|
 Some of these posts are very old and might contain outdated information. You may wish to search for newer posts instead.
|
 Buddy
Mr.
Registered: 06/14/09
Posts: 995
Last seen: 2 years, 7 months
|
 Switchable ballasts 
#246400 - 07/06/09 05:54 PM (15 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
I'm under a painfully tight budget right now, and am approaching flowering time. So any cheapo hps lamp will satisfy me for the moment.
Pretty much have a deal made for a 100w hps with ballast for €40. It's pretty standard magnetic coil metal case ballast. I read a thread off another forum after I googled hps mh ballast on converting a HPS to MH. This guy gave a guide to doing it. Essentially taking out the igniter(putting it on a switch for ease or removing completely) for the HPS, to make it compatable with MH.
Does anyone know if this is a safe enough idea or is it dodgy?
--------------------
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!
|
 mhbound
Ballin out at all cost
Registered: 09/22/08
Posts: 8,144
Loc: High 
|
Re: Switchable ballasts [Re: Buddy]
#246462 - 07/06/09 07:17 PM (15 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
I don't like doing stuff like that unless someone who is licensed does it. It's not worth risking burning down your house and not only getting in trouble for that but having them find your grow is a whole different story.
I'm sketchy when it comes to electricity though...I've electrified myself like 3-4 times bad...Like knocked out bad.
--------------------
Suck my balls America
|
Buddy
Mr.
Registered: 06/14/09
Posts: 995
Last seen: 2 years, 7 months
|
Re: Switchable ballasts [Re: mhbound]
#246647 - 07/07/09 06:56 AM (15 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
I'm pretty good with wiring and circuitry, I mean I can usually leave something properly connected and sealed up. I'd mainly be concerned about clashes with voltage, amps, frequencies etc that might cause a MH bulb to blow in a HPS ballast. That's where I'd need a second opinion.
'The roof, the roof, the roof is on fire'
--------------------
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!
|
Integra21
Up and coming Farmer
Registered: 05/01/09
Posts: 784
Last seen: 11 years, 9 months
|
Re: Switchable ballasts [Re: Buddy]
#246699 - 07/07/09 12:16 PM (15 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
They sell MH conversion bulbs that are meant to be put directly into a hps socket/balast. Just search ebay or google for mh conversion bulb. Also there are 2 security lights home depot sells for $69usd, that are a 100w HM or a 150w HPS. Alls you have to do is add a cord. Ment for wall mounting. That is what my MH light I use to veg is. Otherwise I got my lumatek digital switchable balast, sunleaves air coole reflector, and 2 bulbs 400w MH&HPS off of ebay as a new set for $260usd with shipping included.
Edited by Integra21 (07/07/09 12:17 PM)
|
Buddy
Mr.
Registered: 06/14/09
Posts: 995
Last seen: 2 years, 7 months
|
Re: Switchable ballasts [Re: Integra21]
#246703 - 07/07/09 12:21 PM (15 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
That is hopeful news. Must have another glance at eBay. Home depot in Ireland will likely have different and definitely less selection. Sadly.
--------------------
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!
|
mhbound
Ballin out at all cost
Registered: 09/22/08
Posts: 8,144
Loc: High
|
Re: Switchable ballasts [Re: Buddy]
#246737 - 07/07/09 01:57 PM (15 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
Yea they do sell those I forgot to mention that but I've never used them or know people who have. I would imagine they work well though.
--------------------
Suck my balls America
|
Buddy
Mr.
Registered: 06/14/09
Posts: 995
Last seen: 2 years, 7 months
|
Re: Switchable ballasts [Re: mhbound]
#246765 - 07/07/09 03:04 PM (15 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
Found a site that does a new bulb, ballast and reflector for about €88.50. With free delivery. This is a 250w which suits my circumstances. This thing's a ballast control easy gear. Switchable between HPS and MH. Supposedly very queit and cool. I'm guessin it's not digital or it would say. I'm thinking that splashing out a few extra sheckles will be worth it instead of going ultimate cheapo and having to spend more later.
