Hey guys,
I don't know. I really don't like 'off brands'. You might not need a Cadillac but I wouldn't get a Pinto either. To me.. there is way more on the line then the cost of one light. What happens if I'm 6 weeks into flower and it fails? I could lose my plants and more importantly all that time and effort. When it comes to stuff like lights, fans, pump, and timers I go with well proven brand names. Not to mention the safety thing.. *knocks on wood* a fire could ruin a lot of lives..
Caveat emptor!
Almost everything you named is all the same , generic or not. You pay extra for the label on the device. the big names buy the same exact generic parts an put them together with a fancy label.
as with all electronics , you might want to look over the connections after it was shipped all over the world.
there are "cheap" items to watch out for , but its not because its "generic" ... its because your tryin to cut corners where they cant be cut.
some of the real cheap timers only last for a few years , some of the real cheap shop lights dont work outta the box, but for the most part , hid ballast , fans , pumps are all the same.
I been usin the same generic ballast for almost 20 years an got them very used to begin with.
soil
