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Past few years I've owned a 400w hps with analog (old school) external ballast. The (sun system) ballast is really heavy, hums, and gets really hot during use. Then I got a 600w digital ballast. It's much smaller, lighter, quieter (nearly silent w/cooling fan running!), and stays COLD to the touch! The analog and digital ballasts run side by side, and the differences are obvious, the digital ballast starts the light with much less electricity and fires the bulb right up, while the analog powered bulb fights its way to life (both lamps have new bulbs).
In conclusion, I think everyone should buy digital ballasts, unless there is some really good reason (like you already have an analog). I was really surprised by how much more efficient the digital ballasts are.
Do they even sell magnetic ballasts anymore? Pretty much figured every MFR was making digital/electronic ballasts now. I'd imagine the market for a magnetic ballast would be minuscule these days.
Quote: trichome said: Past few years I've owned a 400w hps with analog (old school) external ballast. The (sun system) ballast is really heavy, hums, and gets really hot during use. Then I got a 600w digital ballast. It's much smaller, lighter, quieter (nearly silent w/cooling fan running!), and stays COLD to the touch! The analog and digital ballasts run side by side, and the differences are obvious, the digital ballast starts the light with much less electricity and fires the bulb right up, while the analog powered bulb fights its way to life (both lamps have new bulbs).
In conclusion, I think everyone should buy digital ballasts, unless there is some really good reason (like you already have an analog). I was really surprised by how much more efficient the digital ballasts are.
What are your thoughts?
Magnetic ballasts really use magnetic coils to transform energy from your service provides to what your lamp needs. This process builds up heat, which is a form of waste. The electronic ballasts are all solid state (circuit boards), so they do not create the heat and they conserve energy.
Some electronic ballasts can actually make your lamp put out the same amount of light while using less energy (400w light using 390watts). Most energy saving lamps, like the 360 that can work in a 400, will also show a drop in lumen output. That is not the case for using the electronic ballasts.
Magnetic ballasts are being outlawed in many countries due to their waste. There are still a lot of them in service. Many will be serviceable and can be serviced under law. Also, some manufacturers are still allowed to make magnetic ballasts for fixtures that require them. Those manufacturer's can't make the original ballast/fixture cobination to sell new, just supply the ballast for maintenance purposes.
-------------------- I am not a cannabis grower. I find the cannabis growers to be the most open to experimenting and sharing out of all of the different botany groups I enjoy. I frequently use the suggestions that I find to apply to own organic gardening and food production.
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