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150w HPS Club and Resource Guide......

R

R3ZIN

Member
Hey Guys,

Need a little help with wiring my philips advance 150w ballast n bulb up. Can someone clarify where I hook what up? I have the following

Ballast: Two wires coming out of right side of ballast. Red Lamp wire and Blue X3 wire both going to the ignitor. Six wires coming out of the left side of ballast. The wires are 120v, COM, CAP, 247V(or 243) and 277V wires.

Ignitor: Has three wires X3 Blue wire, X1 Red Lamp wire and White X2 COM wire

Cap: Two black wires with no difference in markings or writing on them.

I am following >>>this diagram<<< and am a little confused, can someone answer the following?

I have the socket white wire going to a wire nut with the following wires all going in as well so in wire nut are: white wire from socket, X2/COM white wire, COM wire with bare end going nowhere and a COM from left side of ballast(side with six wires etc)

I have the black wire from the socket going to the red lamp wire.

My questions are:

1. Should the cap be wired with the cap wire(left side ballast) and the com(from either the left side or right side of ballast)?

2. A wall plug should be attached to the 120v red wire and COM(on left side of ballast or right?)?

Thanks as I am finding this a lil confusing. Its also holding me up on day 2 of flower without my HPS hooked up just daylight cfls :(
 
U

unthing

Hi there great thread

Recently purchased 150w hid and trying vert out

from this:

picture.php


To this, current situation, about 3 wks (Edit: counted again lol) 12/12, some curling issues so water only, but next watering with moderate dose of biobloom.

picture.php


And yes, the space is bit large for 150w, but cooling it is quite easy because of that
 
J

Jaxom

Member
Been following along with this thread for what seems like forever. Have most parts to build a box, just things kept getting in the way of doing so. Now the other half has given me the green light to go ahead and build a small VERY stealthy box.

Because I no longer have acess to tools that I use to, I have to go with what most home improvement stores carry on hand. And more often then not, you can get 2'x2' and 2'x4' slices of 3/4 ply.

Two very important suggestions before I run out to the store to even buy those. I already have a 150hps that I'm gonna build a custom remote balast for.... In that small of a space what size fan should I use? And preferably one that doesn't sound like a jet plane taking off!

I LOVE indicia stains. These unfortunilly are rather rank. I know this from major growing I did in years gone by. What manor of oder control can I use that doesn't entail some sort of wonky looking drier duct or such hanging off the back end?

Any advice would be greatly appericated!!!

Jax
 
Baba Ku

Baba Ku

Active member
Veteran
Lots of things come into play, Jaxom. Thing such as where will the box be? In the living room or in the garage? Do you have the ability to exhaust air to an area outside the grow, like outdoors or in the attic or a crawl space below?

If you can exhaust into the attic or a crawls space, sometimes you can get by without odor control, but it will require a small grow with low odor stains. And it may require that your house isn't close to neighbors. If smell is a concern, then you are going to need to have a filter. The cheapest way to go for a filter is to build your own, but they are very easy to find and buy. You won't need a real large one, but you will need more than a gimmick odor sock or some such nonsense that doesn't work.
If you really don't need to worry about smell, then exhausting into the attic or crawlspace without a filter is doable, but if in a house there is no way you can keep the house from smelling like pot growing. You may not notice it at all, but others will first thing.

A small box is easy to ventilate, but it will need more with a filter. And that is how you will size your fan. You want one that is rated close to the rating of the filter. Most likely you will end up needing a fan such as a 6" dia inline that pushes around 250-300 CFM.
If noise is a big concern, then you may want to put a speed controller on the fan, that way you can slow it down to as slow and quiet as needed to keep temps in check, yet not be too loud.

