The Bid 2.0 Grow -400W HPS - Blue Planet -Hempy-Coco-WW-Diamond Girl-Multiple Purples

[Propa Gator]

Re: The Bid 2.0 Grow -400W HPS - Blue Planet -Hempy-Coco-WW-Diamond Girl-Multiple Pur

"the ballast is designed to take the hit rather than the breaker being tripped,
this is to protect the growers other items that may be on the same circuit"

I'll be needing a lot better explanation than that. 'I dunno' would be better.

What "other items" might be on the same circuit, worth such total sacrifice?
Maybe the power supply to a grower's blood pump? Gotta be

 

[DigitalGrow]

Re: The Bid 2.0 Grow -400W HPS - Blue Planet -Hempy-Coco-WW-Diamond Girl-Multiple Pur

"the ballast is designed to take the hit rather than the breaker being tripped,
this is to protect the growers other items that may be on the same circuit"

I'll be needing a lot better explanation than that. 'I dunno' would be better.

What "other items" might be on the same circuit, worth such total sacrifice?
Maybe the power supply to a grower's blood pump? Gotta be

Don't want to thread jack and go off topic, but I feel the need to explain this good question.. Do want to apologize in advance bigirishdoode and hope you already got the New replacement

Our ballast is design to take abuse from improper wiring, broken/low amp/breaker, weak wiring etc that could cause a mayhem. (The ballast will act as the core of the setup and shut down).

Our ballast was originally design for the Euro market, with this in mind the ballast have to be GE certified, in which is one of the toughest certification to get. To make it simple, any chance of external problems the ballast need to automatically shutoff or else there is no chance of getting it certified. The ballast does have a internal relay type system, but it have to be taken apart to change it (99% of the time this is the cause of the problem), not something we recommend the customer to DIY.

Pros: Ballast take all the abuse to prevent mayhem, we reduce the possibility to less than 1%. Fully effective and the highest output ballast on the market.

Cons: Dead ballast more often at 120V from the mention above. However, when re-wire to 240V is less than 1% issues. We had seen couple of cases already with 120V wiring setup, ZERO with 240V.

Now, there are lots of ballast on the market that does not need much amperage as our ballast, and here are the 2 main reasons.

1) Most of them are under power, over rated wattage, actual output is much less.

2) Some soft start programming doesn't bring the ballast to full operation wattage, does draw a lower amp.

Our company's priority is to make a SAFE product that will last! We guarantee our product once install properly you can sleep tight at night, and do exactly what it design to do!

If anyone have any questions or wants a better understanding please feel free to e-mail us, I don't want to turn this thread in to a question/answer thread.

 

[jandre2k3]

Re: The Bid 2.0 Grow -400W HPS - Blue Planet -Hempy-Coco-WW-Diamond Girl-Multiple Pur

so if it was designed to take the abuse, why did it blow? Was this one wired for 120v?

 

[DigitalGrow]

Re: The Bid 2.0 Grow -400W HPS - Blue Planet -Hempy-Coco-WW-Diamond Girl-Multiple Pur

so if it was designed to take the abuse, why did it blow? Was this one wired for 120v?

Sorry for not being clear, I hope this will clear a bit more: When the processor chip build in the ballast sense something is off (input/output) current/wattage, the ballast will shut itself off.

Yes, according to bigirishdoode, his setup is wire at 120V. I can't give too many details on his setup due to privacy issues but the likely hood of the problem arrest at the allowable amperage.

We will diagnosed the problem once we get it back and give him a solid answer, we have all the proper equipment here in our facility.

If anyone have any questions or wants a better understanding please feel free to e-mail us, I don't want to turn this thread in to a question/answer thread.

 

[dragontoker]

Re: The Bid 2.0 Grow -400W HPS - Blue Planet -Hempy-Coco-WW-Diamond Girl-Multiple Pur

FWIW, breakers are designed to protect the circuit, which is your wires, not your equipment. Upping the amperage of your breakers without upping your wire size is a big no-no. Its a fire waiting to happen. If breakers are tripping you have two options, change the wire size and match it with the correct breaker size or change the breaker with the exact same size because breakers get weak over time, especially if they keep tripping from being overloaded.

 

[DigitalGrow]

Re: The Bid 2.0 Grow -400W HPS - Blue Planet -Hempy-Coco-WW-Diamond Girl-Multiple Pur

FWIW, breakers are designed to protect the circuit, which is your wires, not your equipment. Upping the amperage of your breakers without upping your wire size is a big no-no. Its a fire waiting to happen. If breakers are tripping you have two options, change the wire size and match it with the correct breaker size or change the breaker with the exact same size because breakers get weak over time, especially if they keep tripping from being overloaded.

