Any help with a 400w hps light/ballast.

Can any one help me out i have a 400w hps light but no contactor will i be able to run the light and ballast by plugging it straight into the mains socket with out a contactor, i will be getting a contactor some time mid week but im really trying to get the light up and running before as im using a 300w duel spec sfl light.
Hps lights are all new to me so any help would be good thanks.

There are 3 main parts to the magnetic ballast. You can completely rebuild one on the cheap but cannot run without all three components. There is the power supply, the capacitor (handle carefully, it can retain a charge even after being unplugged) and the ignitor. The power supply seldom goes bad and all parts can be tested at the parts place. The last time I rebuilt mine (2 years ago) it needed a new ignitor so I bought a new capacitor also while I was at the parts place. It was $41.00 dollars for the parts and the repair took about 30 minutes. You cannot do that with a digital ballast. Safety first.

I have a light/reflector/ballast just not a contactor will i be able to use my light with out a contactor for a few days.
As i was kind of thinking of just plugging it into the main socket on the wall.
From the uk if that helps.

Umm... who needs a contractor to plug in a light?

So i dont need one? as this is all new to me have been told i need one to be able to run it safely

you need to have a ballast to run that bulb,you will risk ruining the bulb an also yourself wait the few days for your ballast

I have a ballast allready but i got told i would need a contactor or contracter to plug my ballast into then plug thecontactor into the wall.
is this crap that i have been told as i was thinking of plugging the ballast straight into the wall socket then the light into the ballast.

you dont need a contactor if your not useing a timer! plug the ballest straight into your socket, this is if your going to be switching the light on and off your self, if however your going to use a normal timer then you will need a contactor, you could just buy one of these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Timer-HPS-CFL-Grow-Light-Lamps-22amp-Switching-/290555722597?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item43a6787b65 and you wouldnt need a contactor either. heres a cheaper one
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HYDROPONICS-HEAVY-DUTY-22amp-CONTACTOR-GROW-LIGHT-TIMER-/230634489394?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item35b2e30632

ROBSTERB said:

you dont need a contactor if your not useing a timer! plug the ballest straight into your socket, this is if your going to be switching the light on and off your self, if however your going to use a normal timer then you will need a contactor, you could just buy one of these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Timer-HPS-CFL-Grow-Light-Lamps-22amp-Switching-/290555722597?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item43a6787b65 and you wouldnt need a contactor either. heres a cheaper one
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HYDROPONICS-HEAVY-DUTY-22amp-CONTACTOR-GROW-LIGHT-TIMER-/230634489394?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item35b2e30632

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Thanks mate this is what i was after as i will be turning it on and off my self so its 100% safe doing it this way ie plugging it straight into the mains as iv had it running like this for the last hour and it seems fine.

yes its fine pluging the ballest straight into the socket. for the sake of 13 quid i would buy that timer above saves you from turning on and off, i know it seems easy enough switching the light on and off at certain times but trust me you will forget lol, i started off doing it this way and forgot all the time lol

chevyfan1a4 said:

Umm... who needs a contractor to plug in a light?

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no dumbass, a contactor

ROBSTERB said:

yes its fine pluging the ballest straight into the socket. for the sake of 13 quid i would buy that timer above saves you from turning on and off, i know it seems easy enough switching the light on and off at certain times but trust me you will forget lol, i started off doing it this way and forgot all the time lol

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You sir are a good man i have been looking for days on this info and no one has helped, i have had the light sitting about not getting used because i was unsure.But i will be getting a contactor some time mid week for sure, as after a smoke i forget my name let alone to switch lights on.

no problem, lol at above thinking you were looking for a electrician to plug your light in.

ROBSTERB said:

no problem, lol at above thinking you were looking for a electrician to plug your light in.

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Pmsl when i saw his post saying about i wanted a contracter to plug my frigging light in.