Yes, some boxes that are built small will have the filter hanging out the back, but the most efficient way is to have it inside the box and suck through it. If you are building the box from scratch, this is easily taken care of by simply adding some height to the box to allow for the filter to hang in the top above everything else. This may require that your fan be on the outside of the box and connected with ducting.
My exhaust fans themselves sit in the attic, and I run ducting up through the ceiling to the fan. This helps to keep the noise up in attic and barely detectable at full tilt.
I do this by having my grow box up high, and I have an empty cardboard box between the grow box and the ceiling that hides the duct and holes.

There are lots of examples of small box builds, and many different ways to go about it. You will need to fit the built to suit your particular situation.
 
S

StupidBoy

Member
Well said Baba Ku!
Jaxom: You're gonna make changes/up grades over the course of your first few grows till you find what works best for your life style & particular circumstances. You can cut a lot of corners in your budget w/DIY (cab/box, filter, reflector...), but don't skimp on the fan. IMHO, a quality exhaust fan is the most important investment you can make in your new hobby. I get by w/a 4" in line fan for my 150watter.

I got a Q: What's a good speed controller to use w/these in line fans?
 
J

Jaxom

Member
Ya I sappose a few more details should be given. I've also mixed feelings about the size of my box. While I've seen some really nice 150w grows (I started reading this thread when there was only 50 posts) over the years.

The issue(s) is such... We only want to grow just enough for ourselves (wife and I), perhaps enough to be sociable too, not that anyone, even our "best" friends will ever know that such a box exists in our home.

The problem...and perhaps some can give us a few pointers on this as well. Is not only keeping a said box stealthy, but secure from prying eyes... 7yr old cutie daughter prying eyes if ya know what I mean!?

I personally am more interested in converting an armoire or large dresser. One that gives me enough space to make a box all inclusive (room for mother's, clones, flowering as well as storage for ferts, testing equipment ect), where as the other half, after seen many examples of "micro" grows like them more.

I can see the advantages and disadvantages of both types. But of primary concern is remaining absolutly stealthy and secure...

Jax
 
J

Jaxom

Member
SB,

Couldn't agree more. Many years ago, long before I met my wife, and OG was still a popular place to chat about said issues, I had my own minor commerical grow. Fans and air circulations are major factor in a successful grow.

For a potential converted amoire, I've my eyes on a Panasonic brand bathroom exhaust fan. 190cfm, and only 1.9 somes (mouse fart quiet!). I may have to go a bit larger, because I'd like to build myself an active charcoal filter for the fan to draw air through... Don't wanna burn the motor out!

Jax
 
KolorBlind

KolorBlind

Member
Jaxom said:
The problem...and perhaps some can give us a few pointers on this as well. Is not only keeping a said box stealthy, but secure from prying eyes... 7yr old cutie daughter prying eyes if ya know what I mean!?
Click to expand...

Im sure I do not have to tell you how much a child can surprise you with their observant nature if you have a 7 year old daughter. The main problem is that, unless you are outside the US, most 7 year olds have some sort of drug awareness program at their school. Now these assholes will come in and pass around pictures of plants, buds, pipes, etc. and even pass around a card that smells like pot.

When my friends daughter was 8, she smelled a pot card and said "that smells like my mom & dads room". 2 days later, DFS showed up at their house. Luckily they saw no reason to pry through their belongings (house in order, kids happy, wealthy family, republicans, etc.) so they lucked out.

Imagine what would happen in your case if they caught wind of anything. Not trying to scare ya just something to be mindful of. I would not go as far as to let her know about the grow (obviously), but I plan on having a heart to heart with my son as soon as he is old enough to understand (he's 1 year) that mom and dad use marijuana. I will explain to him that it is for adults, it will not hurt us, and it needs to be kept a secret. My parents gave me the same talk when I was 10 and wouldnt let me touch the stuff till I graduated and had a job.

But man, any second your daughter gets that you are not around, is another second she could be prying and sneaking through your stuff (we all did it). just keep that in mind, keep things on lockdown and dont ever let her catch on to the fact that she cant touch daddys cabinet, or anything like that. She will go after it the first second she can.

