but in my experience the fans more than drown out the ballast. O yea, they are also cheaper. You can get a nice magnetic ballast for under $200 easy, and that is with a hood included, I think I paid about $140 at my local shop for the last 600 watt ballast and hood I bought there.

Thanks for the replies gentlemen

I was going on the impression that digital ballasts were better but sounds like you guys prefer magnetic.

I am fairly new so all these fancy different brands kinda are starting to confuse me. Not sure what to mix and match with what. I am kind of sketched out buying everything online and having it shipped to my place but I also want to avoid going into a grow store because I feel like I will either get ripped off on something or will buy the wrong shit etc plus i hate being rushed and like to take my time lol.

anyway,

ill look through the posts again and try to peace a decent setup together. I will be using soil but I still want to maximize yield. I guess I have 400-600$ish as a budget if that helps, anymore suggestions are greatly appreciated.

thanks guys about to smoke a bowl of fresh blue dream i got from a buddy :]

Check craigslist too bro. Sometimes people are getting rid of some nice hps' on there and all you really need to do is get a new bulb. Would save you a good bit of money too

There's advantages and disadvantages with everything. If you buy a new ballast make sure it has a warranty. When I bought my Digilux ballast it had a 5 year warranty at the time.
that's another thing. If you can buy your ballast from your local store get it there. Your not gonna jump in your car and drive to china to exchange your ballast. If you have a problem a month down the road atleast you can bring it back and get a new one quickly.