digital ballast info needed.

[hippystoner]

what is the difference between a digital ballast, and electronic ballast?...ive read digital are better than the traditional magnetic ballast...but wtf is a digital E ballast?...im confused..

basically i wanna know the best ballast for a 600W HPS..ty for replying

[WhyNotSmoke]

hey hippiestoner

I would definitely go for the electronic/digital ballast, it's more expensive, but it will definitely payoff to buy a digital ballat imo, here's some info from one of the manufacturers of digital ballast, lumatek:

Why choose an electronic ballast over a core-and-coil (magnetic) ballast?

• Fast start-up ...It reaches full brightness in under one minute; magnetic ballasts typically take about twenty minutes
• Completely silent ...you have to put your ear up to the ballast before you can detect the slightest sound
• Small compact design ...600watt ballast weighs less than 4.5 kilos compared to almost 20 kilos for magnetic ballasts.
• Produce less heat
• Cut-off circuitry ...Automatic cut off when a short is detected. For ultimate safety.
• Longer bulb life...Lumen output loss over time is dramatically less than with magnetic ballasts
• Fully interchangeable ...Lumatek ballasts can light both HPS and MH bulbs
• More lumen output...20%-30% more lumens output...More light equals more yield

source:http://www.lumatek.co.uk/Products.htm

So if you doubted what to get one would would think that this would seal the deal, if you don't mind spending the extra buck I would go for a electronic/digital ballast such as lumatek