HPS bulbs and ballasts

[puckfiend]

I just bought a 400w HPS bulb on ebay for 5 bux...new to growing, I need to know if you need a whole new ballast to plug this baby in? or can it go into a regular socket?

 

[av8r]

You need a HPS ballast rated for your bulb and mogul socket.

 

[puckfiend]

fuck i shoulda read into them a bit more before i bought it. Home Depot doesnt even carry HPS ballasts. They got all technical and didn't understand what he was talking about so I hung up. Why do lights have to be so complex?

 

[goten]

hps and mh bulbs are mogul base

and you do need a ballast for them though

 

[Warmonger]

fuck i shoulda read into them a bit more before i bought it. Home Depot doesnt even carry HPS ballasts. They got all technical and didn't understand what he was talking about so I hung up. Why do lights have to be so complex?

You can get a fairly cheap HPS ballast and reflector on the net.

Try speciaity-lights.com $93 with a bulb

or

htgsupply.com $94 with a bulb

IMO spending $100 on a 150W HPS is worth every penny. Been using a 150 HPS and a 175 MH for years, beats the hell out of flourescent lights.

 

[av8r]

fuck i shoulda read into them a bit more before i bought it. Home Depot doesnt even carry HPS ballasts. They got all technical and didn't understand what he was talking about so I hung up. Why do lights have to be so complex?

No worries. Keep an eye on Ebay for a good deal on a ballast with cord set. If you don't have the cash for one now, save up a little and use some cfls(compact flourecent) for now until you have the spare $$$. You can usually find good deals on the cheaper, used ballasts/cord sets for under $80. You can also buy a new, digital ballast/ light kit with bulbs for $150. I just bought a new 400W to replace an older magnetic, noisy, hot ballast for $145 with both MH and HPS bulbs, cheap reflector/cord set with socket mounted, digital ballast with free shipping. I'll post a link if you want it. The ballast makes zero noise and barely gets warm. Time will tell how long it lasts, but so far, I'm more than pleased with it. If you get one, you have a spare bulb :')

 

[Warmonger]

No worries. Keep an eye on Ebay for a good deal on a ballast with cord set. If you don't have the cash for one now, save up a little and use some cfls(compact flourecent) for now until you have the spare $$$. You can usually find good deals on the cheaper, used ballasts/cord sets for under $80. You can also buy a new, digital ballast/ light kit with bulbs for $150. I just bought a new 400W to replace an older magnetic, noisy, hot ballast for $145 with both MH and HPS bulbs, cheap reflector/cord set with socket mounted, digital ballast with free shipping. I'll post a link if you want it. The ballast makes zero noise and barely gets warm. Time will tell how long it lasts, but so far, I'm more than pleased with it. If you get one, you have a spare bulb :')

Just saw a new thread where someone found a 150W HPS online for around $70-$75.

Not too bad of a deal there.

Hey AV8r, where did you find the $145 400W digital light? If you don't mind me asking.

 

[OregonMeds]

Craigslist. Look for hps wharehouse lights as well as grow lights. You can find the warehouse type 400 hps for $30-40 on craigslist but you may have to watch cl for a while to find the best deals.

It's worth it to buy a ballast even if it costs retail, just bite the bullet.

 

[av8r]

Hey AV8r, where did you find the $145 400W digital light? If you don't mind me asking.

Ebay. This seller lets them go for that price everyday. I don't know if it'll last days,months,or years, but seemed like a good deal for a brand new kit. It even came with the cheesy yo-yo hangers. It's a cheap reflector, but it works. If it craps out, I'll let you know.
http://cgi.ebay.com/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220465019057