Had a look around at conversion bulbs. They've very pricy, and I'm guessing you'd get as much use out of them. So in the long run this thing'd save me money. On top of all this it's free delivery. So everything I spend is on product. And there's always the fact it comes with a warantee and can be garanteed to be new.
Edit: dammit, free delivery's only for order's over 150. I hate catches.
--------------------
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!
Edited by Buddy (07/07/09 03:15 PM)
|
Integra21
Up and coming Farmer
Registered: 05/01/09
Posts: 784
Last seen: 11 years, 9 months
|
Re: Switchable ballasts [Re: mhbound]
#246767 - 07/07/09 03:11 PM (15 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
home depot has a website though, and whatever you didnt want shipped to your house, you could get shipped to the store. Quit being so damn negative.
|
Ojom
Registered: 04/20/08
Posts: 333
Last seen: 9 years, 8 months
|
Re: Switchable ballasts [Re: Buddy]
#247115 - 07/08/09 12:40 AM (15 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
I have a feeling if the ballast supports both MH and HPS bulbs that it is a digital electronic ballast. A link to the website or atleast an item name/number would be helpful.
|
Buddy
Mr.
Registered: 06/14/09
Posts: 995
Last seen: 2 years, 7 months
|
Re: Switchable ballasts [Re: Ojom]
#247153 - 07/08/09 08:06 AM (15 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
http://hydroponics.eu/product.asp?Id=1004-Ballast+Control+Gear+EASY+250W+HPSMH
I'd find it hard to believe if someone told me you could get a new digital electronic ballast for €50.
--------------------
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!
|
Ojom
Registered: 04/20/08
Posts: 333
Last seen: 9 years, 8 months
|
Re: Switchable ballasts [Re: Buddy]
#247279 - 07/08/09 04:20 PM (15 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
After browsing that site some, I'd say the ballast you linked to is not a digital electronic ballast.
|
Buddy
Mr.
Registered: 06/14/09
Posts: 995
Last seen: 2 years, 7 months
|
Re: Switchable ballasts [Re: Ojom]
#250740 - 07/17/09 01:10 PM (15 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
Alright, I've agreed a sale with a guy selling one of the light, ballast, reflector setups(from the link above) secondhand for €50. He's after offering me a contractor relay that he wired up himself. I did a little reading trying to find out what it's for but I'm not altogether sure. Anyone able to explain in layman's terms the purpose of this thingy? Thanks, buddy.
--------------------
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!
|
runrun
Stranger
Registered: 07/17/09
Posts: 1
Last seen: 15 years, 5 months
|
Re: Switchable ballasts [Re: Buddy]
#250959 - 07/18/09 12:49 AM (15 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Buddy said:
Alright, I've agreed a sale with a guy selling one of the light, ballast, reflector setups(from the link above) secondhand for �50. He's after offering me a contractor relay that he wired up himself. I did a little reading trying to find out what it's for but I'm not altogether sure. Anyone able to explain in layman's terms the purpose of this thingy? Thanks, buddy.
A contactor is pretty much just a big relay. It allows you to turn your load on and off ( your ballast ) using a seperate control circuit.
For example, you might want a single timeclock to control 3 400w HPS, but the contacts inside the timeclock are only rated for 600w at 120v. You would take the 120v switched output from the timeclock and use it to energize the coil of the contactor. When this coil is energized, contacts inside the contactor close, powering your load.
|
Buddy
Mr.
Registered: 06/14/09
Posts: 995
Last seen: 2 years, 7 months
|
Re: Switchable ballasts [Re: runrun]
#251005 - 07/18/09 08:41 AM (15 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
Do you think you'd need a contractor relay for a 400w hps to run on a standard plug in the wall socket timer? Would the load drawn from a 400w fry that do you reckon?
--------------------
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!
|
|
Threaded
Previous
Index
Next
Edit 
Reply 
