~ballasts

[redeye88]

ok so im getting ready to start buying all the material to set this room up. A 400w HPS bulb since were only doing 4 or less plants at a time.

I was just curious, whats the deal with a ballast? Where can i get one for a 400w hps without having to order online, and when i do get it, what the hell do i do with it??

does it directly hook into the bulb or something?

can someone please inform me on more information regarding a ballast in a grow room?

 

[fellafrompocatella]

We just answered your ?'s in your other post. Your plants don't stand a chance unless YOU START RESEARCHING!!!!!!!!!!! Look at online ballast systems and just by the pictures I would hope you can figure out how they work. Order the damn thing online. Order the whole set up. A ballast regulates the amount of electricity that flows to your lamp(bulb) from your outlet. You need it and yes it will be located in your grow room unless you have a 100ft cord going from it to your reflector.

 

[redeye88]

lol, i did alot of research online, there are many pictures and no, I have no idea still how the **** works

 

[willowgrow]

There are 3 parts to a HID (high intensity discharge) lights. Thats why when you look to buy them, you can buy all the pieces, or together as a system. There is the actual bulb, the reflector//lamp holder (the thing the bulb screw into) and the ballast (the electrical regulator). Think of your computer monitor (my monitor atleast), or laptop charger.. there is a plug that goes to your outlet and connects to a box (the ballast) there is another cord connected to the ballast that plugs into your reflector (or laptop). Your reflector will come prewired with a mongul socket which your light will screw into. Make sure your ballast wattage matches your lamp wattage. This is pretty much, in my opinion, as basic as a HID system can be explained. Check out htgsupply.com, they have very cheap systems, plug-and-play goodluck

 

[cannaman]

I was worried about buying online, and figured what the hey, I'll just grow tomatoes ....
anyhow, I picked up a 400w switchable/convertable ballast ( mh/hps with the flick of a switch ) on ebay new in the box, for $ 80.00us(83.00 shipped) , a matching cord from the same dealer for $20.00( matching plug to ballast,less the socket), and a socket for $20.00
total = 120.00,

I built a hood using sheet aluminum (30' roll 3' wide) left over from a building project. which I built a fan into(3 hours time), and will have glass cut (5.00$) to fit.

all said and done, if you have the time to reserch, you can get great deals.

now i need to build the curage to buy seeds online!!!

 

[The Hemp Goddess]

I built a hood using sheet aluminum (30' roll 3' wide) left over from a building project. which I built a fan into(3 hours time), and will have glass cut (5.00$) to fit.

You are going to want to get tempered glass in your reflector, not just regular glass that you can get for $5.

 

[BBFan]

You are going to want to get tempered glass in your reflector, not just regular glass that you can get for $5.

Why would you need tempered glass THG?

 

[andy52]

heat,is the reason

 

[BBFan]

Heat doesn't make any difference as far as glass goes.

 

[The Hemp Goddess]

Because it gets hot and the chance of breakage is great. All MH lights have tempered glass and most of the HPS do. I would never put a light in my room without tempered glass in it. Just my .02

 

[BBFan]

Safety first. Thanks HG.

 

[Hick]

Heat doesn't make any difference as far as glass goes.

most certainly, absolutely does.. speaking from first hand experience..
I tried un-tempered glass in my first home made cooled reflector. It wasn't 12 hours before it shattered and fell. 1k mh in a 30" circular reflector.. it woulda' been ugly, had I had plants in there/their/they're..

 

[cannaman]

i know a glass comp that cuts glass for wood stoves.... about $5.oo for the glass i need.