This is correct, overloading the wire is not a good thing. So please double check if any of your outlets is cross wired with another equipment (In this case you have already ID that is the portable heater) once you unplug that everything should be fine

 

[Propa Gator]

Re: The Bid 2.0 Grow -400W HPS - Blue Planet -Hempy-Coco-WW-Diamond Girl-Multiple Pur

DigitalGrow, though some concerns addressed, several remain. I'm not a power engineer, and don't understand all possible mayhem. Fire I fear, and I do believe your ballasts won't harm me. Compromised grow due to ballast failure remains a concern, as constant monitoring is not possible.
I anticipate your report after you've examined your hardware.

I would like to read the GE certification protocol, and I'll seek it.

 

[DigitalGrow]

Re: The Bid 2.0 Grow -400W HPS - Blue Planet -Hempy-Coco-WW-Diamond Girl-Multiple Pur

DigitalGrow, though some concerns addressed, several remain. I'm not a power engineer, and don't understand all possible mayhem. Fire I fear, and I do believe your ballasts won't harm me. Compromised grow due to ballast failure remains a concern, as constant monitoring is not possible.
I anticipate your report after you've examined your hardware.

I would like to read the GE certification protocol, and I'll seek it.

Send you a P.M let me know if you have any additional questions/and unaddressed concern, I'll do my best to answer them all
P.S I don't believe they publish the guideline online

 

[BigIrishDoode]

Re: The Bid 2.0 Grow -400W HPS - Blue Planet -Hempy-Coco-WW-Diamond Girl-Multiple Pur

new ballast is in working like a charm, im wondering if its best to avoid the 110% setting, i made a diagram and spiffy and i mapped out the outlets and breakers , i set all timers and such to be off when the ballast fires, and minimal extras to boot, now the ballast has a breaker all to itself, there should be no more issues

 

[Aaron Quix]

Re: The Bid 2.0 Grow -400W HPS - Blue Planet -Hempy-Coco-WW-Diamond Girl-Multiple Pur

new ballast is in working like a charm, im wondering if its best to avoid the 110% setting, i made a diagram and spiffy and i mapped out the outlets and breakers , i set all timers and such to be off when the ballast fires, and minimal extras to boot, now the ballast has a breaker all to itself, there should be no more issues

The 110% setting is supposed to be one of the big selling points, I'd want to use it if I had it. You shouldn't have to avoid using something you pay for...JMHO

 

[Truth Seeker]

Re: The Bid 2.0 Grow -400W HPS - Blue Planet -Hempy-Coco-WW-Diamond Girl-Multiple Pur

The 110% setting is supposed to be one of the big selling points, I'd want to use it if I had it. You shouldn't have to avoid using something you pay for...JMHO

Well said.

I am looking forward to DigitalGrow's analysis on the issue. For I have the same fear as Propa Gator. I am not near the grow site all the time, and I would not like to be having to worry about a fire starting...

 

[jandre2k3]

Re: The Bid 2.0 Grow -400W HPS - Blue Planet -Hempy-Coco-WW-Diamond Girl-Multiple Pur

Oh the joys of product testing, huh?

At least the sponsor is in the thread helping to figure out what is wrong. If this all works out and BID gets a couple grows under the light, then good on JDL!. The fact that they're helping in the thread earns them some cool points in my book. I've said it before and will say it again, "It's all about being open and honest." I wouldn't rank him on the level of Corey by any means; that will take some time, in the trenches with us, experiencing the heartache and the triumphs of the equipment right along with us. Granted in the end it's all about getting those perfect grow journals to boost the company, but the JDLighting Crew gets a bonus as well: Someone right there as backup when the excrement hits the rotary oscillator.

Once the kinks with the product get worked out, it is a benefit to us all! We'll all see if he sticks around after getting a few journals to take home, though. It would be a big value to the community, and to the company itself for that to happen. Personally, I'd love to see both sides, nutrients and lighting, represented on a long term basis. We have the nutrient side with us and valuable support is only a pm away... will this also happen on the lighting side? I guess we shall all see.

 

[BigIrishDoode]

Re: The Bid 2.0 Grow -400W HPS - Blue Planet -Hempy-Coco-WW-Diamond Girl-Multiple Pur

OK already with the photo shoppping lol...
Looking great, BID. But everybody knows you can't grow weed with CFLs!!

no photoshop brotha its a setting on my camera called "foliage" it only brightens the colors a tad, but theres nothing there thats not present when i took the pic, it actually looks the closest to how they look to the naked eye, scouts honor!! the color of the purple#1 is blowing my mind !! i have rarely even seen photos of cannabis as colorful as this, so yes its real enjoy this journey with me!!!

he's just poking fun, cus there are a lot of people out there that say you can not get some bomb flowers using CFL's... I have seen it with my own eyes...

