Does anybody on here still run mag ballasts for their lights? If so why?
Was talking to a friend at a Hydro store and he says they haven’t sold a mag ballast in at least a decade probably longer and isn’t aware of any of his customers still using them. Made me curious to see if anybody else still uses them.
Been building my own out of industrial quality Phillips and sylvania components since I started and other than a few ignitors giving it up and replacing some caps I’ve never had issues. The mag ballasts and mechanical intermatic timers just keep working day after day year after year.
I understand they’re not as efficient but the simplicity, serviceability and reliability make up for it for me. It’s also nice knowing I don’t have to deal with rf problems.
I did until 2 weeks ago. I liked the reliability and simplicity and being able to swap out a bad part same day. HTG by me still sells mag ballasts but they’re getting harder and harder to find and aren’t even that cheap anymore. I keep having to replace shit too. Last ballast capacitor shit out after 2 years, I keep somehow getting shitty quality bulbs, and now my AC hood was shocking me lol.
New 630 was only twice as much as a new hood. CMH gets cheaper all the time. If you got mag ballasts, use 'em but the more shit I replace the better the newer tech is looking. Cheaper power bill, better spectrum, fewer bulb swaps, and easier to cool in summer.
Now I’m entirely under CMH. Love it so far. Does make things a bit leafier than HPS though, but I like hash so…so be it.
I have two 600 watt magnetic hps/mh that have been running continuously with cycles for 9 years now … never had any problems with them. The local grow shop near me,(gone now) made them and sold them. They work brilliantly. But, when I have more space I’ll be whipping out two more 1000 watt dimmable solistek digital ballasts and plugging the hoods into those.
I have a 400hps and a1000hps. Both were bought in the late 90’s and still work fine. I just switched to LED a little while ago but will keep these around for backups.
I have my original 1000w that’s been rebuilt once… it’s my backup these days.
Now I have a digital 400, 600 and 1000 that all rotate in and out of use as needed.
I have another 1000w that needs a cap… one day I’ll fix it for backup-backup or for when a friend decides to get into growing. That’s what happened to my very first light, a 400w mag ballast setup with open hood. Homie still uses it to veg. It’s on original parts after 10+ years! I told him I want it back when he pulls it from service.
