What uses more electricity?

[davedub69]

The digital ballast do not put any more lumens than a magnetic one. Al B Fuct did a comparison in the store with a light meter! He also recommends the much cheaper magnetic ones b/c of the relability issue. Do u want to trust your electronic one which is subject to voltage spikes, brown outs etc. which can break in the middle of a grow or go with the tried and true?!?! The digi do put out less heat but you should have them outside the grow room to control heat better. You coudl always have two sets one set in room for winter and one set outside for summer. Just my two cents... KEEP IT GROWING!

 

[BigBudBalls]

The digital ballast do not put any more lumens than a magnetic one. Al B Fuct did a comparison in the store with a light meter! He also recommends the much cheaper magnetic ones b/c of the relability issue. Do u want to trust your electronic one which is subject to voltage spikes, brown outs etc. which can break in the middle of a grow or go with the tried and true?!?! The digi do put out less heat but you should have them outside the grow room to control heat better. You coudl always have two sets one set in room for winter and one set outside for summer. Just my two cents... KEEP IT GROWING!

HID bulb degrade over time (aka: dim, less lumens) The digitals *supposedly* adjust for this. Now if Al did his test with a 2 year old bulb....

 

[BigBudBalls]

Okay, thanks, so they do draw a bit less but not an immense amount and if they break down you pretty much end up tossing them like a lot of newer electronics.

Well they have I think a 3 or 5 year warranty on them, so you send it back, they fix it, they send it back to you. I'd figure 2-3 weeks for the full trip.

With a magnetic, you can get all the replacement parts (all 3 of them, ballast, igniter, and cap) from a local electrical supply house. Can be up and running again in a few hours.

 

[DontKnowBeans]

Yeah, Lumatek has a 5 year warranty, hopefully I won't have to use it.

I didn't realize before that there were reasons to prefer the magnetic ballasts. This is an interesting hobby but there seems to be a difference of opinion about just about every aspect of it

 

[BigBudBalls]

Yeah, Lumatek has a 5 year warranty, hopefully I won't have to use it.

I didn't realize before that there were reasons to prefer the magnetic ballasts. This is an interesting hobby but there seems to be a difference of opinion about just about every aspect of it

I actually don't have an opinion on magnetic vs digital. The quality of the digitals has VASTLY improved over the last few years. Much more reliable. (own a magnetic myself but went in to get a digital, so go figure)

 

[la9]

For me running 4000watts of HID on 240v means I sleep better in knowing I will never return home to find the Fire Brigade calling the Cops.

Why are you lowering the risk of fire by using 240 vac ? It may be a little more efficient but how does that prevent fire ? Usually it's mice eating the line in two or someone using crappy wiring techniques that start a fire.

I'm here to learn so let me know.

 

[TheDankness]

Why are you lowering the risk of fire by using 240 vac ? It may be a little more efficient but how does that prevent fire ? Usually it's mice eating the line in two or someone using crappy wiring techniques that start a fire.

I'm here to learn so let me know.

I think he means because of the heat thing, less current usually means less heat. With that said, if properly wired in a 120v circuit a ballast should be no danger to you anyway, that's why we have circuit breakers and fuses.