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Stranger
Registered: 06/09/15
Posts: 16
Last seen: 9 years, 3 months
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SolisTek vs Apollo, 600w light systems
#781529 - 06/09/15 11:51 PM (9 years, 6 months ago) |
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Does anyone have experience with either that would help me decide on which to go with? Both are dimmable and dual, so I'm thinking about getting a 600w ballast, bulbs, and reflector. Such a package from SolisTek costs $420 hah, while the same package from Apollo is about $200. SolisTek ballasts have a few fancy technological benefits like a low "Total Harmonic Distribution" and "IgnitionControl" + "SenseSmart" to avoid overloading breakers and igniting the lamp in poor conditions. SolisTek also offers a boost option to increase lamp output by 5%. Also the bulbs and reflector glass are low-iron to allow more light passage.
My question is whether all those tiny bonuses actually add up to paying more than 2x as much for the system? I feel like while the Apollo is plain, it's still a 600w HID fixture and going to get the job done fantastically either way. Is it worth buying into those SolisTek techs?
http://www.solis-tek.com/digital-ballasts/solistek-600-digital-ballast.html http://hydrobuilder.com/solis-tek-600w-air-cooled-grow-light-package.html vs. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Apollo-Horticulture-600-Watt-MH-HPS-Grow-Light-System-Set-Kit-for-Plant-Growing/171237765850?_trksid=p2141725.c100338.m3726&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20141212152715%26meid%3D8d4d5d8252a44b588b76b710e1f950b6%26pid%3D100338%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D30%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D171231723522
Edited by Icon (06/10/15 12:04 AM)
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GoonerHeClips
Stranger
Registered: 08/24/14
Posts: 380
Last seen: 7 years, 4 months
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Re: SolisTek vs Apollo, 600w light systems [Re: Icon]
#781548 - 06/10/15 07:54 AM (9 years, 6 months ago) |
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My local store recommends the double ended 600w bulbs. Never used them myself, but you may want to take a look if you haven't already...
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bEelzeBosS
Are my eyes red?
Registered: 11/15/13
Posts: 706
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Re: SolisTek vs Apollo, 600w light systems [Re: GoonerHeClips]
#781615 - 06/10/15 07:24 PM (9 years, 6 months ago) |
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Apollo ballasts have been money for me, been using a 600w daily for almost two years and used a 400w for almost a year with no issues. You probably dont want to be using the dimming feature though, its not good for bulbs.
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Mrshroom
Stranger
Registered: 12/04/12
Posts: 781
Last seen: 7 years, 7 months
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Re: SolisTek vs Apollo, 600w light systems [Re: bEelzeBosS]
#781709 - 06/11/15 02:22 PM (9 years, 6 months ago) |
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i use the solis tek brand i love them best quailty. I use the matrix line because for a few reasons.
1) has built in timer
2) has built in self test on start up to make sure everythings working right
3) the balast can use 400, 600, 1000 watt bulbs , and im not talking about dimming to a lower watter. the ballast draws the right power to use all 3 bulbs settings. so i love this feture cause when i start new plants ill pop in a 400 so im not burring 1000 watts when the plants dont need that much light. pluse my 1000 watts bulbs last longer that way
4) if u have a couple of these guys running they talk to each other so that they all have a small delay during startup by a couple seconds so that they all dont draw at the same time and over load the breaker , because ballast draw more then the bulb uses durring fire up to get the bulb going.
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Mrshroom
Stranger
Registered: 12/04/12
Posts: 781
Last seen: 7 years, 7 months
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Re: SolisTek vs Apollo, 600w light systems [Re: Mrshroom]
#781712 - 06/11/15 02:27 PM (9 years, 6 months ago) |
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5) The ballast has a great heatsink on the out side that keeps it really cool. i can place my hand on the metal after is been running for 18 hours and its only warm to the touch.
thats a great system because if you use ballast that require a built in fan to cool its self then you run the risk of the fan might break at some time and then your ballast will over heat and at some point die due to the heat doing damage to the internal electronics parts
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