Your 600W Ballasts

Maine HomeGrown · Feb 1, 2017

Hello RIU!

Bare with me. I know, I know, lots of information out there and before you criticize me just be aware I want an updated opion based thread for 600w ballasts with YOUR EXPERIENCES and testimonies to the 600w ballasts you use. I have done my research. I have my own and although I am always in the market for new gear, I always like to hear from you all and what you use. I will admit, this was a friendly yet heated debate between a friend of mine and myself about our top 3 RIGHT NOW and although I only use 600's in my mother tents (he uses only 600's), I am merely looking to hear your experiences and if possible, gain knowledge since that is why we are all here. Please remember, I am asking for opinions on 600w ballasts, NON-Double ended, to be used with standard MH/HPS. I myself have used everything from crappy revolt dimmables to my current Phantom II's. I do love my Phantom II's that are occupying my two mother tents at the moment. Lumatek, Solistek, Quantum (haha), you name it. What do you use?

Maine HomeGrown · Feb 1, 2017

I do now see a dedicated 600 thread. Guessing I will find and chime in on that thread what I was attempting here. Sorry all! Feel free to chime in on here though. My mistake! Wish I could delete threads sometimes.

RonBurgundysMustache · Feb 1, 2017

I'm actually very interested in whether or not people have advice on a 600w ballast for the same type of setup. Having trouble choosing a nice 600w ballast. Money isn't an issue as long as it is compatible with my Eye Hortilux lamps (mh/hps) and blockbuster hoods.

MediheaLed · Feb 1, 2017

My experience with 600 hps was lots of heat, always replacing bulbs, orange light. Lumatek digi. Grows well, if you can control the heat. Expensive to run too.( varies by region).

IhateLockDoors · Feb 1, 2017

I live in ca and summer time gets really brutal, I've constantly run a 10000btu Ac unit. To compensate for all that heat but I got 3 1000w hps I'm sure 600w shouldn't be that big of a deal for you

RonBurgundysMustache · Feb 1, 2017

MediheaLed said:
My experience with 600 hps was lots of heat, always replacing bulbs, orange light. Lumatek digi. Grows well, if you can control the heat. Expensive to run too.( varies by region).

If Maine Homegrown is from where I think he is from, then we are both from Maine and heat is almost never an issue depending on his setup. I have a 8x4x7 tent and the plan is to use those blockbuster hoods along with the Hortilux lamps. I personally have never had an issue with heat with my dual 600's but I am also using a 8" hyper fan with insulted ducting for my exhaust along with a 6" hyper fan for my intake. I'll look into Lumatek Digi's. Thank you sir.

IhateLockDoors · Feb 1, 2017

Ya, over here in ca temp could reach over 110*f, its usually around July and aug and stays like that for a month or two

upnsmoke13 · Feb 2, 2017

Gavita 600e. Silent, dimmable, self-protection - only 600 I've used (no pro). Passes my test but nothing to compare cept a 400 Igrow magnetic!

RonBurgundysMustache · Feb 2, 2017

upnsmoke13 said:
Gavita 600e. Silent, dimmable, self-protection - only 600 I've used (no pro). Passes my test but nothing to compare cept a 400 Igrow magnetic!

I was under the impression the Gavitas were too much for a tent at 7' tall? At least that's what I heard. I was sold on gavitas until I was told I needed higher ceilings but I'm guessing those are the double ended (DE) and that the (SE) are single ended allowing for use in a smaller mother tent or a tent of my size (8x4x7)? Another thing I hear constantly, and it may just be Gavita haters or HPS "fanboys", if you will, is that Gavitas will need a supplemental light such as a combination of the gavita with an HPS to finish. Anyone have any word on that? I know I've seen nice grows all the way through with Gavitas but still skeptical.

upnsmoke13 · Feb 2, 2017

OP do your research.
No "fanboy" here - my Gavita is a result of research and they have no trouble finishing a grow because it IS hps!

Flagg420 · Feb 3, 2017

I run a pair of 600w ipower digital dimmables, and have done so for....10+ yrs now I guess.... I have had 2 failures, both barely within warranty time...

(I now keep a 16in fan on ALL my ballasts, and use an air compressor to dust out the fans monthly on the digi's)

I love them, I stand by them. Cheap, but reliable.