YES YOU CAN.

but yea we just used the bathroom lights for our grows, right BID?

yo man i can grow 10lb buds with a flashlight and my pee!! in like 2 weeks from seed!!! i frikken wish!!!! for a great long while i grew all my buds with cfl, at one point i thought it was all i would ever use, i was happy with all things but yield, now i await mega donkeys!!

"the ballast is designed to take the hit rather than the breaker being tripped,
this is to protect the growers other items that may be on the same circuit"

I'll be needing a lot better explanation than that. 'I dunno' would be better.

What "other items" might be on the same circuit, worth such total sacrifice?
Maybe the power supply to a grower's blood pump? Gotta be

well jason said "for example if you had several lights on 1 circuit ,and it trips all lights go out rather than just one" sounds reasonable to me,

Don't want to thread jack and go off topic, but I feel the need to explain this good question.. Do want to apologize in advance bigirishdoode and hope you already got the New replacement

Our ballast is design to take abuse from improper wiring, broken/low amp/breaker, weak wiring etc that could cause a mayhem. (The ballast will act as the core of the setup and shut down).

Our ballast was originally design for the Euro market, with this in mind the ballast have to be GE certified, in which is one of the toughest certification to get. To make it simple, any chance of external problems the ballast need to automatically shutoff or else there is no chance of getting it certified. The ballast does have a internal relay type system, but it have to be taken apart to change it (99% of the time this is the cause of the problem), not something we recommend the customer to DIY.

Pros: Ballast take all the abuse to prevent mayhem, we reduce the possibility to less than 1%. Fully effective and the highest output ballast on the market.

Cons: Dead ballast more often at 120V from the mention above. However, when re-wire to 240V is less than 1% issues. We had seen couple of cases already with 120V wiring setup, ZERO with 240V.

Now, there are lots of ballast on the market that does not need much amperage as our ballast, and here are the 2 main reasons.

1) Most of them are under power, over rated wattage, actual output is much less.

2) Some soft start programming doesn't bring the ballast to full operation wattage, does draw a lower amp.

Our company's priority is to make a SAFE product that will last! We guarantee our product once install properly you can sleep tight at night, and do exactly what it design to do!

If anyone have any questions or wants a better understanding please feel free to e-mail us, I don't want to turn this thread in to a question/answer thread.

it was in my opinion a combo of things i was not aware of how this all works, but on that breaker there was a space heater 7-12 amps draw, my veg room power consisting of 8 23 watt cfls and 1 30watt tube fluro, and!! i forgot another space heater a tiny 3 amp 200watt micro heater, and 2 small fans!!! im pretty sure that was the problem! lol now its only the ballast and 1 small 13 watt green cfl, so i can see during lights out!!, i would have no idea how to change wiring to 240v and i cannot do it anyway as its a rental

so if it was designed to take the abuse, why did it blow? Was this one wired for 120v?

120v and it has to stay that way, but see above lol

FWIW, breakers are designed to protect the circuit, which is your wires, not your equipment. Upping the amperage of your breakers without upping your wire size is a big no-no. Its a fire waiting to happen. If breakers are tripping you have two options, change the wire size and match it with the correct breaker size or change the breaker with the exact same size because breakers get weak over time, especially if they keep tripping from being overloaded.

yeah i remember hearing that before now that you mention it, my breakers have never tripped

The 110% setting is supposed to be one of the big selling points, I'd want to use it if I had it. You shouldn't have to avoid using something you pay for...JMHO

it is and i ran it like that most of today,no problem, but it was a little hot in there so i backed it off a little, as my fear subsides im sure it will be less of an issue for me!

Well said.

I am looking forward to DigitalGrow's analysis on the issue. For I have the same fear as Propa Gator. I am not near the grow site all the time, and I would not like to be having to worry about a fire starting...

i very curious myself it will help me to develop a system for all this hps madness, i never noticed the ballast being more than slightly warm, fires never crossed my mind...

