ReVolt Ballasts, Anyone use them??
- Thread starter SmeLLyTreeZ
- Start date
Maravillosa
Member
Indeed, that warranty is nothing to sneer at either. They've been around for a few years and appear to be honorable retailers with decent prices too. I'm impressed with their video.
Maravillosa
Member
Sounds like a good deal. I'm afraid of lights with that much power, I'd like to try using two 600's with reflectors down low.
antimatt3r
Well-Known Member
got mine from victor at gotham as well a year and a half ago and have had no problems with them. recently upgraded to square wave technology but these are good cheapies
Maravillosa
Member
I've heard of inverter control boards that use digital sinewave and squarewave technology to manipulate the arc on newer TIG machines for welding exotic metals. I had an old Lincoln 300 amp behemoth @ 850 lbs, iron core copper coil wound transformer dinosaur. Blow a 50 amp breaker easy. A new machine is only 75 lbs and draws 20 amps wide open. When the cost of US electricity rates quadruples, lighting ballast & lamp design will change fast.
ledcflgrow
Well-Known Member
The Revolt is a good ballast. I just grew two NL with it, the 400w version, with their bulbs that come with the kit, Super Horti. Their bulbs are great for the first month, then they drop in lux big time. I recommend getting a Maxlume if you only want to spend $37 bucks for a 600w 27 for a 24w. They are great bulbs and the lux stays high for a long time.
If you can afford it, the best bulbs are Hortilux Eye, Ushio, Sunmaster, and Digilux.
If you can afford it, the best bulbs are Hortilux Eye, Ushio, Sunmaster, and Digilux.
Maravillosa
Member
Mine ran fine all winter, and I couldn't see any change in the super horti's 600 watt output.
SmeLLyTreeZ
Well-Known Member
I've been MIA from the forum for a while but my original bulb finally went out last grow after 1 year almost exactly lol... I just wanted to say for those looking into this ballast its been fantastic for me! I've now upgraded to a 600 eye hortilux HPS and a 600w digilux MH. You wont regret getting this ballast, I said it before and I'll say it again!
Just a little tip for those that are using the original bulb though, I would replace it every 6 months at least. I started noticing a reduced yield towards the end of its life and just to be safe I would change that baby out often. I'm debating on making a new thread to compare the EYE horti to my previous grows with the same strains techniques and the whole 9. I will at least update in here in the future and let you guys know if I noticed a difference in yield, cheers fellow revolters
ASMALLVOICE
Well-Known Member
None that would ever be of concern. Digital ballast are not as electrically "trashy" as their older more power hungry magnetic counterparts. As long as your electrical system is in good order, you should have no issues.
Peace and Great Grows
Asmallvoice
renkar
Well-Known Member
good to hear but one last question
Using the dim option work great or better let it at the max watt it can handle? asking caus ei wanna make a small grow first using a 600w dim ballast and set it close to 400 then when im ready for a bigger grow go with the full power of the 600
Using the dim option work great or better let it at the max watt it can handle? asking caus ei wanna make a small grow first using a 600w dim ballast and set it close to 400 then when im ready for a bigger grow go with the full power of the 600
ASMALLVOICE
Well-Known Member
I honestly have only dimmed mine one time, to see if it worked, after that, I leave it at 100%. I have mine in a small closet and it seems to do just fine.
Peace
Asmallvoice
Dr. Who
Well-Known Member
Ok then...to all of you out there considering the Revolt ballasts......HOLD YOUR BUY!
I've had a 1000w for about 18 months and at 12 or less it cooked off and runs only at 50+% of it's former output (I metered it)!
I am attempting to contact Gotham about the warranty at this time and will post the results when done.
It did work great untill it cooked, but it should have lasted longer!
I've had a 1000w for about 18 months and at 12 or less it cooked off and runs only at 50+% of it's former output (I metered it)!
I am attempting to contact Gotham about the warranty at this time and will post the results when done.
It did work great untill it cooked, but it should have lasted longer!
Dr. Who
Well-Known Member
UPDATE: Just got off the phone with Gotham and they are replacing the ballast!
The gentleman stated that it should have lasted longer! and that they are happy to replace it!
I ship to them at my cost and they ship a new one back,,,new warranty and all.
I did really like the high out-put of the ballast b4 it backslid and will be putting it right back to service in it's old spot in the grow.
The gentleman stated that it should have lasted longer! and that they are happy to replace it!
I ship to them at my cost and they ship a new one back,,,new warranty and all.
I did really like the high out-put of the ballast b4 it backslid and will be putting it right back to service in it's old spot in the grow.
Dr. Who
Well-Known Member
I forgot to mention that the ballast it's self has been redesigned. New outer shell and the fan is not the same.
The shell looks like Quantam's
I get equipment to test from a few source's and have 6 different brands represented on the walls now.
Out of those over the years I've had trouble with not just the ReVolt but with Lumiteck and Gallaxy. I equate that to the volume of ballast's in overall use at one time, along with the use of "FLIP BOX'S" . While a flip box is nice to reduce the amount of ballast's you may need at one time. The strain on the ballast is in the long run not worth my time or money.
Most digital ballasts have tech built in to "protect" it and the bulb, so that flippers do not work so well. Like at the flip, the new light won't strike properly and then your crop sit's in the dark till you find it!
The shell looks like Quantam's
I get equipment to test from a few source's and have 6 different brands represented on the walls now.
Out of those over the years I've had trouble with not just the ReVolt but with Lumiteck and Gallaxy. I equate that to the volume of ballast's in overall use at one time, along with the use of "FLIP BOX'S" . While a flip box is nice to reduce the amount of ballast's you may need at one time. The strain on the ballast is in the long run not worth my time or money.
Most digital ballasts have tech built in to "protect" it and the bulb, so that flippers do not work so well. Like at the flip, the new light won't strike properly and then your crop sit's in the dark till you find it!