Ipower ballast ??

Nookies said:
I'm hearing more people recommend the Apollo ballasts over the Ipower. I've decided to skip out on getting an expensive phantom or lumatek ballast as I need the extra 200 bucks I'll save for PH meters,etc.

So now it basically comes down to the HTG 400 watt HPS magnetic ballast or the Apollo brand :S

Not seeing very many experienced growers who's actually had an Ipower or Apollo for long periods of time come oout :S
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I haven't heard anything bad about Apollo. Maybe I'll grab one of those as back up.
 
My 600w dimmable iPower ballast is still rocking with super efficiency after the first full year. I'll be buying another next month, to replace my crazy greenhouse ballast (which is at 4 years).
 
Nookies said:
Really? I only know of 3 online shops, HTG, Greners, and recently monstergardens who seem to have things a bit cheaper. HTG doesn't carry phantoms and the other two had them for like 160 bucks :S
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Plantlightinghydroponics.com, best place on the web.
 
Well i'm glad to have found this thread; i've been researching enrty-level (cheap) 600 watt digital HID kits & it's a 3-way decision which i should go with.. 1) APOLLO 2) IPOWER 3)THUNDER (by hydroponics pro) all of these are obviously made in china & under $200 on Amazon for the whole lighting kit..and that's with the air-cooled hood upgrade..they all have similer warrenties, componants, & features. I see reviews for Ipower & Apollo..anyone tried a Thunder ballast?? Thanks.. S.J.
 
I bought 2 iPower 600w air cooled hoods glass cover with 1HPS+1MH with each system. Both MH bulbs came with glass shards moving freely in the bulb. I contacted seller and two more are on the way.

I ran one of the 600's with a 6in. inline on 18/6 schedule for 3 days. On the 3rd day,at night time,right before bed, The breaker to my grow room flipped. I went in to inspect what had happened,and felt the ballast with my hand and to my surprise it was hot as hell!

I waited until the next day to try and plug it back in and nothing,one more time I try I unplug it and plug it back in,Bam flipped my breaker again. the ballast is shot,the last time I tried there was a foul odor(like a burnt smell) coming from the ballast itself.

I can't say the company is bad but I obviously have a faulty ballast.

Now my plant are back under the fluro's The other 600w is doing fine at a another grow
 
Just me couple pennies on the ipower 600s. I bought one in 2012 and have used it almost nonstop on 12/12. I ordered another as a backup unit and received it last week. This morning (6-30-14) I go to check the tent and the light is not on. Replaced the bulb, still no light. Plugged in the new ballast, let there be light! I need to confirm on whether it's the ballast or the bulb, I've had my original not fire up before until I unplugged it for 15-20 mins. In days leading up to this my first ballast was almost hot to the touch so I might just brick it. At work now so don't have much more time but anyone have ideas? I was due for a new one seeing as my first 600 has helped in 5 or 6 grows so I've been happy with it. Just wish electronics would last forever!!! Lmfao
 
I've used an Ipower 600w ballast for 1.5 grows now, never had any problems with it or the bulbs. However, I ruined my HPS bulb by using a polyester blanket to unscrew it with when it was hot. Not my brightest moment. HAHA SEE WHAT I DID THERE
 
fatalphenom said:
Just me couple pennies on the ipower 600s. I bought one in 2012 and have used it almost nonstop on 12/12. I ordered another as a backup unit and received it last week. This morning (6-30-14) I go to check the tent and the light is not on. Replaced the bulb, still no light. Plugged in the new ballast, let there be light! I need to confirm on whether it's the ballast or the bulb, I've had my original not fire up before until I unplugged it for 15-20 mins. In days leading up to this my first ballast was almost hot to the touch so I might just brick it. At work now so don't have much more time but anyone have ideas? I was due for a new one seeing as my first 600 has helped in 5 or 6 grows so I've been happy with it. Just wish electronics would last forever!!! Lmfao
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They have a 2 year warranty. My ballast took a shit and they replaced it. Been going for 4 grow now. Would I order it again... nah. Probably get a magnetic ballast when I upgrade to 1000 watt.
 
yktind said:
They have a 2 year warranty. My ballast took a shit and they replaced it. Been going for 4 grow now. Would I order it again... nah. Probably get a magnetic ballast when I upgrade to 1000 watt.
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Thanks for the warranty info. I've been looking but didn't check their site of all places. I would only by again for a short term solution but don't believe I would make them my top choice. I've been researching LEDs so I may be going that route once I've got a couple cycles out of this second unit.
 
I've had 3 ipower 1ks all worked great. Sold one to a buddy, one had an issue warranty replaced it easy.

I've been using Apollo products lately so I'd probably go with them instead if I needed a cheap ballast. They both have the same casing. Good odds they're manufactured at the same Chinese factory just rebranded lol
 
I know this thread hasn't been updated in a couple of years but I bought the ipower 400 a year ago and the ballast crapped out on me called Amazon and told them I couldn't get in touch with manufacturer to get it replaced under warranty and the rep I spoke to was a plant lover (made up some bs story that my tomatoes, lettuce and collared greens were going to die) long story short, she's sending out a new one OVERNIGHT the hell with calling manufacturer for warranty replacement Amazon is the shit, I wonder if being a prime member had anything to do with why they were quick to send me a replacement.
 
i just got mine 2 weeks ago,im using the dimmable feature at 75% of 600 watt.
i only have a 2x4 tent so it should be ok.
i replaced my t5 fluoros with it.i think the fluoros left grams and grams on the table,just wasnt seeing what i was expecting with the t5 lights.I had 8 t5 going just wasnt cutting it to me.the girls already love the hps and are expressing their love in faster more growth.
i hope the light works out,my whole tent gear is ipower,the fan the carbon filter the light and hood,its just a gull wing,i did replace the bulb with an agrosun from ebay from htg's ebay store for 29.95 with free shipping.
at 75% the ballast doesnt get warm even i do have it on the floor where its cooler,dunno

so far though no complaints
 
I have a 400w Ipower full wing for a year now 3 months ago I swapped out my HID for my 8bulb t5 for my newest grow I had just unplugged the light from the ballast and left the ballast plugged in to my power strip when I went to use my 400w again it had died. Called Amazon and told them the company wouldn't respond to my emails anyway long story short, they had no more 400 in stock and was gonna make me wait till they came in but I bitched and threaten I wouldn't renew my prime membership and take my business to eBay btw I hate eBay they sent me a 1000w as a replacement. I think it had to die with the fact that the rep I spoke with was a plant lover and the bs story I gave her was the clincher told her I had a basement full of dying plants she shipped it overnight.
 
Another vote for Apollo. I have both Apollo and ipowe and am currently going to all solistek matrixes. But I'm a big fan of the apollos. They just seam to be better quality then Ipower.
 
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