Apollo 600W dimmable system confusion

Just got my new 600W Apollo system, can not figure out how to use dimmable feature correctly, there is NOTHING on it in 1 page "manual" pamphlet, the only "instruction" that came with it.

Also I've red different opinions, some say you can use 600W original bulb and dim it down, some say you need to use "proper" wattage bulb (but there is no 450W or 300W bulbs. 75% of 600W is 450W and 50% of 600 is 300W.

Then another question, if using original 600W bulb is proper for dimming do I dim it down "on the fly" or first set the dimming knob and then power on the ballast?

I AM FUCKEN TOTALLY CONFUSED ! ! ! !

Dont want to blow up the bulb or fuck up the ballast potentially voiding 3 years warranty.

I got the same cheapo ballast/bulb....
2 things: that bulb is cheap!! still I'd use it for 2-3 mo's, WTF right...just saying be prepared to buy a mid-grade solarmax or plantmax or whatever the hell real quick eventually anyway.... perhaps if you get a competent opinion here try the damn thing (but have a backup 1st)...

2nd: its a cheapo unit, I had no big expectations; . I'm heading to a hydroshop and I'll ask then if I can remember post back here (I also have a old 400W bulb I might try and see how the dim feature works) ...

isn't there a knob on the front (you got that purple ballast like mine, no?)

Buzerek said:

Just got my new 600W Apollo system, can not figure out how to use dimmable feature correctly, there is NOTHING on it in 1 page "manual" pamphlet, the only "instruction" that came with it.

Also I've red different opinions, some say you can use 600W original bulb and dim it down, some say you need to use "proper" wattage bulb (but there is no 450W or 300W bulbs. 75% of 600W is 450W and 50% of 600 is 300W.

Then another question, if using original 600W bulb is proper for dimming do I dim it down "on the fly" or first set the dimming knob and then power on the ballast?

I AM FUCKEN TOTALLY CONFUSED ! ! ! !

Dont want to blow up the bulb or fuck up the ballast potentially voiding 3 years warranty.

Click to expand...

I recently purchased this system. It is my understanding you should ONLY use 600W bulbs, regardless of what dimming setting you use.

In regard to WHEN to adjust the setting, I'm not exactly sure, either. To be safe, you could power off the ballast for 10 minutes, switch the setting and then power it back on.

I would assume it's safe to adjust the dimming setting while the ballast is on, however.

JohnnySocko said:

I got the same cheapo ballast/bulb....
2 things: that bulb is cheap!! still I'd use it for 2-3 mo's, WTF right...just saying be prepared to buy a mid-grade solarmax or plantmax or whatever the hell real quick eventually anyway.... perhaps if you get a competent opinion here try the damn thing (but have a backup 1st)...

2nd: its a cheapo unit, I had no big expectations; . I'm heading to a hydroshop and I'll ask then if I can remember post back here (I also have a old 400W bulb I might try and see how the dim feature works) ...

isn't there a knob on the front (you got that purple ballast like mine, no?)

Click to expand...

Bulb is definitely cheap! My HPS bulb crapped out after turning the ballast off/on. ::sigh:: thankfully I had the bulb replaced free of charge do I don' treally care

Also, they're $20 on eBay.

I run an Apollo 600 and a Thunder 600. Both are adjustable. I change the settings on mine while they are on with zero issues. I turn them down daily when I go in there to check stuff out since the bulbs are in the way and we all know you cant see shit after looking at one.

Do not use a lower wattage bulb!!!! Dimming it will not hurt the bulb.

^^^ x2

im on my 2nd harvest with the Apollo 600w systems. have them in both flower and veg tents. never any issues. I turn down my veg tent to 50% the last 2 weeks of my flower room cycle so my veg girls will slow down the growth and not hit the roof when flipping and the stretch happens. I do change my bulbs in both tents after every 2nd harvest.

I've used\use a dimmable ballasts, including a 600 watt (Lumateks). You can (or should) be able to run a 600 watt bulb at any of the wattage settings, or in other words yes you can use the highest wattage bulb the ballast is rated for.

You can also use other wattage bulbs at OR AROUND the setting on the knob. My 600 watt Lumatek specifically has Super Lumens (110%), 600 watts, 400 watts, and 300 watts. You can run a 400 watt bulb on either 400 or 300 watts, and you shouldn't incur any issues. Similarly you might even be able to ignite a 250 watt bulb on the 300 watt setting, but this could potentially be risky.

As a rule you shouldn't try to ignite a bulb on a higher setting than it was intended for, although you can push it a little bit just as you can run the 600 watt bulb at 660 watts. Doing so and perhaps even dimming the bulb may shorten the life of the bulb slightly. From personal experience I can say that once I accidentally ignited a 400 watt bulb on the 600 watt setting. The bulb did not blow up or anything, but I put it back down as soon as I realized.

I do believe, however, that ideally you are supposed to run whichever bulb is closet to the wattage setting you want to use. Otherwise you might risk shortening the life of the bulb.

Thanks guys for sharing your experiences with 600W dimmable ballasts and bulbs.
I did not expect to buy product like this which came with 0 instructions or user manual.

The only thing they "warn" about is to wait 10 min when switching input voltage 120/240.

Not a word about dimming, or matching bulbs.

Fricken PATHETIC. For the record before I bought this product I did ask a few sellers same question I posted starting this thread, never got clear answer, some admitted they do not know.

So I bought it anyway assuming that there will be some info coming with it.

I don't remember if my Apollo came with instructions about the switch use or not. I will take a look and if so I will scan it and post a picture.

ButchyBoy said:

I don't remember if my Apollo came with instructions about the switch use or not. I will take a look and if so I will scan it and post a picture.

Click to expand...

Thanks!

I'd surely appreciate that.

If you are really interested in a correct answer why don't you pick up the phone and call them? I've called a couple times and got to speak with someone immediately.

http://www.apollohorticulture.com/contact-us.html

I would give them a call. The paperwork that came with mine is very vague about operation.

ButchyBoy said:

I would give them a call. The paperwork that came with mine is very vague about operation.

Click to expand...

I just dim 600W bulb (lights) up and down and it seems to be the way to go. I noticed there is very little difference in light intensity when you dim it down ( as far as my human eye perception goes).

I do not have a decent light meter to check it, but I have watt meter coming so I am going to measure the wattage draw at 100% 75% and 50% .

So far the system works, no problems.

I installed a few light meter apps for android that I am going to try. Who knows how accurate they are but they should give some kind of idea about the setting differences. The Apollo has a definite visible change when you turn the knob. The Thunder ballast that I have ramps the change. In other words the change is slow and smooth as though you turned a dimmer control instead of a switch. The super Lumin setting on the thunder appears to be the same brightness as the 100% setting on the Apollo. I am going to hold my phone/light meter a set distance from both and see what it tells me.

Ok, I held my phone/light meter 16 inches from each light. Here are the highest out of three tries for each light and setting.


Apollo................................. 100%= 27,790 75%= 18,942 50%= 13,304 Lux
Thunder. Super Lumin= 25,726 100%= 22,746 75%= 16,888 50%= 9,773 Lux


The Apollo seems to be the better set up between the two but the numbers were all over the place all three times I tested.