Flagg420 · Feb 3, 2017

upnsmoke13 said:
OP do your research.
No "fanboy" here - my Gavita is a result of research and they have no trouble finishing a grow because it IS hps!

If I ever do move up from my HPS system, it will be for a Gavita or RevolutionMicro light.... I wanna go DE.

upnsmoke13 · Feb 3, 2017

I'm running a single end bulb - no space for DE. They may all do it but I know gavitas protect themselves from high/low voltage, bad bulbs,etc. I don't worry about my ballast giving up, so......

Ognatious · Feb 3, 2017

My current Quantum(haha) is going on year 5 without a hiccup. I get 10000+ hours out of my MH veg bulbs and about the same with my HPS. My MH bulbs start as flower finishers.

Mainely Medicinal™ · Apr 14, 2017

Maine HomeGrown said:
Hello RIU!

Bare with me. I know, I know, lots of information out there and before you criticize me just be aware I want an updated opion based thread for 600w ballasts with YOUR EXPERIENCES and testimonies to the 600w ballasts you use. I have done my research. I have my own and although I am always in the market for new gear, I always like to hear from you all and what you use. I will admit, this was a friendly yet heated debate between a friend of mine and myself about our top 3 RIGHT NOW and although I only use 600's in my mother tents (he uses only 600's), I am merely looking to hear your experiences and if possible, gain knowledge since that is why we are all here. Please remember, I am asking for opinions on 600w ballasts, NON-Double ended, to be used with standard MH/HPS. I myself have used everything from crappy revolt dimmables to my current Phantom II's. I do love my Phantom II's that are occupying my two mother tents at the moment. Lumatek, Solistek, Quantum (haha), you name it. What do you use?

I used and still do use the Hortilux Eye Gold 600w ballasts for my smaller personal grows. With the exception of not having a dimmer, I love them. One other thing, the bastards get hot. Real hot. To the point that it'll burn your hand, or at least feels it will. Aside from that, I have run them for a few years steady with no mechanical issues or to my surprise...overheating of any kind. I'm assuming I'm late to your question but they worked out well for me and thought I'd give my experiences with them.

MichiganMedGrower · Apr 14, 2017

I have been running 2 galaxy select a watt dimmable ballasts for 3 years every day. One is the old brick shaped fan driven 400/600/1000w and the other is the newer 600/400 "grow amp"

They are compatible with my blockbuster hoods. Hydro farm uses its own different non standard ballast plug and cord.

And I have not blown any Hortilux bulbs. They have all been fine for the 9 months I run them before degradation.

rkymtnman · Apr 14, 2017

MichiganMedGrower said:
They have all been fine for the 9 months I run them before degradation.

hey MMG, been liking my blue MH so far. can't tell much difference (yet) between the LEC plants and the MH plants.

how many hours do you plan on running yours before you toss them? do you check with a lumen meter? MH are usually much quicker to degrade compared to HPS or LEC

MichiganMedGrower · Apr 14, 2017

rkymtnman said:
hey MMG, been liking my blue MH so far. can't tell much difference (yet) between the LEC plants and the MH plants.

how many hours do you plan on running yours before you toss them? do you check with a lumen meter? MH are usually much quicker to degrade compared to HPS or LEC

I follow Hortilux recommendation. 9 months for hps. 6 for mh. But if used for 12/12 they go longer. Hortilux expects the blue to run 18 hrs per day.

I am sorry to say that my yield and density has suffered. At least 20% yield and way fluffier leaguer buds.

Going back to 2 Super hps and 1 415 cmh next to confirm.

The 315 if staying under 3x3 with plenty of air flow competes much better for flowering in my opinion.

The blue is a fantastic veg lamp in my opinion but I have too much blue in my flower room with it and the other bulbs.

Jaybodankly · Apr 14, 2017

I run a 1000W Solis-tek ballast on a Y-splitter to 2-600W bulbs. The ballast is on boost mode @ 1100W. Seems pretty efficient.

rkymtnman · Apr 14, 2017

MichiganMedGrower said:
I am sorry to say that my yield and density has suffered. At least 20% yield and way fluffier leaguer buds.

oh shit! mayday mayday!!! luckily i just ordered some stuff to build my first 3 COB light. about 300 w total. might have to replace that MH before I get too deep into flower. I'm only week 3 right now.

thanks for letting me know that! might be my new veg light instead.

Your 600W Ballasts

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