SPLITTING 1KW BALLAST INTO 2 600W

WalterWhite810

WalterWhite810

Well-Known Member
Ok ive been reading up on it and im curious, I see sun pulse has a ballast splitter. Im running one 1kw now and im trying to be conservative with energy consumption. I dont want to run two 1000 watt ballast. So my question is, Has anyone tried using a sunpulse ballast splitter? and do i have to use sun pulse bulbs?
 
fearnoevil

fearnoevil

Well-Known Member
Yes, I'm running 2 x 1000w ballasts split into 4 x 600w lights, plus I have another pair of 600w ballast/lights in my grow. I've run this setup for a few years now without problems, although one of the ballasts burned out after close to 2 yrs and don't know if the Sunpulse splitter was to blame (the other ballast is still going strong but then it is a better quality rig).

I think it's a good solution - I was faced with the same decision to either get more 1K rigs or step down to 600w which a lot of growers seem to prefer, plus it does cut down on heat from another ballast and saves some energy, although IMO I think the split lamps aren't really putting out 600w, but then I've never measured how one bulb performs in both a regular 600w ballast compared to the split 1k. It might be worth doing a little experiment with my light meter ;?D
 
WalterWhite810

WalterWhite810

Well-Known Member
fearnoevil said:
Yes, I'm running 2 x 1000w ballasts split into 4 x 600w lights, plus I have another pair of 600w ballast/lights in my grow. I've run this setup for a few years now without problems, although one of the ballasts burned out after close to 2 yrs and don't know if the Sunpulse splitter was to blame (the other ballast is still going strong but then it is a better quality rig).

I think it's a good solution - I was faced with the same decision to either get more 1K rigs or step down to 600w which a lot of growers seem to prefer, plus it does cut down on heat from another ballast and saves some energy, although IMO I think the split lamps aren't really putting out 600w, but then I've never measured how one bulb performs in both a regular 600w ballast compared to the split 1k. It might be worth doing a little experiment with my light meter ;?D
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Thank you, are you using a magnetic ballast? and are you using sun pulse bulbs?
 
fearnoevil

fearnoevil

Well-Known Member
Walter, yes they're magnetic switchable ballasts and while I did run Sunpulse bulbs for a while, they're pretty spendy and I found some Plantmax pulse start metal halides that look like they're constructed similarly and are a little cheaper and work fine. If you're just starting out with them though I'd say buy the Sunpulse bulbs this time and then experiment later after you've had some xp with them.
 
WalterWhite810

WalterWhite810

Well-Known Member
fearnoevil said:
Walter, yes they're magnetic switchable ballasts and while I did run Sunpulse bulbs for a while, they're pretty spendy and I found some Plantmax pulse start metal halides that look like they're constructed similarly and are a little cheaper and work fine. If you're just starting out with them though I'd say buy the Sunpulse bulbs this time and then experiment later after you've had some xp with them.
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I heard you shouldnt use the switchable ballast with those, I have a 1000 watt switchable ballast as well but if you've had great results ill give it a shot. This is the ballast im using now.
 

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WalterWhite810

WalterWhite810

Well-Known Member
fearnoevil said:
Walter, yes they're magnetic switchable ballasts and while I did run Sunpulse bulbs for a while, they're pretty spendy and I found some Plantmax pulse start metal halides that look like they're constructed similarly and are a little cheaper and work fine. If you're just starting out with them though I'd say buy the Sunpulse bulbs this time and then experiment later after you've had some xp with them.
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And yes they are quite expensive thats why im asking if any other options are available. lol
 
fearnoevil

fearnoevil

Well-Known Member
Hey I have the same ballast and it's the same one that burned out and I replaced with the same model, so fyi, lol. The other is an Xtrasun, both are switchable, just make sure you run them on the HPS setting. As for the bulbs, the Plantmax ones cost less than $40 at 1000bulbs so yeah I'd say go ahead and give em a shot ;?D
 
SnapsProvolone

SnapsProvolone

Well-Known Member
WalterWhite810 said:
I heard you shouldnt use the switchable ballast with those, I have a 1000 watt switchable ballast as well but if you've had great results ill give it a shot. This is the ballast im using now.
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Switchable ballasts just has an ignitor hat can be bypassed in MH mode. ;)
 
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