Eternal
Well-Known Member
First off please forgive my rambling i will try to keep it short. I am planning on upgrading from my 400w to a 1000w so that I can grow my plants to 5-6 feet and still get some light to the lower areas.
I am having a very hard time though debating between digital and coil, and also 600w vs 1000w. Ive done hours of reading posts and I have a good understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of each. Ive even gone so far as comparing the prices and brand options.
I have a couple questions though.
1) Does anyone have experience with Next Gen digital ballasts?. This is the only brand I'm able to get because I live in Canada, and the site I use for supplies has much better pricing (not on the ballast but on bulbs+reflector) than anywhere else in canada, and if I order from the US I'm looking at $50-$80 in brokerage fees making the price for a digi kit from anywhere besides my supplier $150+ more even if I order from other canadian sites. I just dont want to buy it if people are blowing out bulbs or the unit is failing, or if they aren't noticeably brighter.
2) Ive looked and looked but can't find an actual light intensity meter comparison between digi and mag, just theoretical and mathematical. I find it hard to believe that the bulb is actually producing 30% more lumens, I beleive that the 30% comes from the difference in frequency. Digitals run on much higher frequencies reducing the amount of time the bulb is actually off during lights on hours (the bulbs constantly flicker on and off quicker than the human eye can see). This is where I think the digital ballasts are overhyped because the lumen output, electrical efficiency, "flicker free operation" advantages are really not 100% true. They may be slighty better than mag in these catagories but I do not think +30% output is correct. it is not +30% brighter it is simply on more of the time because of the higher frequency and lower "flicker time", see what I mean?. Granted they may well be brighter, but not 30% imo. Most of that 30% is the extra lamp time you get per day because of the difference in flicker time.
Having said that, has anyone switched to a digi and noticed brighter output?
Know of someone who has done a comparison with a meter instead of theoretical/mathematical?
3) Anyone who has used 600's and 1000's - what am I looking at in terms of penetration difference? I've looked at penetration charts but I'd like to hear from personal experience. Idk if those charts consider the fact that the 1000 is hotter and may need to be placed higher above the canopy than a 600 would (I have an AC hood so probly wouldnt have to move the 1000 much higher than my 400 currently is, right?)
I realize digis do have their advantages; soft start, mh/hps compatible, less heat+noise loss, less weight. But I can buy 2 mag ballasts for the price of 1 digi and they have the same warranty. That kind of kills the extra 30% output from a digi doesnt it lol? Granted you will be paying much more to run the 1000's.
Any input is greatly appreciated thx.
I am having a very hard time though debating between digital and coil, and also 600w vs 1000w. Ive done hours of reading posts and I have a good understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of each. Ive even gone so far as comparing the prices and brand options.
I have a couple questions though.
1) Does anyone have experience with Next Gen digital ballasts?. This is the only brand I'm able to get because I live in Canada, and the site I use for supplies has much better pricing (not on the ballast but on bulbs+reflector) than anywhere else in canada, and if I order from the US I'm looking at $50-$80 in brokerage fees making the price for a digi kit from anywhere besides my supplier $150+ more even if I order from other canadian sites. I just dont want to buy it if people are blowing out bulbs or the unit is failing, or if they aren't noticeably brighter.
2) Ive looked and looked but can't find an actual light intensity meter comparison between digi and mag, just theoretical and mathematical. I find it hard to believe that the bulb is actually producing 30% more lumens, I beleive that the 30% comes from the difference in frequency. Digitals run on much higher frequencies reducing the amount of time the bulb is actually off during lights on hours (the bulbs constantly flicker on and off quicker than the human eye can see). This is where I think the digital ballasts are overhyped because the lumen output, electrical efficiency, "flicker free operation" advantages are really not 100% true. They may be slighty better than mag in these catagories but I do not think +30% output is correct. it is not +30% brighter it is simply on more of the time because of the higher frequency and lower "flicker time", see what I mean?. Granted they may well be brighter, but not 30% imo. Most of that 30% is the extra lamp time you get per day because of the difference in flicker time.
Having said that, has anyone switched to a digi and noticed brighter output?
Know of someone who has done a comparison with a meter instead of theoretical/mathematical?
3) Anyone who has used 600's and 1000's - what am I looking at in terms of penetration difference? I've looked at penetration charts but I'd like to hear from personal experience. Idk if those charts consider the fact that the 1000 is hotter and may need to be placed higher above the canopy than a 600 would (I have an AC hood so probly wouldnt have to move the 1000 much higher than my 400 currently is, right?)
I realize digis do have their advantages; soft start, mh/hps compatible, less heat+noise loss, less weight. But I can buy 2 mag ballasts for the price of 1 digi and they have the same warranty. That kind of kills the extra 30% output from a digi doesnt it lol? Granted you will be paying much more to run the 1000's.
Any input is greatly appreciated thx.