What's the scoop on ballasts? Digi/Magnetic

Greggos88

Greggos88

Active Member
So I had a conversation with my dude at the hydro store and we got to talking about ballasts. I hear and read a lot about the benefits of digital ballasts with power selectivity and overall money saving, lower operating temps, blah blah blah. His argument was that he had 2 digi ballasts actually overload and blow up on him, thusly, converting back to trusting in the ol' tried and true magnetic. I have a 1000w HPS magnetic ballast and it puts of a good bit of heat but I hear that's normal, and the electric bill was knocked up a fair bit as I have it running for 18 hours/day, but I know it's a beast and can rely on it. Has anyone else had issues with digi's? I'm considering buying a HP/MH switchable ballast but I'm trying to get some more info. Also; as with any profit producing commercially competitive enterprise will know, there are now numerable companies out there producing ballasts (and everything else), but there are definitely good ones and bad ones... Input on this? Thanks Community!
 
dbkick

dbkick

Well-Known Member
some digitals cause interference with the cable systems and suddenly attention is brought to you when they track the source of interference. I ran a cheap chinese made digital awhile back and had a cable problem. the cable guy made a comment like "so you're the one that's been lighting up the block" . I've never heard of this problem with magnetic ballasts but I've also never used one, I recently bought a phantom so I'm sure the interference isn't as bad as with the cheap china made one (that still works great).
 
dbkick

dbkick

Well-Known Member
but i see you're in colorado so attention shouldn't be a problem. howdy distant neighbor.
 
dbkick

dbkick

Well-Known Member
note though that my excellent scoring phantom went back for warranty work before one cycle was up, hydro shop guy has sold a bunch of them and mines the first one to come back :/
 
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