Lighting digital ballast/rf concerns

[1guy1plant]

I know that some will disagree but I want to go HID instead of LED. My concern is that the more I read the more I see that people have issues with the digital ballasts sending out RF signals and the cable man showing up with a cop sitting at the end of your driveway. Is this just certain brands, etc...? I only need a 600w and could probably get away with a 400w.

 

[derek420colorado]

??? I have never heard of this being a common problem, I may just be out of the loop but what does the cable man and RF signals have to do with cops and growing? I mean why is the cable man checking for RF signals? I have digital ballast and have always used them with no cable man or cops showing up. I want to know if it is a viable concern though, even though I live in Colorado and it is legal I still want to know if someone can detect my grow via RF signals being emmited by my ballasts(but even as I type that it sounds a little far fetched) do you have any links where people are concerned about this?

 

[1guy1plant]

If you google "digital ballast rf problem," a bunch of hits come up.

 

[Waximus]

Where I live, and being a legal grower, I can't speak to LEO and cable guy shenanagans. But, I do know this. I listen to an AM radio news station in my car, and my digital ballasts jam the HELL out of that radio signal- from 100 yards from my house, too. On a lark one day last year, I drove up my (very off the beaten path) road, with that station on, and I'm sure there are 2 other "digital ballasts" on this road lolol So, by extension, I reckon someone "could" do the same thing...

 

[derek420colorado]

Hmmm yeah I know they can jam up radios n stuff but I never thought of anyone being able to detect what was goin on. I will check into it for sure

 

[FadedMalone]

I hooked my 400 watt digital light up and my wifi went out. I also heard they can mess with the new digital smart meters as well. RF signals can spread long ways from your grow room.

 

[1guy1plant]

It seems like there is no rhyme or reason to it. Some digital ballast have a rf problem and some do not. It does not seem to be brand specific but individual ballast specific. You can build a faraday box but I am worried that I don't understand all the principals so I am going to look for a magnetic ballast.

 

[FadedMalone]

Yeah man, I would try my hardest to get a led or two. I love mine!!! It's almost unreal or I'm just getting better..."AFN smoke out"

 

[Muddy]

First I've heard about RF problems as well. I'm sure the ballast manufacturers know that a big chunk of their sales are to illegal growers so they would address any issues of this sort. Makes me wonder if it's the cheap Chinese ones that have this issue.

IMO LEDs rock, especially in smaller spaces with good reflective material. Plus when you factor in the cost of replacement bulbs and their higher electrical costs, LEDs are cheaper to operate over a comparative lifespan. For larger spaces, I'd go with the UNO T5 XHOs. I just finished my first photo grow with them and am very pleased. Penetration to 2' +, rock hard buds, and a lot less heat than HPS.

 

[Waximus]

For larger spaces, I'd go with the UNO T5 XHOs. I just finished my first photo grow with them and am very pleased. Penetration to 2' +, rock hard buds, and a lot less heat than HPS.

Hi Muddy, how many bulbs, and do you mix the color temp in the bulb group? I have a 4x8 Jardin, and would love to replace the HPS units with something "cooler".
Best to you!