Its common knowledge.........the igniter is the only difference between a HPS and MH ballast. Needed for firing HPS bulbs. Screw a MH in and the igniter does not even come into play...it will operate the same as a MH ballast. Nobody has been around long enough to know it all.......
So... no. You can't site a source but it's common knowledge I've never come across?
http://www.3rlighting.com/html/3rlighting008.htm
Just another way to get into the pockets of those such as yourself that does not know any better. Give it try and save yourself some money to buy a book on growing.......
You lose some lumens with that though and the bulbs are a touch pricey. I think the MH conversions are 360W. 40W is 40W. Also you really can't tweak the spectrums on the MH's as much that way. I run a 7500K bulb, which is really what I would recommend for along side a HPS. You really want to push the shorter wavelengths due to the HPSs lack of a dominant UVB out put. A super blue MH (7500K) will pump out a good amount of UVB compared to a HPS, that will pump up trich production. Im sure someone out there would be willing to trade a 400W MH for that 400W HPS.
This doesn't work with digital ballasts right?
Yes it does work with digital ballasts. All digital ballasts(I use Lumatek)on the market will fire both bulbs without changing anythng other than the bulb. Now some bulbs are not recommened for use in electronic ballasts...most being HPS. Thats one of the good things about Lumateks new 'soft start' technology in their adjutable ballasts. I have been using Eye Hortilux HPS Enhance Spectrum bulbs in mine for over a year without a single issue. This is for anther day but did you know you can run 2 bulbs from one ballast? Say you have a 1000 watt ballast. Wire 2 sockets in series, screw in a 400 in one and a 600 in the other.(bulbs that is)and both bulbs have to be the same type.
holy shit! never knew this. so can i also use a 1000 to fire say 800 watts? like 2 400's? or does it have to add up to 1k??
useful +rep!
Thank you!
so your saying I could run my 250 watt MH bulb out of my 250 watt HPS system no problem? Interesting but I don't think I'm brave enough to try it since I already have both systems and the HPS i more effecient anyways.