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

[BigIrishDoode]

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

jandre and puffpuff you guys bring up valid concerns ,it sure would have been nice if it was as simple as a fuse or reset button , well i think the right remark here is "inquiring minds want to know" i too have a hunger for knowledge puff but its all my life, the internet has givin me a hell of an education over the years

 

[Propa Gator]

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

How fast do you drive your car? Really? I'm sure it will go faster than that, just stay on the throttle.
You paid for that power.

 

[Propa Gator]

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

jandre and puffpuff you guys bring up valid concerns ,it sure would have been nice if it was as simple as a fuse or reset button , well i think the right remark here is "inquiring minds want to know" i too have a hunger for knowledge puff but its all my life, the internet has givin me a hell of an education over the years

Your list of loads on that circuit was large, why did it not blow? You live in an unlit bonfire BiD, until you get that penny out from under the fuse.

I believe that ballast protected much against low voltage damage, but...
where's the effin reset? Will I rue it's absence?

Seems I'll soon have 'that' ballast working in the cage, where I'll expect it to behave propa. I care very little about the 'free' aspect of the deal; it's only a $200 piece of gear. What I want is for our new sponsor to sell his entire shipping container full of them and order more for his market, if they work well.
One thing I'm not worried a whit about is fire. No fear there. None of my hot-assed mag ballasts ever fired me up, and neither will this one. I just don't want the thing to quit on me, making me scramble to get a different light up working in there.

 

[DigitalGrow]

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

110% Should be utilize don't be afraid to use it when is needed

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.

Well said!

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

Yes the internal circuit breaker is what likley failed, until we take it apart we can't confirm. Our 600W stabilize at 5.64A, recommended amperage is 10A allowance.

GE Euro certification is not widely published, mainly focus on industrial market, I wasn't referring to CE certification.

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?


JD Lightings Hydroponics
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.

Good thing you pointed out, our ballast does have a automatic reset feature for short circuit protection (the breaker would of popped, if this were the case). However we don't think in this case it was a short circuit, it might of been something worse enough to pop the internal circuit protection. We won't know until we take it apart.

So everyone stay tune until we diagnose the ballast

 

[Aaron Quix]

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

How fast do you drive your car? Really? I'm sure it will go faster than that, just stay on the throttle.
You paid for that power.

Yep, and I wouldn't pay for an F-350 with all its towing capability just to go for a Sunday drive, I can do that in a honda

 

[jandre2k3]

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

Yep, and I wouldn't pay for an F-350 with all its towing capability just to go for a Sunday drive, I can do that in a honda

Be honest now... you got the f-350 so you could run little cars off the road, didn't you... Fess up to it!

 

[Aaron Quix]

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

Be honest now... you got the f-350 so you could run little cars off the road, didn't you... Fess up to it!

Actually, I could never afford the 350, nor would I want one, unless my job dictated that I own one. I have a decent F-150, no lift, no exhaust, but IT will run small cars off the road just fine

I would also never recommend that BID run that ballst at 110% if it were that he couldn't dissapate the heat, or if his electrical circut wasn't built to handle it. I was simply stating, based on his statements, that if his wires and breaker could handle it, and heat wasn't an issue, then he should be able to use the ballast at FULL power without it failing....

 

[Propa Gator]

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

Yep, and I wouldn't pay for an F-350 with all its towing capability just to go for a Sunday drive, I can do that in a honda

Did I pick the wrong metaphor, above? Ford truck guys are so serious.

I'm a Crown Vic kinda Gator, severe duty suits me too, but...
My Sunday rides are on a bicycle. Please don't run me off the road, nor throw things at me like my neighbors do. They do not want to share the road, nor hang-up their cell phones ever.

Life in the big shitty is a big sigh with a shrug.

 

[Aaron Quix]

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

Did I pick the wrong metaphor, above? Ford truck guys are so serious.

I'm a Crown Vic kinda Gator, severe duty suits me too, but...
My Sunday rides are on a bicycle. Please don't run me off the road, nor throw things at me like my neighbors do. They do not want to share the road, nor hang-up their cell phones ever.

Life in the big shitty is a big sigh with a shrug.

Lol, I wouldn't go so far as to say I'm a frod truck guy, but rather, I needed a truck, and ford was cheaper than chevy(kinda like my grow).

