Galaxy 600 watt vs. Galaxy 400/600 select-a-watt digital ballast

Looking to purchase a couple 600 watt ballasts and was wondering if anyone has any info on the regular 600 watt Galaxy vs. the select-a-watt. The suggested retail price is the same for both but you can get the regular one for about $50 less at various places online. My local hydro shop tells me they are the same besides the select a watt feature, yet they only carry the regular one now. I have used the select-a-watt and have been happy with them. But a $50 savings means more to me than the ability to run them at 400 watts. Any info or experience using them would be appreciated.

I have a Quantum 600w that can be dimmed. I like the fact that I can lower the energy for vegging plants. It may be useful for hot days to lower the amount of heat.
Only benefits i see to it. I do think you have to buy bulbs that are made for digital ballast though.

If you don't plan on using the dimmer, don't buy it.
I like the dimming on mine.

get dimmables, man.

Quantum makes a 600w dimmable, from 50/75/100% power use.
Hydrofarm Phantom 600w is dimmable from 60/75/100%.

Get one of those!

Long Dogg said:

I have a Quantum 600w that can be dimmed. I like the fact that I can lower the energy for vegging plants. It may be useful for hot days to lower the amount of heat.
Only benefits i see to it. I do think you have to buy bulbs that are made for digital ballast though.

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my buddy runs the 600w quantums with CAP maxlume and ushio hps bulbs and hasnt had any fail yet.
I run my phantom with a standard hortilux hps and havent had problems yet.

I use Digilux HPS. Works good, I am suspicious of the huge price drop. They went from 100 to 69.99 ,even the 1000's cost 69.99.
Makes me wonder if something is wrong with them.

Long Dogg said:

I use Digilux HPS. Works good, I am suspicious of the huge price drop. They went from 100 to 69.99 ,even the 1000's cost 69.99.
Makes me wonder if something is wrong with them.

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The manufacturer (CAP) didn't change the prices. Not in the last year, at least. Was $100 the instore price? Online shops sell em cheap. I've seen them in the 60's for over a year now. They work fine, so long as they don't fail...

Galaxy is a damn good brand. The reason I would tell you to get the 400/600 ballast is for vegging with the 400 MH and flowering with a 600 HPS while using only one ballast for both.

You say you want to save $50 but what if you need a 400 watter for vegging in the future? Spend now........save later.

I'm pissed that they didn't have these a few years ago when I bought my stuff. Now I have all these different digital ballasts hanging around that I don't use.

Oh really, the hydro shop online I usually use recently made the adjustment. Its a good value then. The 600's is the way to go when price is considered, 400's cost about the same, and 1000's are approximately double. I still want to get the space and equipment to flower with 1000's.

Good Luck guys.

I was just wondering if their is any difference between the regular Galaxy and the select-a-watt Galaxy besides the ability to run at 400/or 600. I have two of the select-watts running Ushio bulbs and have been happy with them so far. It just seems strange to me that they both have the same suggested retail price yet you can buy the regular for about 30% less. You would think they would just offer the select-a-watt a do away with the regular.

there is no difference. pick the one that works for you and your pocket.

anyone with thoughts on how many bloom cycles to use the digilux bulbs before its time to get a new one

There will always be a price difference, the dimmable galaxy ballasts are based on a newer design. The non-dimmable are the old design and you will potentially run into some of the issues that plagued earlier digital ballasts. All Galaxy ballasts that have the select-a-watt feature are based on the newer design and will more than likely provide a more trouble-free experience.

hydranthead said:

the dimmable galaxy ballasts are based on a newer design. The non-dimmable are the old design and you will potentially run into some of the issues that plagued earlier digital ballasts. All Galaxy ballasts that have the select-a-watt feature are based on the newer design and will more than likely provide a more trouble-free experience.

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This is the info I was looking for. Where did you hear this from? I talked to a Sunlightsupply rep who happened to be at the hydro store last week and he told me they are "pretty much the same". But just because he is a rep doesn't necessarily mean he knows what he is talking about.

Long Dogg said:

there is no difference. pick the one that works for you and your pocket.

anyone with thoughts on how many bloom cycles to use the digilux bulbs before its time to get a new one

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Long Dogg,

Here is an article on lumen depreciation for CAP bulbs.
http://rasahydroponics.wordpress.com/category/hid-grow-bulbs/
This is a new website being built by the guys from ezhydro. it's not ready yet, but they do have some interesting stuff up there already.

Thanks for the article. I would now figure 3-4 crops.
It made me want to get a 1000w more than ever.

But on a side note, Holly shit I just saw what you are doing with your vertigrow. Im gonna check it out