Flowki
Well-Known Member
As learned, the Phillips bulb works best on low frequency square wave. Running it on anything else creates ''light blink'' and reduces total light out put (as much as I could gather). In the UK, good luck getting a lowF sqr wave ballast for a reasonable £150 or lower price. Links if you can ;/. Prices seen + shipping in most cases range from £250-400 for ballast alone.
The cheaper uk ballasts/kits seen so far are maxi bright high freq, none square wave and Omega that I only assume is of similar or worse specs/output. Then theirs this ridiculously priced thing that seems to care more about looking sexy than specifying what specs the ballast runs on. No offense to anybody who bought one of those.. but fkin hell, extortion.
Anyway, a lot of uk grow shops are stocking the more modestly priced maxi bright or similar so it's the only plausible option.
My question is, does such a ballast run the bulb well enough to still make it a better veg light than a traditional 400W mh on a mag ballast.
If you've used both products your insight is very welcome. Or ofc, if you have a good understanding of why the bulb is most optimal on square wave perhaps you can chime in with how you think the bulb would compare with the question above.
The cheaper uk ballasts/kits seen so far are maxi bright high freq, none square wave and Omega that I only assume is of similar or worse specs/output. Then theirs this ridiculously priced thing that seems to care more about looking sexy than specifying what specs the ballast runs on. No offense to anybody who bought one of those.. but fkin hell, extortion.
Anyway, a lot of uk grow shops are stocking the more modestly priced maxi bright or similar so it's the only plausible option.
My question is, does such a ballast run the bulb well enough to still make it a better veg light than a traditional 400W mh on a mag ballast.
If you've used both products your insight is very welcome. Or ofc, if you have a good understanding of why the bulb is most optimal on square wave perhaps you can chime in with how you think the bulb would compare with the question above.