Advice on 4ft Magnum PL lilght

**fazlee** · 31st Aug 2004, 00:06

I'm thinking of getting a 4ft magnum light with 2xpl. Is it 2x36w or 2x55 with ballast? Can anyone advice be on the quality and is there any other recommended alternative?

Thanks

**schema** · 31st Aug 2004, 09:56

There was quite a few complains about Magnum (or similar build) lighting at Arofanatics, they failed in 1 or 2 months into service.......
IMHO......very unreliable.
Get the lights and replace the eballast(can ask few Bros here to help mod), this will save u headache later.

**fazlee** · 31st Aug 2004, 21:26

[quote:5c803cc7e8="schema"]There was quite a few complains about Magnum (or similar build) lighting at Arofanatics, they failed in 1 or 2 months into service.......
IMHO......very unreliable.
Get the lights and replace the eballast(can ask few Bros here to help mod), this will save u headache later.[/quote:5c803cc7e8]

Thanx bro for ur reply. went to check the magnum 2ft light. can't say much bout the overall make, but the price is rather attractive. even though I'm looking for a 4ft.

Fellow forumers, Any particular recommended brands?

**fazlee** · 4th Sep 2004, 14:49

if in any case the ballasg went kaput. Can it be simply get a replacement for the defective balast ? eg elbiru balast

for the 4ft, I notice it is using 55w tube. The way its positioned, I assume there's a ballast on each end of the casing for each tube. With a 2x55w elbiru balast, wonder how it's going to fit. Can anyone advice?

Does NA provide the modification of balast upon purchase?

**letissier07** · 8th Sep 2004, 23:44

my magnum 2 ft jus died on me.....
bought for abt 3 months only?

It flickered a bit...then auto shutdown.....cannot on anymore...
What part is spoilt?
The eballast or the PL?

Anyway, anyone knows how to connect the switch if i change the eballast to the ebiru one?

Regards,
Spencer

**|squee|** · 9th Sep 2004, 00:04

I sympathise with you. I also had a 2ft Magnum light that died on me after the same duration as yours.

I brought it to NA, and it was the Ballast problem. According to Mr Chan, Magnum uses China-made Ballasts, and he says of Magnum lights as the " Use and throw" type.

Can't help you on the Ballast switch part.

**schema** · 9th Sep 2004, 01:17

[quote:42613feff7="letissier07"]my magnum 2 ft jus died on me.....
bought for abt 3 months only?

It flickered a bit...then auto shutdown.....cannot on anymore...
What part is spoilt?
The eballast or the PL?

Anyway, anyone knows how to connect the switch if i change the eballast to the ebiru one?

Regards,
Spencer[/quote:42613feff7]

Err....switch is pre-connected wat.
look at the eballast...and remember or take a pic.
then swop the new ballast in, altogether should have 7 wires(earth, live, neutral & 4 to the tubes) just don't mix up.

Mike

**letissier07** · 9th Sep 2004, 12:55

okies...thanks guys...

Think have to go buy Eballast to replace it le....
Think can get some wire mesh along the way....

Thanks again!

Regards,
Spencer

**fazlee** · 12th Sep 2004, 17:06

The main issue here is not a matter of replacing but whether new ballast can fit in the slim casing of magnum. Went to NA the other day, probably u have to place the ballast outside the casing (due to insufficient depth).

Another possibility is that the plastic cover cannot be slotted in as the ballast potruding slightly outside the casing level. Pretty unsafe if water splashing

**discusAmatuer** · 12th Sep 2004, 22:36

Can I check with you guys, if my 2ft magnum light flickers and goes off, then I have to give it a knock on the casing and it is okay again.....

Is this problem due to connections? I tried pushing the cable tube into the casing and this solves the prob.

Do I have to dismantle and check on the connections to the eballast?

**tawauboy** · 12th Sep 2004, 23:37

[quote:c8beafb04c="discusAmatuer"]............ to give it a knock on the casing and it is okay again.....

.............. the cable tube into the casing and this solves the prob.

Do I have to dismantle and check on the connections to the eballast?[/quote:c8beafb04c]

sounds like a connection problem.
if you can and know how to do it, rectify the connection as soon as possible. bad connection can cause arcing, a fire risk.

**letissier07** · 19th Sep 2004, 20:54

[quote:88d6176527="fazlee"]The main issue here is not a matter of replacing but whether new ballast can fit in the slim casing of magnum. Went to NA the other day, probably u have to place the ballast outside the casing (due to insufficient depth).

Another possibility is that the plastic cover cannot be slotted in as the ballast potruding slightly outside the casing level. Pretty unsafe if water splashing

[/quote:88d6176527]

Yah..saw the elbiru eballast and it is very long...unable to fit into the magnum casing la....sigh.....

does that mean i have to scrap that light!?!

waste money...haha

Regards,
Spencer

**letissier07** · 19th Sep 2004, 20:56

[quote:7d374a8a5d="discusAmatuer"]Can I check with you guys, if my 2ft magnum light flickers and goes off, then I have to give it a knock on the casing and it is okay again.....

Is this problem due to connections? I tried pushing the cable tube into the casing and this solves the prob.

Do I have to dismantle and check on the connections to the eballast?[/quote:7d374a8a5d]

Your eballast confirm is the 55w one?
my dead light also has this symptom.....good luck bro!

Regards,
Spencer

**stormydax** · 28th Sep 2004, 00:05

hi guys,
shuckc....i just bought a magnum 2ft, PL tube, 40watt light today...and then i read this forum at night...i bought it at 35..is it really so unreliable? anyone used magnum light for more than a year? btw, magnum is same as migoto?

thanks

yours sincerely,
Storm

**neon** · 28th Sep 2004, 07:08

[quote:15db4ce94a="stormydax"]hi guys,
shuckc....i just bought a magnum 2ft, PL tube, 40watt light today...and then i read this forum at night...i bought it at 35..is it really so unreliable? anyone used magnum light for more than a year? btw, magnum is same as migoto?

thanks

yours sincerely,
Storm[/quote:15db4ce94a]

Hi,

I DIY the 55w light myself using 2 diferent the china brand. So far they are fine for over 9 months oridi. Don't know the brand. Bought for $12 each, in the lighting shop in Chinese MRT area.

Cheers

**stormydax** · 2nd Oct 2004, 00:02

hi ,
my magnum is down. i used it for 3days and it came down. i brought it back to the LFS , telling them that i bought it for only 3days and they gave me a new Jebo 36watt,PL tube...i think i will never get magnum again...shucks...

thanks

yours sincerely,
Storm

**fazlee** · 2nd Oct 2004, 00:49

Hi evryone;
It's been a while since I replied anything. Just for updating, I decided against buying the magnum. Too much bad review.

I settled on a DIY 2x36w PL. Using a typical BOYU type alum casing with elbiru e-balast n tubes. Very satisfied.

Now my 4ft running withn 6x36w PL. Lotsa bubbles on plant leaves!

Thanks for all the kind feedbacks.

**schema** · 2nd Oct 2004, 00:55

[quote:54df100046="fazlee"]Hi evryone;
It's been a while since I replied anything. Just for updating, I decided against buying the magnum. Too much bad review.

I settled on a DIY 2x36w PL. Using a typical BOYU type alum casing with elbiru e-balast n tubes. Very satisfied.

Now my 4ft running withn 6x36w PL. Lotsa bubbles on plant leaves!

Thanks for all the kind feedbacks.[/quote:54df100046]

Thumbs up for the wise choice!