rewiring an old hps ballast

backyardwarrior

backyardwarrior

Well-Known Member
So a old friend off mine finally found a 400w hps ballast he used to use hidden in a cupboard in his garage and gave it to me to use. Its old and ugly but i know i can make it work.
Anyways I'm needing some help wiring the bad boy up. First pic is the common and 120 wires going to the outlet. I bought a extension cord Thats 16g wire rated for 13amps. What do i do with the green ground wire as there's no green coming from the ballast it self. Also basically the same question on it going to the lamp. Those wires are second pic. I dont wanna mess up are there any electrical geniuses that can guide me through?
 

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vostok

vostok

Well-Known Member

Just like those old WW2 bombs the green earth wire screws onto the body or housing

if you didn't know that most basic of facts

You should not be fucking with this

take it to a local tech. or TV fixit guy for more

any leaks on the caps you're screwed, big time,

good luck

ps personally I'd trash it
 
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$bkbbudz$

$bkbbudz$

Well-Known Member
Personally I would just trash it...why chance electrocuting yourself and/or burning down the house too save $100.00? Buy a new one...probably quieter and more efficient as well. That is my thinking anyway.

Good Luck and Great Growz
 
GreenJoker

GreenJoker

Active Member
I'll talk you through it if you like, I'm an electrician.
But I would advise you get a new one, a rewire will be fine. But unless I can physically see & touch it I can't vouch for it.
What I mean is, it's not my place that would burn down haha

Becareful whatever you decide to do.
 
GreenJoker

GreenJoker

Active Member
No, fuck it. After looking at the pictures screw that hahaha
Look, for the sake of like $50 you'd get a new ballest, reflector & bulb.

Keep the parts though. The wire nuts you'll use somewhere
 
GreenJoker

GreenJoker

Active Member
backyardwarrior said:
Where can i get a new one for that cheap? I got it wired and working but it does seem sketchy as fuk
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Ok, I was figuring out in GBP.
Try eBay, they're still real good value.
Check out new & used.

Try this also, http://www.zenhydro.com/grow-lighting.html

But shop around, I'd keep the old ballest as spares & what not.
your description as, sketchy as fuck, is hilarious! Haha But, safety first.

I'm going to check around to compare prices & will repost.
 
backyardwarrior

backyardwarrior

Well-Known Member
GreenJoker said:
Ok, I was figuring out in GBP.
Try eBay, they're still real good value.
Check out new & used.

Try this also, http://www.zenhydro.com/grow-lighting.html

But shop around, I'd keep the old ballest as spares & what not.
your description as, sketchy as fuck, is hilarious! Haha But, safety first.

I'm going to check around to compare prices & will repost.
Click to expand...
In all seriousness...besides it looking like a death trap what's the serious risk?
 
GreenJoker

GreenJoker

Active Member
backyardwarrior said:
In all seriousness...besides it looking like a death trap what's the serious risk?
Click to expand...
If it goes on fire. The FD, will find the cause & the guys in blue will know what was going on.
If you've a bud that's an electrician, get them to check it & test it. They must test it.

It's just the ballest you need, right?
 
backyardwarrior

backyardwarrior

Well-Known Member
GreenJoker said:
If it goes on fire. The FD, will find the cause & the guys in blue will know what was going on.
If you've a bud that's an electrician, get them to check it & test it. They must test it.

It's just the ballest you need, right?
Click to expand...
I have a nearly unlimited supply of 400w hps bulbs through a family member. Same as where i got this setup. He helped me wire it and runs 2 400w systems the same way and has for years but im not as good with the concept so if something fucks up well u know lol.
I have the ceramic mogul base that ive wired up so yes i think only ballast is needed...maybe a reflector as its a hanging bulb at the moment
 
GrowerGoneWild

GrowerGoneWild

Well-Known Member
If you're a frequent customer at a grow shop, the guys behind the counter can wire it up for you and test it..

The writing on the wires should make it easy to wire up.

The only bad thing about using old ballasts is they aren't as efficient over time. But they are more dependable than any digital ballast.
 
GreenJoker

GreenJoker

Active Member
backyardwarrior said:
I have a nearly unlimited supply of 400w hps bulbs through a family member. Same as where i got this setup. He helped me wire it and runs 2 400w systems the same way and has for years but im not as good with the concept so if something fucks up well u know lol.
I have the ceramic mogul base that ive wired up so yes i think only ballast is needed...maybe a reflector as its a hanging bulb at the moment
Click to expand...
I'm currently in Northern Ireland, but check out eBay. magnetic ballests are cheaper compared to digital.

Yeah, hanging isn't as good, it should be horizontal to maximise the light the plant revives.
A barn roof / winged reflector, they're around $25 or so.

Use those bulbs to the max! I'd change bulbs every grow, so that they don't start creating more heat than light.

Maybe I'm worried a little too much about the rewired ballest, but I lost all my belonging & in a an electrical fire in NY in the early 90's, I'd rather be safe than sorry now.
 
backyardwarrior

backyardwarrior

Well-Known Member
GreenJoker said:
I'm currently in Northern Ireland, but check out eBay. magnetic ballests are cheaper compared to digital.

Yeah, hanging isn't as good, it should be horizontal to maximise the light the plant revives.
A barn roof / winged reflector, they're around $25 or so.

Use those bulbs to the max! I'd change bulbs every grow, so that they don't start creating more heat than light.

Maybe I'm worried a little too much about the rewired ballest, but I lost all my belonging & in a an electrical fire in NY in the early 90's, I'd rather be safe than sorry now.
Click to expand...
My worry is that its an old setup i believe the date on the transformer is either 97 or 04. I think older ballasts are more reliable i just dont want it to die and burn up. Also the heat build up scares me lol
 
backyardwarrior

backyardwarrior

Well-Known Member
Id feel safer with it in the garage on concrete but it's a unwired garage so id have to run it on a 25ft extension cord and not sure that's a safe thing
 
Mount

Mount

Well-Known Member
I am all for keeping things cheap, but at what cost... seems your friend may be trying to help, but if that thing has been sitting for a while in a garage that has gotten cold and hot and cold and hot and collecting dust, things break down over time when not in use. If you are using in your home, ask yourself, when I am not home and not monitoring the light, do I feel safe it wont just go up in flames.... Also, while he is giving you bulbs, they may be his toss aways, usually bulbs get replaced every 8 to 12 months because of light degradation...for 120 bucks you can get a new 400 watt MH/HPS system with a gullwing reflector... better peace of mind with that.
 
ryan1918

ryan1918

Well-Known Member
I highly doubt your life is worth risking over a $100 item you can get brand new, don't take risks this is why people end up losing everything or there life, spend $130 and get a brand new ipower setup, hps/mh bulb, hood, timer, digital ballast and hangers and save yourself the troubles or even having to worry something could happen
 
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