Is there a way to convert my little HPS to MH?

medicalgrowman

medicalgrowman

Active Member
I recently bought a 250w HPS, so I no longer need my little
old 150w hps for flowering. If possible, I'd like to run a MH
bulb in that 150. In what ways would I need to change the
ballast and other components? So I can turn my 150 into a
Veg Light.
Thanx!
 
sparkabowl

sparkabowl

Active Member
Here's a good link about making a ballast and the difference between HPS and MH.

http://www.420magazine.com/forums/how-grow-marijuana/72041-how-can-i-build-my-own-hps-mh-light-system.html

I'm not sure what components are compatible between HPS and MH, but I think you'd be better off starting from scratch or using a conversion bulb, but I don't think they exist.. I tried to find a MH conversion bulb that runs in a HPS ballast but couldn't. I think this is because HPS ballasts contain an ignitor to fire the bulb, which the MH doesn't need. There are plenty of MH to HPS bulbs because they probably just build the ignitor into the bulb.

You *might* be able to eliminate the ignitor from the curcuit, but I'm not sure. Just trying to give any info I can, I'm no expert.
 
medicalgrowman

medicalgrowman

Active Member
sparkabowl said:
Here's a good link about making a ballast and the difference between HPS and MH.

http://www.420magazine.com/forums/how-grow-marijuana/72041-how-can-i-build-my-own-hps-mh-light-system.html

I'm not sure what components are compatible between HPS and MH, but I think you'd be better off starting from scratch or using a conversion bulb, but I don't think they exist.. I tried to find a MH conversion bulb that runs in a HPS ballast but couldn't. I think this is because HPS ballasts contain an ignitor to fire the bulb, which the MH doesn't need. There are plenty of MH to HPS bulbs because they probably just build the ignitor into the bulb.

You *might* be able to eliminate the ignitor from the curcuit, but I'm not sure. Just trying to give any info I can, I'm no expert.
Click to expand...
Thanx! I appreciate the good info! I wonder if i can re-use the Capacitor & Transformer since I want to
use a 150w MH bulb. And simply remove/bypass the hps ignitor like you said. Would that work?
 
SCARHOLE

SCARHOLE

Well-Known Member
I believe you can run a MH in almost any HPS ballast (with equevalant voltage) with no problems.
But to get a HPS to work in a MH you need a conversion bulb.
 
KawiZZR

KawiZZR

Active Member
Have you tried this yet and if so how did it work out? Wouldn't mind sticking an MH bulb in my lil 150 during veg if this works well.
 
darkdestruction420

darkdestruction420

Well-Known Member
I've not done it with a 150w, but before i got my 400w ceramic metal halide and high output blue spectrum added hps bulbs i used a metal halide in my hps for vegging. It will work fine, i prefer having both spectrums though, but i dont think you'll find one with both spectrums for a 150w. i might be wrong, but i dont ever recall seeing one when ive searched for them to try to help other people w/finding one.
 
T

TheTokingKing

Active Member
I just wanted to chim in, I have a switchable ballist, I have to manually flip a switch from MH to HPS. Why the switch if I could just use it on one setting?
 
medicalgrowman

medicalgrowman

Active Member
I tried a 175w MH bulb in my 150w hps because the worker at Home Depot said it would work.
It lit-up for about a minute, then it died. I will next try an actual 150w MH and see if that works.
If it does, I'll use it for vegging, then switch to my 250w CMH for flowering.
 
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