SlightlyStoopid
Well-Known Member
I was at lowes the other day and I saw some 50 watt HPS there, I was wondering if a 50 watt HPS needs a ballast or not.
Do 50 watt HPS need a ballast?
- Thread starter SlightlyStoopid
- Start date
floridasucks
Well-Known Member
i got a 70w hps from HD but there is no need to take it apart and rewire you just have to buy a clamp plug and attach the wires. then just plug it in but it does get fairly hot.
SlightlyStoopid
Well-Known Member
I mean like... this 50 watt HPS is just like a bulb you screw into a socket... would you need a ballast for it you think? or would it be able to plug into a normal house held 120volt socket?
Gamberro
Well-Known Member
So no consensus? I'm setting up a ScrOG and read that 150W or lower HPS's would allow me to get them much closer to my plants, and I've seen some things along those lines at quite good prices, so for now I'm looking into it. If anyone has some advice for me... ah, I mean Stoopid, then please do share it.
floridasucks
Well-Known Member
the 50 and 70w hps use a ballast, but they come with it and a socket all in one package. but when you get the light you will see 3 wires coming out of it. these are the wires you have to attach to a plug to plug into normal household socket. its pretty easy and its not gonna burn your house down unless your an idiot. i use the 70w along with 6 30w cfls on a strip and it works great.
Acidburn999819
Well-Known Member
i went through this same thing a while back. A really smart electrician guy said i could just the light would burn out really fast because it wouldnt have a constant power supply or something or other
SlightlyStoopid
Well-Known Member
fuck it... Ill just finish out my grow with my CFL's...
Gamberro
Well-Known Member
Wow, that sounds pretty cool. More info on this wiring stuff would be much appreciated. 1
floridasucks
Well-Known Member
its simple really 3 wires, one is the ground wire, the other 2 are for power. you know like a plug with 3 prongs the prong that fits in the round hole is the ground. the other 2 you can mix up it dont matter. i have had my 70w hps running like this w no problems.
ISmokePotBecauseItsCool
Well-Known Member
Seriously, check out the Vapor Tight 150w HPS its 20$ and its the entire fixture with built in ballast and ignitor, which can be left in and used as is, or taken out and rewired if you want, and its fairly simple, just matching the same colored wires
Im working with limited funds and limited space, so I have 1 of those and 6 26w cfls and 1 10.0 UVB, and I am very happy with my little set up.
http://www.e-conolight.com/Product/EProductDetail.asp?ProductFamilyID=7&FGNumber=E-MT6H151G
You may have to click the link twice to get to the right page. Definately worth the money
Im working with limited funds and limited space, so I have 1 of those and 6 26w cfls and 1 10.0 UVB, and I am very happy with my little set up.
http://www.e-conolight.com/Product/EProductDetail.asp?ProductFamilyID=7&FGNumber=E-MT6H151G
You may have to click the link twice to get to the right page. Definately worth the money
Gamberro
Well-Known Member
There are a lot of reasons not to get that setup, one of them being that the ballast is about 60% as energy efficient as your average ballast and emits lots of extraneous heat because of the surplus energy.
Not to degrade your grow or anything, I know what it's like trying to grow on a budget, but unless you're in a utilities-included apartment and your budget is very, very low, that light isn't very practical.
So sorry but, I'm a bit slow (hence the medical permit, a-len-gue), is all I need besides the wires the 150W bulb? Because that sounds brilliant
OregonMeds
Well-Known Member
Guy yesterday called them when online ordering was down. Because the system was down and he was a first time customer he got free shipping. Get two...
Dude 60% less efficient because of wha? No, you're wrong. Mag ballast lights , small ones light this might be 15% less efficient than a electronic ballast of the same size and that's might.
Dude 60% less efficient because of wha? No, you're wrong. Mag ballast lights , small ones light this might be 15% less efficient than a electronic ballast of the same size and that's might.
Gamberro
Well-Known Member
There's a thread surrounding this light and a graph was posted backing up what I'm saying, I don't care to argue so just be off and look.
It's a budget ballast, hence the... "budget". No, no, I'm not going to get into this. End.
OregonMeds
Well-Known Member
You can't make a claim like that and not back it up.
Get into what, I just say you're wrong.
Or maybe you confuse greater efficiency of larger HPS's, but that is just confusion and not the same as this cheap ballast being 60% less effient than any other in the same size range.
Giving advice is good, when it's correct advice.
Get into what, I just say you're wrong.
Or maybe you confuse greater efficiency of larger HPS's, but that is just confusion and not the same as this cheap ballast being 60% less effient than any other in the same size range.
Giving advice is good, when it's correct advice.
ISmokePotBecauseItsCool
Well-Known Member
Well you would only really need to worry about efficiency and heat if you had alot of them
In which case your dumb, go buy 1 600w
OregonMeds
Well-Known Member
The econolight comes complete with ballast and bulb and all but the cord.
Wire nuts help too.
You can go further, building your own reflector and all that but you won't find anywhere else in the world where you can get 15k lumens for $20 or 30k lumens for $40.
More than that and yes it makes sense to just get a bigger light, but nothing can beat a couple of these at this price range period.
Rotfeast
Active Member
You need a ballast.
SlightlyStoopid
Well-Known Member
its simple. hes saying he has 6x 30 watt CFL's and 1 70 watt HPS, probably not on the same power strip. ive seen his grow box.