But, I do talk on my cell phone as needed, might even check a 420 email or two at a stop light...But I promise Mr. Gator, next time I think I see a speed bump, I'll slow down, incase there's agator down at the end of town

 

[Propa Gator]

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

Lol, I wouldn't go so far as to say I'm a frod truck guy, but rather, I needed a truck, and ford was cheaper than chevy(kinda like my grow).

But, I do talk on my cell phone as needed, might even check a 420 email or two at a stop light...But I promise Mr. Gator, next time I think I see a speed bump, I'll slow down, incase there's agator down at the end of town

I might be that speed bump. Check for a mangled bike nearby

 

[Aaron Quix]

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

I might be that speed bump. Check for a mangled bike nearby

That is what I was implying..."Gator down!"

 

[BigIrishDoode]

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

Your list of loads on that circuit was large, why did it not blow? You live in an unlit bonfire BiD, until you get that penny out from under the fuse.

I believe that ballast protected much against low voltage damage, but...
where's the effin reset? Will I rue it's absence?

Seems I'll soon have 'that' ballast working in the cage, where I'll expect it to behave propa. I care very little about the 'free' aspect of the deal; it's only a $200 piece of gear. What I want is for our new sponsor to sell his entire shipping container full of them and order more for his market, if they work well.
One thing I'm not worried a whit about is fire. No fear there. None of my hot-assed mag ballasts ever fired me up, and neither will this one. I just don't want the thing to quit on me, making me scramble to get a different light up working in there.

most likely its becaues everything is on timers i have like 10 of them! i think what was the problem was the heater was on at the time the light tried to come on, we shall see, im quite impressed with jd lighting as a business now if i am right on the problem and now understand what i need to, it should be smooth sailing ahead, im yet to check anything today as i just got home, and left today early before lights on, in a bit i will report,, scramble to get light to them has now happened to me 3 times, i surely hope not again any time soon ,,ever would be nice.....

110% Should be utilize don't be afraid to use it when is needed






Yes the internal circuit breaker is what likley failed, until we take it apart we can't confirm. Our 600W stabilize at 5.64A, recommended amperage is 10A allowance.






Good thing you pointed out, our ballast does have a automatic reset feature for short circuit protection (the breaker would of popped, if this were the case). However we don't think in this case it was a short circuit, it might of been something worse enough to pop the internal circuit protection. We won't know until we take it apart.

So everyone stay tune until we diagnose the ballast

the box was dropped off at the ups store around 11am today, so soon you should have it back!
the replacment ballast has about 13-14 amps all to itself all timers on everything are set to be off at the time the ballast comes on,even the ones on another breaker, i will go 110% if i can in the last 2 weeks, temps dictate if i can or not,

I would also never recommend that BID run that ballst at 110% if it were that he couldn't dissapate the heat, or if his electrical circut wasn't built to handle it. I was simply stating, based on his statements, that if his wires and breaker could handle it, and heat wasn't an issue, then he should be able to use the ballast at FULL power without it failing....

with a little enLIGHTenment i think my circuit is fine, i think if i can keep the heat out 110% should be do able

Did I pick the wrong metaphor, above? Ford truck guys are so serious.

I'm a Crown Vic kinda Gator, severe duty suits me too, but...
My Sunday rides are on a bicycle. Please don't run me off the road, nor throw things at me like my neighbors do. They do not want to share the road, nor hang-up their cell phones ever.

Life in the big shitty is a big sigh with a shrug.

in the city phx i was deliberatly hit while riding a bike i slid on my side for 3 lanes of traffic, bleeding and broken i rose from the asphalt mad as hell the perp slowed long enough to see me high on adrenaline head towards them hell in my eye, they sped away, i remember it everyday when my bones snap,crackle and pop, and fill me with pain,,,i dont ride bikes anymore, a quadrunner or sandrail is my cup now

 

[Propa Gator]

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

Phoenix sucks. Been there ain't going back. WAAy too hot. Vegas too.
And all of Florida, my kin can have it if the pythons don't eat 'em.

