12v HID Lamps

sohighso

Member
Does anyone know if car h.i.d bulbs and ballasts can be used for growing purposes. These kits produce 4200lumens per bulbs and i have 10 kits so that about 80000 lumens. Is that considered a suffice replacement for a 600w hps? or am I just a Donkey?
 

Mcgician

Well-Known Member
It never ceases to amaze me the types of questions that get asked on this board. First off, why and how do have 10 kits of car hid bulbs?? Beyond that, why would you bother? You could sell those kits to people on craiglist and have a bunch more money left over for what it would cost you to get 1 600W lamp and trying to gerry-rig a bunch of car kits together all ghetto style. Please dude, do the simple thing here, and get rid of those kits and get a real light.
 

keico

Well-Known Member
Does anyone know if car h.i.d bulbs and ballasts can be used for growing purposes. These kits produce 4200lumens per bulbs and i have 10 kits so that about 80000 lumens. Is that considered a suffice replacement for a 600w hps? or am I just a Donkey?
You know I had to do some reading on this because It never occurred to me that these light could be used for growing.

They do put out a lot of lumens, and are in the 6000k color.

They are also available in different spectrums http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HID-XENON-CONVERSION-KIT-3000-6000K-8000K-10000K-30000K_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1205Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a0Q7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem45ebe8ace6QQitemZ300310637798QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

It is definitely a good question. I myself keep everything 12 volts except for my lights, to keep my electrical usage down to a minimum.

Now I still have to agree that using a proven method is always best, but if you have these lights laying around, the I say use them.

Just watch for how hot they get, and test different distances from the plant.

It would definitely be an experiment I would love to see
I would say try it. It doesn't hurt. You maybe could even start a new trend to growing.
 

keico

Well-Known Member
Its not a growing "trend" for a reason.
Just out of curiosity, why would you say this.

If you have any links showing why these lights aren't good for growing, I would love to read them.

I think the original poster asked this question for the same reason everyone else who starts to grow ask.

You look at stuff laying around your house, and wonder if you could use it for growing.

Maybe even you can save some money just by using stuff laying around the house.

But I would still love to see some links related to these type of bulbs related to growing
 

google85

Member
Are there any takers at all ??????
i have been working on the same idea for quite some time now...as i am by no means an electrician this project has proven more daughting then i had originally assumed...but i am using 2 of these automotive HID ballast to grow with. i have been using CFL's up until this november. its getting cold around where i live and i was about to put my civic away for the winter when the idea Poped into my head. It seemed simple enough...i had already dabbled a bit with the Ac ~ Dc inverters and thought "if you can do it with PC fans..you can do it with this"

So far the trick has been to find an inverter that pumps out enough juice to power the ballast. highest i have found is a 30w and i need somthing around a 50-60w inverter...i am trying to stay cheap with this (thus why i didnt just go buy an HID grow light) and the only inverters i have found that are rated for said Watts is a little over 100bucks....and that defeats the purpose of "cheap Lighting" so as for now i have the system wired to a battery charger....yeah yeah thats ghetto i know.

i will post some pics later today of my setup. i have 2 ballast with two 14k lights.these suckers are BRIGHT.

If anyone else has messed with this idea at all and has found out more info, it would be of great help to me and to anyone else trying this out.... Someone up top said this is a stupid idea and that selling the ballast and just buying the correct one would be the best route....YOUR LAZY and obviously have more money then sense!! dont knock it till you try it brothers
 
Top