Hey guys, i am in the market to switch over to CAP's NextGen Digital Ballasts for this indoor grow im starting, and for all the future grows. I use 2 1kw magnet Sun Systems right now, and im wanting to switch to 3 1kw Digital NextGen ballasts. Their are a bit expensive, but with their next to no noise, heat, and less electric use i hear its worth every penny. Problem is, ive been reading, and i have had a couple friends say that when using high end bulbs like hortalux and things of that nature, the ballasts have a firing issue? Ive done some research and saw that the ballasts fire at a higher voltage then is required by the higher end bulbs, which is what i use. So my question is to anyone that HAS USED THEM PERSONALLY, do these ballasts fire every time without a problem using high end bulbs, or any bulb for that matter? Also, my final, and probably most important question, are these ballasts definitely compatible with Sun System's sockets? I know the ballast has a super wide range of plugs its usable with, i just want to make sure my current air cooled setup is going to be ok so i dont have to swap out the sun system sockets. Also any other tips, advice, things youd like to point out with the ballast before i spend $350 on each of them would be great. Im looking forward to testing these out on my grow and showing you guys yet another journal for the winter time.
Escape those questions and get a phantom there's absolutely no noise and if heat is that big of an issue that ur worried about the little heat a ballast puts off then u should get another fan I have a buddy that uses a nexgen and hates it and I know that the hydro store I live by doesn't even sell them over there sun systems I've never used them but that's the extent of my experience with them by the way phantoms stay somewhat cool
Heat isnt an issue of mine, i already have them cooled by an 800 cfm inline with a scrubber. I simply want to switch to greater technology, digital ballasts are a big leap forward from coil or magnetic ballasts, in the fact they produce 30 percent more light (suposidly) and the cost of the light produced is far less then other traditional core and coil ballasts. The heat, and no noise factor of things is just an added bonus. I havent been hearing anything but awesome reviews about these ballasts in high times mags, forums and from friends that actually have them, i just wanted to post this and hopefully get some input from some people that actually use them since i was reading things like the firing issue back when these things first came out in 08, its been 2 years now so i was just seeing if anyone might know if the issues have been fixed by now or not.
yo i have the nextgen. ive had it for about 6months now. and i have had no problems i love it. its quiet has no heat issues and fires up every time with no probs. as far as different bulbs im not sure ive only ran the sunmaster super hps in it so far. oh yeah and your plugs will work fine it accepts all plugs
I concur with Feva, the Next Gen works perfectly well. Runs cool, quiet and is very light in weight. Luv it!
Thanks for the input guys. I ordered them about 3 days ago, they should be here on monday, im real excited to get them hooked up and checked out. Anything that uses less electric to produce more light is something that needs to be checked out by everyone lol. They sure are pricey, but really the ballast makes up for that money spent after a few months of saving that extra money on the electric especially on larger grows. Have any of you guys checked out the special digital bulbs made for digital ballasts? C.A.P the maker of the ballasts makes "digilux" bulbs now, supposed to have about 40,000 more lumens more then the hortilux series and also a better spectrum on the hps and mh bulbs. I just ordered a mh and hps but at $110 plus shipping a piece its a bit of a setback, hopefully the buds will speak for the money spent on the bulbs. Its no use spending good money on genetics when you arnt going to use the proper equipment to grow those buds.
I do not know for sure as I do not use them, but have read that almost ALL of the fan cooled ballast, nextgen was first mentioned on this list, have problems with burning up, and having short life spans, as far as the ballast it self goes, again, heard it, not experienced it, just wanted you to be aware, trying to save you some trouble, I have an electronic Lumatek, and I love it, silent, cold running, and dimmable, runs on volts ranging from 90v to 260v.