DIY 250w HPS ballast not lighting

[GypsyBush]

I don't know much about these ballasts... I bought mine at a lighting supply store and one of the dudes there put it together for me...

Here is a picture of my ballast and light...

Notice I also have an ignitor along with the ballast...

Since my garden is mini, I am using a 35 watt HPS, 4 to 5 inches from my plants... along with some other lights, of course...

Good Luck!

Gypsy...

 

[khujo]

the picture of the sockets shows the pulse rated centre tap, if you look at the pic of the rear of the socket you see how small and fragile the copper connectors are. if they are loose in any way, or if the bulb doesnt make tight contact with the center tab it wont strike. On some older mogul sockets the centre tab is a strip of copper you can physically pull up on if its down to far. that is a common failure.
Its baffleing that it works with the medium/mogul adapter which makes me think its the socket.

i also attached a picture of 250 HPS schematic. if its too blurry let me know and ill help you wire the slut...

its gotta be the socket. intermittant failure is RARE with ballast components. why would it work in one place and not the other. strange. gotta be the socket or wiring.

good luck

 

[khujo]

Gypsy, you might want some metal housing for that ballast. get rid of the cardboard and use even a metal tray if you have to. you should really ground that sucker to some metal. if there is a short you could get zapped, or even worse, that cardboard could combust. sorry i dont know how to send a privat message yet. this site is new to me

 

[GypsyBush]

Gypsy, you might want some metal housing for that ballast. get rid of the cardboard and use even a metal tray if you have to. you should really ground that sucker to some metal. if there is a short you could get zapped, or even worse, that cardboard could combust. sorry i dont know how to send a privat message yet. this site is new to me

Thanks!!!
It's just temporary...
I figured the cardboard would be ok since even after being on for 12 hours, I can sill handle the ballast without gloves... it barely gets warm... plus I have a BIG fan blowing right across it 24/7...
I would never do this with a bigger/hotter ballast...

THANK YOU for your advice!
It is GOOD ADVICE.... no question...
An aluminum box is already in the works...

Thanks again...

Gypsy...

 

[thelastpirate]

the picture of the sockets shows the pulse rated centre tap, if you look at the pic of the rear of the socket you see how small and fragile the copper connectors are. if they are loose in any way, or if the bulb doesnt make tight contact with the center tab it wont strike. On some older mogul sockets the centre tab is a strip of copper you can physically pull up on if its down to far. that is a common failure.
Its baffleing that it works with the medium/mogul adapter which makes me think its the socket.

i also attached a picture of 250 HPS schematic. if its too blurry let me know and ill help you wire the slut...

its gotta be the socket. intermittant failure is RARE with ballast components. why would it work in one place and not the other. strange. gotta be the socket or wiring.

good luck

I gotta agree with khujo. We know the bulb and ballast work outside the cabinet. It could very well be the socket. Khujo knows more than I about them. My only other guess would be a short in the wire when you put it in the cabinet.
I've NEVER heard of an intermittant failure in a ballast. They either work, or they don't. But then I don't have the experience with them alot of others have.


Khujo, I'm glad you said something about that cardboard. I about shit when I saw that. It may be only 35w, but I'd bet it will knock you on your ass if it bit you.

 

[GypsyBush]

Khujo, I'm glad you said something about that cardboard. I about shit when I saw that. It may be only 35w, but I'd bet it will knock you on your ass if it bit you.

You guys are right... no questions...
I just didn't have anything else at the time and thought it was better than laying the parts on the ground... since it doesn't get that hot...

Aluminum box pictures later...

I was already on my way, but...

Good looking out guys...

Thanks!!!

Gypsy...

 

[dR. HerbLove]

Update: Wow, a fiasco. After a thousand different tries and configurations we finally got it. Turns out that one of my bracketing bolts was causing a short. Solution: we ditched it. It's more wobbly, but less not-working. Here's a picture:



Thanks for all your help guys. Cheers all around!

 

[NoDrama]

paint the mirror flat white it will reflect MORE light that way. Mirrors are terribly inefficient at reflecting the right kind of light to your plant, they absorb so much of it. If your bracketing bolt was actually causing a SHORT there would have been sparks and a possible fire, I assume you meant it was causing an OPEN circuit...IE one that will not flow current due to a bad connection.

 

[dR. HerbLove]

Hi NoDrama;

What mirror are you talking about? Do you mean the Mylar? I have my sides painted white and mylar lining the back.

 

[Hydrokronics]

I have a quick question for you guys who know about the lower wattge hps? is the socket size for the mogul the same for 150watt as it is for a 150watt? or are they different sizes. I thought for sure there were only the two sizes in the us but i could be wrong. Thank you very much for your help and i didnt mean to hijack. Thanks again guys and good luck.


hye gypsy. by the way. just wanted you to know that old ww2 ammunition cases are perfect ballast boxes and you can find those things for like 5 bucks at yard sales or flea markets

 

[GypsyBush]

I have a quick question for you guys who know about the lower wattge hps? is the socket size for the mogul the same for 150watt as it is for a 150watt? or are they different sizes. I thought for sure there were only the two sizes in the us but i could be wrong. Thank you very much for your help and i didnt mean to hijack. Thanks again guys and good luck.

I am sure you didn't mean what you wrote...

So I will assume that you are comparing a 150 to a 250.. is that right...????

In the US there are two possible sockets for an HPS light bulb...

The lower wattage bulbs (up to 70w or 150w, I am not sure) will have a "MEDIUM" type socket, which is what your house uses for the standard bulbs...

From the 150w (or the 250w) up, they all use a "MOGUL" type socket, which is similar, but bigger in size...

This info is straight from the horse's mouth... at the local Electrical Supply Warehouse... I just hung up the phone with them...

With that being said...

A 150 watt HPS bulb NEEDS a 150watt HPS ballast...

The 250 would require a 250 and so on...

HID bulbs and ballasts ARE NOT inter-change-able at all...

At best you will fry something... the worst starts with a fire...

Not sure if you knew or not... just making sure...

by the way. just wanted you to know that old ww2 ammunition cases are perfect ballast boxes and you can find those things for like 5 bucks at yard sales or flea markets

Now this piece of information is GREAT..!!! Thanks a million!!!!!

I wish there was a place that we could list everyday items that have a place in our grow op.... like the WM wardrobe turned into Gypsy's Bud Box with some Panda film and zippers...

Not a DIY just a place to see what can be used as what...

You Rock!!!! + REP

Thanks again...

Gypsy...

 

[Hydrokronics]

I am sure you didn't mean what you wrote...

So I will assume that you are comparing a 150 to a 250.. is that right...????

exactly right. i should have read it over. I was basicly just wondering if i an us a large socket with a 150watt. i hope that is the wattage that they move to large. But you are completly right about having a forum of useful "around the house" objects that can be helpful. There are a bunch of things that can be used for things that a shop would charge alot of money for. Your grow box is a perfect example! thanks for the help.