Lumatek 600W Dimmable Ballast + 600W Metal Halide Bulb Im thinking of buying a 600w Dimable Ballast and using a 600w Metal Halide Bulb but using it at 400W so that the temps in my tent are not high. Is this safe and also is this a good idea? Is this a good way to lower the temps in my room? Thanks in advance
You should just get a galaxy select a watt ballast and run the 400 bulb in it. Dimming a bulb does not work as well as just running the 400 bulb. And dimming a bulb shortens its life. Galaxy select a watt are a nice ballast with a awesome warranty. About as much coin as a lumatek, but being able to use a 400, 600, and 1000 watt bulb mh or hps on one ballast is a beautiful thing. No I don't work for them either. Just over the 20 years I've been growing I have found the actual selecting a wattage versus dimming a big bulb is a very nice option. Imagine in winter when you not so wrtied about heat and can throw a 1000 watt bulb in the same ballast you used all summer to help deal with the heat. Dimmable sucks. Sent from my Nexus 4 using Grasscity Forum mobile app
I got a 600w ballast and I have to run it dimmed at 75% because of the heat it outputs for my tent. What I read that dimmed bulb do not give full spectrum, and might shorten the bulb life. If you are worried about temps get lower wattage bulb.
I'd go the route of getting a 1000 watt and a bigger/better exhaust system. If not an option I'd agree with above get a select a watt as opposed to dimmable
Thanks for your replies guys. My two biggest issues are noise and temperature. My exhaust fan makes a lot of noise and thats an issue for me thats why I thought that buying the 600w dimmable ballast would be cool because I could run it on 400w and then use a fan speed controller to quieten my exhaust fan. Then when im in the late stages of flowering I'd boost it up 600wSL and put the filter on high so that the risk is minimized. I'm using a seperate bulb for vegging and a seperate bulb for flowering both will be 600w bulbs. What do you guys think??
I stand by my post. Select a watt, no dimmable. Dimmed light is horrible and does not produce good spectrum.. Sent from my Nexus 4 using Grasscity Forum mobile app
If you choose to get fan controller, I recommend getting a Variac Variable Transformer, cause the other fan controllers (Speedster) chop the AC current wave causing the fan to make a humming sound. I use this one http://www.amazon.com/Variac-Variable-Transformer-300va-Output/dp/B006NGI8VS I run my 6'' 440CFM fan down to 40volts during lights off and I can't hear the fan anymore.