do dimmable ballasts save power?

banks dank

banks dank

Active Member
Hey riu

so I have a cheapy apollo 1000w dimmable and im gonna be
moving into a new spot...

All you experienced guys know how big of a bitch moving a
complete grow, mid grow. Wish me luck.

so my question is, in a effort to conserve power, do u think that dimmable ballasts really save on electric?
any one closely monitor there kph used with a dimmable?

Thanks and happy growing
 
banks dank

banks dank

Active Member
Ive heard cheap ballasts like ipowet apollo etc use the same amount at 50% and 100%...

I donno if anyone can chime in on that...
 
racerboy71

racerboy71

bud bootlegger
banks dank said:
Ive heard cheap ballasts like ipowet apollo etc use the same amount at 50% and 100%...

I donno if anyone can chime in on that...
Click to expand...
i'm far from an electrician, but common sense tells me that something only drawing half the power, say 500 watts for a 1000k ballast, would draw less current, maybe not exactly .5, but i can't see how it wouldn't be less...

like i said, i'm far from an electrician, but did stay at a quality inn last night.. :D
 
SnapsProvolone

SnapsProvolone

Well-Known Member
racerboy71 said:
i'm far from an electrician, but common sense tells me that something only drawing half the power, say 500 watts for a 1000k ballast, would draw less current, maybe not exactly .5, but i can't see how it wouldn't be less...

like i said, i'm far from an electrician, but did stay at a quality inn last night.. :D
Click to expand...
I would agree. Unless it's dissipating the other 50% in heat. That energy has to go somewhere.
 
L

LordRalh3

Well-Known Member
How is apollo garbage? I have two that have ran everyday for several years...I got what I paid for long ago and they are still working perfect.
 
kinddiesel

kinddiesel

Well-Known Member
yes if you dim them they save electric . but who cares thats half the yield. did you mean do digital ballasts save electric ? if so no. they are may be 20 % brighter then standard ballasts, but a 1000 watts is 1000 watts. digitals do pull less amps then some magnetics . but for the extra money its not worth it . and keep in mind dimming a metal halide shortens the life of the bulb dramatically . I have digitals and magnetics I see no difference at all. and the digitals I hear a funny noise coming from the bulbs. digitals some of them are total trash, they over ignite on start up basically over charging the bulb shortens the life of bulbs. in my opinion the magnetics win the digitals.
 
highROE

highROE

New Member
kinddiesel said:
yes if you dim them they save electric . but who cares thats half the yield. did you mean do digital ballasts save electric ? if so no. they are may be 20 % brighter then standard ballasts, but a 1000 watts is 1000 watts. digitals do pull less amps then some magnetics . but for the extra money its not worth it . and keep in mind dimming a metal halide shortens the life of the bulb dramatically . I have digitals and magnetics I see no difference at all. and the digitals I hear a funny noise coming from the bulbs. digitals some of them are total trash, they over ignite on start up basically over charging the bulb shortens the life of bulbs. in my opinion the magnetics win the digitals.
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You're gonna save electric but buy the right bulb your dimming to- ie. put in a 600w bulb if you dim to 600w /750w if dimmed to 750. If dimming say a 1000w bulb to even 750 in addition to having 1/4 output, youre throwing off the spectrum and probably gonna yield even less than 1/4
 
SnapsProvolone

SnapsProvolone

Well-Known Member
highROE said:
You're gonna save electric but buy the right bulb your dimming to- ie. put in a 600w bulb if you dim to 600w /750w if dimmed to 750. If dimming say a 1000w bulb to even 750 in addition to having 1/4 output, youre throwing off the spectrum and probably gonna yield even less than 1/4
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WRONG ^^^^^^

You always use the largest wattage bulb the ballast is rated for.
 
highROE

highROE

New Member
kinddiesel said:
hieroe is correct, hortilux web site , tells us to do not dim even the hps bulbs because it will change the spectrum to a effect that . basically your defeating the point. buy the wattage bulb you plan on using . don't dim them. I think hortilux knows what they are talking about. lot of info on thee web site. http://www.eyehortilux.com/education-room/grow-guide.aspx
Click to expand...
Lumatek'll tell u the same about their bulbs as well...even if you're using a Lumatek ballast
 
kinddiesel

kinddiesel

Well-Known Member
there is one nice thing about lumitech ballasts. you can buy a 1000 watt . and click it to example 600 and place a 600 watt bulb in there and it will start the bulb with out any problems. only lumitech ballasts do this don't try with others will explode the bulbs !
 
highROE

highROE

New Member
kinddiesel said:
there is one nice thing about lumitech ballasts. you can buy a 1000 watt . and click it to example 600 and place a 600 watt bulb in there and it will start the bulb with out any problems. only lumitech ballasts do this don't try with others will explode the bulbs !
Click to expand...
Lumies are the only digitals I've ever used...Ignorance is bliss:hump:
 
GanjaGrin

GanjaGrin

Active Member
If you dim a 1000w hps or mh light to 600w you will loose about half the bulbs power due to spectrum loss. Not including the 400w difference that you are loosing. Basically turning your 1000w light into a 400w light. It should save you the 400w on electric but it will be like running a 600w bulb at about %60. If you want to dim your grow light get an LED setup. Also, digital ballasts will save you about %10 on power just because more electricity is lost in magnetic ballasts due to heat.
 
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