 

[BigIrishDoode]

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

Phoenix sucks. Been there ain't going back. WAAy too hot. Vegas too.
And all of Florida, my kin can have it if the pythons don't eat 'em.

being a big guy and irish copper penny complected,hot places hurt me on a cellular level lmao i hate summer heat, but i look fwd to my outdoor garden this year corey and i will be comparing results in bubble buckets on veggies im gonna do melons and tomatoes, but i will avoid the sun like a vampire! drip system for all the in ground plants, , and heat tolerant strains indoors, tho not like phx 100 is possible here, a few days a year,

 

[BigIrishDoode]

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

well FUCK!!! its dead again!!! after 1 day it appears that the light did not fire up today it was cold and dark in there AGAIN! it fired up no problem yesterday, and ran for 6 hours, i know for a fact there was nothing else on ,on that 15 amp breaker at the time it was supposed to go on, i unplugged it all, tell you this im about to chop it all down and say fuck it to this hobby, if the "good " kind of lights are this sensitive im done, this make for 2 ballasts blown come on man its just a damn light! , yet i can run other sensitive high amp/wattage things like computers,oxygen concentrator, very high power guitar amps, a 65 inch hdtv,studio equipment on any outlet in this house with no problem,my desktop gaming machine has a 1000watt 7 amp power supply, this house was new in 1998 i dont think my wires are old and outdated, this is making me psyco,im having nightmares about lights and freak plants! my plants are ruined and all stretched out, hermied, i never had this problem with running up to 30 cfls, with over 700 watts pulling, this sucks dick, im hating hps, since december its been a constant pain in my ass..........
im thinking im gonna sell some collectibles and my 400watt hps after i rma it, then get some ufos from htg they have a gen 3 that the say equals a 400 and is about the same price perhaps 2-3 of them and a little cfl if needed, or save and get a big one,

 

[QueenTokelove]

Wtf Irish! !! I would be pissed too but there has to be a reason. And you have a history of great come backs..you're the come back kid. This too shall pass.

Sent from my LG-P505 using Forum Runner

 

[Truth Seeker]

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

brotha! MAN... what the sh**... is anyone else having this issue with their ballasts or is it just you?

 

[dragontoker]

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

BID, make sure its not the bulb. Did you try a different bulb? Your last ballast failure could of put a beating on it.

 

[BigIrishDoode]

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

Wtf Irish! !! I would be pissed too but there has to be a reason. And you have a history of great come backs..you're the come back kid. This too shall pass.
well see if i can once again bear this load of crap on my shoulders and a severe disability too, but at some point even diamonds and steel break thanks for the positivity
Sent from my LG-P505 using Forum Runner

brotha! MAN... what the sh**... is anyone else having this issue with their ballasts or is it just you?

i really dont know i read where digital grow said others have had problems with the 110volt doing this, but its just not feasible for me to rewire my effing house!!! i rent this house, and there's no way my landlord would pay for it to be done, and im not interested in telling him why, even if i was growing lillys its none of his business im big on privacy even if im sitting in an empty room reading a sci fi novel, i have a right to not share with anyone, at the age of 8 i requested a keyed lock on my bedroom ,and it was just for the sake of knowing i had that privacy option available, you guys have no idea what it took for me to start a journal,,but 420mag is just that kick ass!

BID, make sure its not the bulb. Did you try a different bulb? Your last ballast failure could of put a beating on it.

doode i have 2 bulbs both new that was the first thing i checked, they were both working 100% the day before, i tried everything you could think of, its kind of a given for me at this point, thanks for lookin out,,,



so i been thinking bout getting 2 of these https://Gen3-UFO-LED-Grow to work with while i get all this hps crap worked out, have a look and please let me know what you think,i figure these plus cfl if needed should be simple,cool,and dependable since they require no fancy uber touchy/sensitive ballast, and hell if they work good i may just dump some bucks into a bunch of them, and i see some advantages like operating cost,multiple light sources (like cfl) so if one dies your plants are not left in the dark and get screwed up, i do believe leds are the future of growing, i do not need maximum weight/yield its just for spiffy and myself, neither one of us are heavy smokers, im sure we'll use more as different strains become available(if i can finish a damn grow) to us, but not that much, i figure a few oz a month would be more than enough like 3-4 at the most between the both of us

 

[dragontoker]

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

Majorly bummed for you,,,,,,what a f'ing headache.