70w Commercial HPS Modifications

I have just finished a HPS lamp for my cabinet that I wanted to share. I described the modifications the best I could.

I bought a 70w HPS Regent lamp at Home Depot for $59.95 and decided to modify it for my cabinet. It was designed to be a security lamp so it had a big heavy case and a thick glass lens. It was difficult to use in my grow closet with the weight and mounting. Here is what I did all with used crap I had laying around.
Regent 70w HPS lamp
6 volt adapter off a desk calculator. (this will power the fan in the powersupply case)
PC Power supply (doesn't have to work) you just use the case, female 110v socket and fan inside.
PC Power cord
wire nuts
electrical tape
soldering tool
wire ties
Strip the powersupply out, leave the fan, and female electrical plug. Leave enough wire to work with on the fan and electrical socket also leave the green ground wire screwed down.
Strip out your lamp, don't disconnect any wires that you don't have to. Mark them or take a photo so you don't mix them or cross them.
Wire tie your 6 volt adapter inside the powersupply case near the 110v power socket. Solder the wires from the 110v power socket directly to the 6 volt adapter wall plug (the blade end that plugs in the wall). Also while soldering attach your black and white wires from your lamp ballast/starter to the same spot. Black to black, white to white. Connect your 6 volt adapter (small wires to your PC fan in the case). I use a 6v so the fan runs quiet it moves enough air to cool the ballast. 12v will work but make tha fan run faster and louder.
Wire tie your ballast and starter into the the case and run the black and white wire to the lamp socket outside the case. Use a rubber washer or grommit so the wires don't get cut. Make sure no wires are bare or pinched and slide your cover on and screw it down.
Test it out, make sure everything is cool and not getting hot. I used a power strip incase I pinch a wire or something shorts out. Plug it in and use the strip to control the power on/off. Run it for a while with the bulb in away from anything that might catch fire. Don't go off and leave it unattended until you are certain it's safe.
I am no expert, nor do I have a degree in household electrical but mine works great. I just need to make a hood now and mount my lamp. I plan to mount my ballast outside my cabinet and run my black/white wires inside to the lamp. I may even strip out another powersupply for the female 110v plug. That way I can disconnect the ballast from the lamp easily.
This can be used in a large PC case for a small grow op too. Bolt the modified ballast inplace of the PC. powersupply.

pretty cool, ive been looken for a low wattage HPS to assist my CFL's +rep

I really like the pc power supply as a ready made ballast box. Excellent idea!
For that other guy: Don't buy the 70w hps though when you can get a 150 for $20-$25 from econolight.

sounds good let us know how it works i wonder why they dont sell 70 hps for small grows or a single plant

That's exactly what I built it for. I have CFLs also this will help me out during budding. I just have to get the hood done and arrange things. I am still veggin into the 5th week with 2x 100 watt CFL and one 150 watt CFL in those cheap 8" clamp fixtures. I am impressed with the CFLs so far.

Yeah cfl's are great for vegging.Hey EDDIE what strain are you growing

I have one sativa and two Indica. I started these from seeds I got out of some local sacks I bought. I save seeds from the "good shit". I hope the sativa makes it because it gave me that energetic buzz. The indica gave me a zombiefied buzz but was killer. I wish I knew the strain for sure. Hopefully I get some cash up and buy some from a seed bank. Until then I am stuck with growing seeds from known good bags.

I am tired of chasing down sacks just to be disappointed by dank ass, seedy, overpriced, light bags. Fuck it I'll grow my own! So here I am. LOL

More mods to the lamp setup. Check my albums for mor photos.

Here is the hood.