Ballast?

The ballast is where I get confused.

I know that I want this bulb right here:

http://www.elights.com/philhpslam25.html

But what the hell is a ballast? The thing it screws into to give it power. Right. It has the same threads as my CFL's, what is stopping me from buying the $1 adapter at Walmart to plug this guy in?

What I'm asking is, why do HPS bulbs need a different adapter, and wtf one do I buy?

i think theyre important.. you should get one. now this is only speculation but i think that if theres one that has all the same numbers as your bulb does then thats the one you should buy

This is a ballast:
http://cgi.ebay.com/250W-HPS-Ballast-kit_W0QQitemZ220369305523QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item220369305523&_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116

So are these:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Lumatek-250-watt-Electronic-Ballast-120v-HPS-MH-250w_W0QQitemZ120397997685QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item120397997685&_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116


Make sure 250w is really all you want and all you're going to need because you could get a 400w for pennies more. If you can't handle a ballast kit, search on "250w hps fixture", you'll find plenty of deals on security lights etc which include ballast and bulb often in this size. There's going to be no noticeable difference between the new $300 digital ballast and a used $20 security light, and technically the $20 security light has a longer lasting core and coil ballast that's more reliable so you choose which makes the most sense.

I know, but I just can't seem to match them up.

I mean, the adapter I bought at Walmart for my CFL's is good for up to 1000 watts. This HPS bulb is only 250 watts. So why can't I just plug it into a normal lightbulb socket and have it work? It looks exactly the same to me.

I'm prolly the dumbest noob out there for asking this, but I just can't seem to wrap my head around why.


Edit: Yeah, thanks man. I see all those fancy boxes and stuff...but WHY?"

Because they do. These lamps do not run off 120v so the fixture or ballast (fixtures for hps lights have the ballast inside them) converts the 120 to the voltage the bulb needs to run, and they also require a 4-5,000 volt pulse to ignite the lamp and neither is going to come from a regular socket.

AH.

Thank you! FINALLY, someone has put it into words that I can understand.


Fuck it, CFL's it is then. I can't afford this other stuff, and that $26 one you posted looks too sketchy to me. I don't wanna burn my house down over this haha. I'm not good with electricity.

it is a more expensive venture however it is definitly worth it. plants will be sooooo much better, the ballest, as far as i know, is to regulate current, and without it thery light would just blow or not even turn on

Regulating current is another function of a ballast but converting the voltage and creating the startup pulse to light the lamps is the main function.

And yes, CFL's are very limited and don't yield buds like HPS's do. If you go CFL over HPS you're cutting your yield in half or worse right from the start.

im havin the same problem i cnt decide will 2 100w cfls or 250w 1 hps n ballast use more electric hps luk like they will use alot?

bumting said:

im havin the same problem i cnt decide will 2 100w cfls or 250w 1 hps n ballast use more electric hps luk like they will use alot?

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i assume you are asking will the hps use more electricity? yes, in this example it will use 50w more, 2 100w cfl use 200w, one 250w hps uses 250w, however the hps is much better as it it easily double your grow, much better light is put off, i use a enhanced light in my hps and it puts out all the light the plants need. HPS is definitly the way to go!!!

bumting said:

im havin the same problem i cnt decide will 2 100w cfls or 250w 1 hps n ballast use more electric hps luk like they will use alot?

Click to expand...

i think your looking at the incandescent output equivilent of the CFL. when it comes to CFLs, make sure ur looking at how many watts the bulb actually uses. a 42w CFL is bigger than the regular ones and thats the biggest one i can find around my area. In the long run, you will need an HPS anyways if you want good results so just go with a 400w ballast and bulb.