Life span of HID/MH ballasts and relectors?

[Paracelsus]

What is the life span of Digital ballasts? Does its efficiency degrade over time? I know you have to replace the bulbs but what about the fixtures?
I've got a chance to buy several from someone who has upgraded to CMH. What say you?

[UrbZ]

Magnetic ballasts are used 2 to 3 years then replaced. Digital ballasts work 100% as long as its running.

[UrbZ]

https://www.growell.co.uk/blog/2014/08/digital-ballasts-vs-magnetic-ballasts/

[Paracelsus]

GWE is great , middle of the night got my answer in 4 minutes, thanks UrbZ
This was good read but a lot of it is obsolete. still learned alot

http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/nlpip/lightingAnswers/mwmhl/ballastTypes.asp

[UrbZ]

I totally forgot how far into the page the part about ballast life was. It was an old saved link I had. lol my bad.

[Paracelsus]

I didn't notice Urbz its all good, got what I need

[oldjarhead100]

Para I had a digital Ballast last for 3 years so they do go bad

[Paracelsus]

Thanks @OldJarHead, did it just stop working or did it blow up? IE spark sputter blow bulb?

[oldjarhead100]

just quit have no idea what happened to it I was going to take it apart and see if I could fix it, but its out of sight so its off my mind lol

[Paracelsus]

I think it's worth the risk since it will get me started faster. I've read up on them and they are supposed to be good at regulating the A/C current out of the wall and delivering the correct amount of juice. I'd like to have a broken one I could take apart, I love to tinker! That's why I'm going to do some LED kits as soon as I have the Doh Ray Mi to invest.

[KingKush]

Only had these running for 10 months and they are for Bloom so 12hrs or less a day. In hindsight I would get a digital ballast that doesn't have fans.
They work fine. Soft & random start feature, hot re-strike protection, less heat generated.
Oddly, my old magnetic ballast drives the MH bulb better: plants respond with faster growth. The digital ballasts don't drive the MH bulb as well resulting in slower growth in veg. At least in my setup.

[KingKush]

These pictures are taken 90 seconds apart of the exact same room. Look at how these high pressure sodiums warm up. At least on my Galaxy Grow Amps. I don't ever overdrive or underdrive, they are 1000w bulbs and the ballasts are set at 1000w always. Its
crazy how the spectrum starts off blue, I think it always did that from what I noticed.
But why one shuts off after warming up is cause for concern! They both turn on, start warming up, turn blue then yellow, then get really really bright! And presto, the one on the right always shuts off. Every morning for the last 4 months or so... lol
it glows faintly then returns to nothing, all the while the amp is happily humming away. After a few minutes it relights and then delights. I dunno... haven't switched cords around or anything to trouble shoot yet. Freaks me out when I'm in there waking the girls up trying to get photos in that narrow window.

These bulbs/ballasts combo sure squeals! Like the highest pitched upper eschelon of human hearing, wire scratching across glass, when your ears ring type of noise. It's incredibly uncomfortable. Mostly when warming up but also throughout the day its still there

[KingKush]

Genesis 1000w HPS bulbs off e bay
240v if that would make a difference
I thought $55ea wasn't a bad price when I got them a year ago. Things are changing quick, lots more options flooding the market.
"155,000 lumens!!!" Haha... but seriously

[Paracelsus]

The Genesis is a highly rated bulb