Is brand name worth paying the exxtra cash?

Ive been looking for a new 600 watt HPS light with ballast and reflector hood. But damn there are so many choices to choose from.
Ive seen a 1000 watt HPS/MH switchable system for less than $300 (1000 Watt Sodium/Halide Switchable Daystar Reflector Grow Light System)
And Ive also seen the same system with a different brand name for about twice that amount.
So... is paying the extra cash worth the investment? or should I go with the cheapest one I can find?
So what do you have? Daystar? Sun System? Hydrofarm?

i go with the name brand for the warantees

2kstyle said:

i go with the name brand for the warantees

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Thanks 2kstyle for the input, Do you have HID lighting? If so what brand and where did you get it? Are you satisfied with it?

Anyone else feel free to chime in with your two cents...

I have the Sun System 2. Very happy. There is a thread somewhere where people actually measure the light coming off hoods and this hood was the winner. If money is an issue though, I would splurge on a light and go cheaper elsewhere. Everything we do is restricted my the amount of light we can get to the plants so it important we get the ladies the very most lumens we can.

I'm shopping for a ballast/reflector set too

I guess what I'm looking for is the brand of ballast that you like the most and why.

Bigrintxas said:

Thanks 2kstyle for the input, Do you have HID lighting? If so what brand and where did you get it? Are you satisfied with it?

Anyone else feel free to chime in with your two cents...

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I got the Sun System 2 and CMH 400W. Very satisfied. If I didn't care about the electric bill then I would've bought two.

check out my profile and look at my threads that I made. YOu can find my lowes cabinet. YOu can find all my equipment there. good luck!!!!!

I went with a generic one from my hydro shop here in town. They prolly put the shit together themselves. It's working out great for me. Went with a cheap winged hood also.

If you are only going to be doing one grow cycle at a time, I'd roll with a switchable ballast.

I was thinking of doing Auto-ak47s and/or diesel ryders for my next few grows, so switchables would be pretty great. I've been looking at digital lumatek because I know it is RF shielded, but does anyone know if the other big names (future-brite, galaxy, sunsystems, etc.) give off radio interference?

2kstyle - I've read that entire thread about CMH bulbs and still can't figure out if CMHs are good. Have you grown in the past with hps to compare? it would rock to get a straight answer about these bulbs.

It's about price as well as heat control, if you are able to vent well then the more lumens the better.

hightech garden supply great prices and customer service.

Sun System 5 Econo is pretty good. I have their 400W HPS, it came with a 2 yr warranty..which is now voided bcuz I modified my ballast so that its remote >

I buld my own ballasts with components from the industrial electric supply shop. I have couple of vented reflectors that I got in a deal from another grower. The only brand name stuff I buy is bulbs, 400 watt Phillips MH, 1000 watt SunmasterSuper Deluxe HPS. I still buy them at the same place thiugh, considerably cheaper if you are a licensed tradesman.I don't think the general public can go there though...

hey spittin can you tell me how you did that in some detail, it would be greatly appreciated.

Cool guys, thanx for the response. Exactly the info I was looking for.
I think I am going to spend a few extra bucks and get something nice. I want a reflector hood that is air-coolable and a good ballast also. I did some research and found out that some of the more expensive models have really nice features and have a 5 year warranty. Im definitely going to get a switchable HPS/MH ballast also. I was also thinking of getting an electric ballast instead of a magnetic one. I guess I just have to wait until pay day.

KAOSOWNER said:

hey spittin can you tell me how you did that in some detail, it would be greatly appreciated.

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sure , the 400W socket unscrews off of the ballast unit.

when u take that off U should have 2 wires connected to the back- a white one and a black one.

go radio shack and get some butt splices and 16 Gague wire and 'extend' the wire connection from the ballast to the bulb.

I got 7' to move my ballast, luckily I have a smaller grow area and dont need much space.

Ill post pics tomorrow when the lights come back on