400w MH system, help me set this thing up, Please.

C.Indica

Well-Known Member
I just got a 400w bulb for free, and it came with this contraption.
I'll score pictures later, but to easily describe it, it seems like a box that hangs from the cieling, and then the bulb hangs vertically down from it.
It also came with a "saucer" of metal that has two V-shaped "legs" which I'm assuming is how you hang this beast.

I'm not planning on using this bulb for quite a while, so there's really no rush.
But I hope to get it set up and able to just plug and go before I need it.

I will be buying a reflector for it whenever I can.
It's Phillips brand by the way.



Does anybody have any idea how to set this up/what contraption I'm talking about?
If you need more information, please just ask instead of blowing this off as a bunch of bullshit. I can get pictures, numbers, words, or whatever you need to identify what I have.

Thanks a ton:leaf:
 

Growse

Member
If you could show me some pictures, Im sure i could help (: Ive got a similar setup for my 400w Mh
Edit: Do you have a 400w ballast too? Because thats pretty important. Wont run without one!
 

C.Indica

Well-Known Member
If you could show me some pictures, Im sure i could help (: Ive got a similar setup for my 400w Mh
Edit: Do you have a 400w ballast too? Because thats pretty important. Wont run without one!
I'll score some later tonight during a photo update on my journal.

I believe it's the ballast that the bulb plugs in to, I don't see what else it could be, it's rediculously heavy and has wires everywhere.
I'll probably have to buy a seperate ballast since I'll be using a different hood.

Who knows.
 

Growse

Member
Sweet. Yeah, alot of the time the ballast is in the fixture, and ballasts are quite heavy. My 1000w MH weighs at least 40 pounds :P
And no, you wont have to buy a separate ballast. If you have any basic tool knowledge you can take the ballast out and plug it into the new hood. If you want, i can even send you the wiring diagram :) ill continue to check on this thread for the pics.
Always happy to help
 

C.Indica

Well-Known Member
Sweet. Yeah, alot of the time the ballast is in the fixture, and ballasts are quite heavy. My 1000w MH weighs at least 40 pounds :P
And no, you wont have to buy a separate ballast. If you have any basic tool knowledge you can take the ballast out and plug it into the new hood. If you want, i can even send you the wiring diagram :) ill continue to check on this thread for the pics.
Always happy to help
My least favorite model..
Sweet, I thought about it but figured it would be too much trouble.
And I can get anything soldered.

Subscribe to this, I've never had to deal with large lighting systems, so I'm clueless as far as personal experience goes.
And hey, if you need any help on grows or whatever, just send me the word. I'll be happy to help, or forward you to someone who can.
 

C.Indica

Well-Known Member
So I've decided I'm going to go out and spend $40-$70 on a hood, and re-wire the ballast I already have, as long as it's safe, which it should be.
I don't know when I'll use this bad boy, but the sooner the better.

I drew myself up a real quick sketch,
looks like I'll be building a cabinet about 40" square, and 6' high.
4 plants total.

This will be my setup whenever I move out of the current situation.
 
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