Lumatek Digital Ballast

[Zero Hero]

Anyone using one of these? I am just about to start getting my gear as I'm getting my own place and they seem like a nice option. I'm looking at the 600W one. I figured it will be great for yeild and less heat and quiet!

What do you all think?

Also how do I get my ventilation system quiet? My ducting in Amsterdam was small but you could really hear it.


Cheers.

[justcurios]

Heard they have issues giving off dirty RF . It is said to affect appliances and possibly human physiololgy. It is said they have shielded cables, problem being people often change the cables unaware of the RF.Also read may of them have overheat problems. More research should be done. Peace GS this quote is from green supreme on the digital light ballast thread- be carefull

[Zero Hero]

RF, as in radio frequency? What is dirty about it?


Edit/ Did some research, looks like the Lumatek comes with 15 ft of shielded cord, I also looked up what shielded cords are and I bet I can find more cord if I have to, what about the plug itself, would that let some escape?

Also, is the balast letting of RF? From their site.

Test data has shown that a Lumatek 600 watt ballast produces within 5% of the usable light of a 1000watt core and coil ballast!

Why choose Lumatek over future bright, terra grow and ROM light electronic ballasts?

* Lumatek ballasts include a 15 foot RF shielded output cord that can be extended up to 30 feet. (Allowing positioning of ballasts in another room or at great distance from your space.). All other digital ballasts can only have a 10 foot lamp cord and most of them interfere with radio and satellite TV signals because they are not shielded.
* There are no fans to break down or make noise; fan cooled ballast's have a very high failure rate. Lumatek ballasts are very, very reliable. Which is why we offer the excellent warranty.
* Lumatek products - fast start upThe ballast can be mounted in areas of high heat. Up to 140° Farenheit.
* Every Lumatek ballast is burned for 12 hours at the factory
* Excellent three year, full exchange warranty
* Lumatek ballasts are 8% brighter than ROM and future ballasts
* No fans to break down after 1 or 2 years
* Safer - The Lumatek ballast is completely sealed from the inside



How much of this is BS? It looks like I'm sold but do they really overheat? The guy at the shop plugged on in for me and it was cool to touch however, I touched it pretty soon after he plugged it in.

Is anyone using a digi in this forum?

[c-ray]

15 feet is lots, any more and there is going to be losses, not sure why one might need to go longer than 15 feet but I know I could move the ballast closer to the light by plugging in an extension cord on the power side

[humble1]

certainly have some interference with TV/Radio near ballasts with future brights.
seen'em run for years without problems and so little heat you can run them inside grow areas w/minimal temp increase

[Bongojaz]

i've had a lumatek for a while now. i've had no probs. at all. the ballast does get warm but i always have a small fan blowing on my ballasts. this small fan can really help keep temps. down on ballasts....

[caddis]

Check out Galaxy ballasts, 5 year warrenty backed by one of the big names.

[The Cannarchist]

http://www.theonlineelectricalwholesaler.com/catalog/products.php?cpath=88_292

These come from the UK

About $200 delivered to the USA for the 600w and $160 for the 400w.

Bulb/mogul socket,cords and shade incl.......can't go bad.Not sure if they have shielding but they use kettle plugs for fittings so it would be easy to get hold of a shielded one.