what 1000w ballast is better?
- Thread starter johnny12r
- Start date
riddleme
Well-Known Member
Magnetic uses a transformer and runs at the speed of applied power, ie; in the usa the ac we use is 60 hertz or 60 cycles per second (in europe it's 50) also there is a federal mandate to eleminate them in the next few years, to save energy
the digitals use an electronic circuit to provide the voltage/current and run much faster (hertz wise) and much more effecient power consumption wise, but can generate a bit more heat
there are also dual ballast that will run more than one kind of bulb and switchable ballast that adjust the output, things that are easy with digital electronics
the digitals use an electronic circuit to provide the voltage/current and run much faster (hertz wise) and much more effecient power consumption wise, but can generate a bit more heat
there are also dual ballast that will run more than one kind of bulb and switchable ballast that adjust the output, things that are easy with digital electronics
Kriegs
Well-Known Member
The digital, dimmable variety seem to be the wave of the future. Don't have one; know a few people who are happy with them. It's the way I'm going next year for sure; a Lumatek 600w dimmable, switchable.
If you go that way, make sure you don't get an old-school bulb. There's something about "sine wave" this or that; any decent light dealer / hydro store should know the deal - the newer generation bulbs are built for the digitals, and will last a lot longer in them.
Be careful of salesmen -- a lot of sellers are making bogus knocks on digitals, cuz they've got backlogs of magnetics that have lost value. They're trying to unload them before everything goes digital.
If you go that way, make sure you don't get an old-school bulb. There's something about "sine wave" this or that; any decent light dealer / hydro store should know the deal - the newer generation bulbs are built for the digitals, and will last a lot longer in them.
Be careful of salesmen -- a lot of sellers are making bogus knocks on digitals, cuz they've got backlogs of magnetics that have lost value. They're trying to unload them before everything goes digital.