 

[Aaron Quix]

Re: The Bid 2.0 Grow -400W HPS - Blue Planet -Hempy-Coco-WW-Diamond Girl-Multiple Pur

Ok fine, but NO entering in the NOM or POTM contests with that thing...(Insert pouty face here)

 

[BigIrishDoode]

Re: The Bid 2.0 Grow -400W HPS - Blue Planet -Hempy-Coco-WW-Diamond Girl-Multiple Pur

lol and exactly why not? (insert evil grin here)

 

[dragontoker]

Re: The Bid 2.0 Grow -400W HPS - Blue Planet -Hempy-Coco-WW-Diamond Girl-Multiple Pur

What I dont understand, why the ballast isnt fused when sold in the US. If the unit failed because of a overloaded circuit, a fuse would of prevented this. I added up total amperage of what Bigirish had on his circuit. I came up with roughly 22-24 amps with ballast startup amperage @ 10. If this was on a 20 amp breaker with the correct size wire it might never trip the breaker being the start up amperage is only for 6 seconds. If it was on a 15 amp breaker, breaker should of tripped immediately and dont believe the ballast should of fried even if it was not fused. Being that home wiring is a parallel circuit, the breaker takes the load not the equipment. If it didnt, every time you overloaded a circuit you would fry your TV or radio, appliances etc etc. They all have circuit boards of one form or another if they are updated pieces of equipment.

Went to JD's sight, they state the unit has a built in circuit breaker, I would think this should of protected any failure from outside sources. Is this what failed?

I run a quantum 600w HID, 208w T5 unit, sometimes a 1500w heater (intermittently cause of T-stat control), 3 air moving fans, 1 exhaust fan, 1 controller running 2-24v fans, 1 mag 7 pump, 1-mag 5 pump, 2-23w CFLs........on a 20 amp circuit with 12 gauge wire. No trips, no blown fuses, no warm or hot cords......... If you add up the known wattage of what I just posted, not including the items I listed with out wattage specs, amperage total is 19.5. If everything is running @ one time. Like I said, heater doest run all the time and sometimes when I'm running it, its only running @ .75kw.

I cant find anything in JD's ballast info that states start up is 10amps for 6 seconds.

On another note. I have never heard of a GE certification. I'm wondering if JD was referring to CE certification.

I really hope this gets figured out and JD updates their protection on their ballasts being that I'm in the market for a second ballast for backup purposes only.

I am not a electrician and I dont play one on TV. What I wrote above is not fact but its what I believe to be true from the limited knowledge I have.

Would love to have further communication on this matter even if its in a separate thread. Would like to know what really happened, what actually smoked in the unit..etc etc.........In my middle age I have a hunger for knowledge that I never had as a young adult or as a kid and if I'm incorrect I want to know it,,,,so I dont go on thinking my info is correct or applying wrong information to work and DIY projects.

Sorry for the ramble,,,,have a good one

 

[HiTimes4Me]

Re: The Bid 2.0 Grow -400W HPS - Blue Planet -Hempy-Coco-WW-Diamond Girl-Multiple Pur

I am not a electrician and I dont play one on TV.

Love this line...

 

[Siscokid]

Re: The Bid 2.0 Grow -400W HPS - Blue Planet -Hempy-Coco-WW-Diamond Girl-Multiple Pur

 

[jandre2k3]

Re: The Bid 2.0 Grow -400W HPS - Blue Planet -Hempy-Coco-WW-Diamond Girl-Multiple Pur

I'm not an electrician, but I did stay at a Best Western last night.

 

[jandre2k3]

Re: The Bid 2.0 Grow -400W HPS - Blue Planet -Hempy-Coco-WW-Diamond Girl-Multiple Pur

ummmmm.... I just found this on the site from JDLightings Hydroponic.... I have increased the size and changed the color of the interesting item. If it's resettable, why is it not able to be done by the Consumer?

...The ballast does have a internal relay type system, but it have to be taken apart to change it (99% of the time this is the cause of the problem), not something we recommend the customer to DIY. <snip>

...no reset button,no fuse, just cord in,out and power setting knob<snip>

https://www.jd-lightings.com/MainController?productInfo=1&action=edit
E-Ballast Features

• Extruded aluminum housing is engineered to dissipate heat and keep the components cool.
• Resin-sealed case for completely silent operation
• Resettable circuit breaker for short circuit protection.
• Wire core 120/240V compatible
• Completely silent and lightweight
• Operates both HPS & MH lamps
• Extremely efficient – 99% power factor
• Detachable power cord that allows easy change over
• Available in 250, 400, 600, and 1000 Watts
• 5-YEAR WARRANTY -- 3 year full + 2 year prorated

Let's just say that it is a good thing that the rep from JDL is here to get these concerns handled first hand, and not . . . well. . . I'll not go there.


I'll just say that in order to be open and honest in a medium such as this, it takes balls that clink when they walk and to be and able to deal with twists as they come.