StupidBoy said:
https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?p=509470
There's a very simple formula in this thread that helps you choose & build the right sized scrubber for your fan. Mine works like a charm! :ying:
Click to expand...

Best DIY scrubber thread in existence imo. I uilt one for my 4" S&P TD-100x and on its 135cfm setting, everything is GOLDEN. I exhaust from my closet into the attic and I have never, EVER smelled anything unless the door is open, neither inside or out.

Oh and one thing a lot of people try to do is push air through a scrubber. Not to say its impossible, but if you can pull it will always, ALWAYS be more of a sure fire smell proofer. I pushed air through mine the first time, and stunk up my whole house. Convinced that the design was bad or my DIY skills werent up to par, I almost chucked it. After buying some bitimonious carbon on eBay and hooking it up BEFORE the fan, I will never doubt again.

One day my temps were a bit high (it was 102F outside) so I took it off for a day. When I got home from work the next night, I could smell my closet from my driveway just like I was standing in it. I have never been more scared in my life. But it was a great testament to how well it works and how absolutely necessary it is for anyone growing.

Cost me $70 for 10Lbs of carbon and parts from Home Depot to build 2 of them. Best $70 I have ever spent on my grow, and I have spent thousands. Dont buy walmart carbon, it is CRAP! If you need a link to the stuff I buy just let me know, its called bitimonious carbon and is sold on eBay in usually 10Lb increments.

KB
 
S

StupidBoy

Member
Hybrid Whooa said:
Just wondering how close everyone is keeping their 150 to the plant tops?
Click to expand...

Maybe someone will chime in w/a that lighting chart that floats around. The optimum distance from bulb to plant for a 150 is 4-12". Beyond 12" much of the lights intensity is lost and plants get stretchy and you get more popcorn buds. Many folks go w/more. It's about doing what works best for you and your situation. When the bulb is that close to the plant, you need good air movement and ventilation. Hope that helps. :tiphat:
 
KolorBlind

KolorBlind

Member
Hybrid Whooa said:
Just wondering how close everyone is keeping their 150 to the plant tops?
Click to expand...

I use a small computer fan mounted right next to the bulb that constantly blows air across it. I always figured it worked ok since I could keep my plants about 2 inches from the bulb, but one the wires came loose and it was off for over 8 hours. When I came home no plants were touching the bulb, but it scorched the tops of the 4 directly under it.

So if you have air moving across the bulb, you can EASILY get your plants at the 4" optimal distance, or even closer. If you have no air moving past the bulb, I would shoot for about 6" and move it closer SLOWLY until it seems like the light is burning the plants a bit, then back off.

Here is a shot of my cab with the center plants about 1.5" to 2" from the bulb and healthy as can be:
picture.php



And I believe this is the light chart StupidBoy was talking about:
MH_Light_Distance_Chart.jpg
 
KolorBlind

KolorBlind

Member
I should probably also mention that I had sufficient ventilation (135cfm Inline Fan & Scrubber) which kept my ambient temps between 77 and 81. Without good ventilation a small fan blowing across the bulb will not be nearly as effective.

KB
 
T

thcrefugee

Member
I know there are a ton of DIY cooltube posts on here, but i thought i would post my try at it.
I am pretty happy how it turned out.

I went looking in the garage, and found a random strip of metal. after some thinking, and some bending, i ended up with this.
(the light socket is only temporarily attached until i get the holes drilled for the screws.
picture.php


the metal strip, and the bends at the socket, actually holds the glass tube, it only needed a rubber band or piece of wire twisted to hold it sturdily.
But i went with two big hose clamps, they also serve to hang the fixture securely.
picture.php


i then looked back at the old 150 w reflector and pulled the top off of it. It fit Perfectly! it directs most of the light back down where i want it. For now, it is just resting on top, but i may find some way to lightly attach it.
picture.php


And here it is! I added on a small computer fan to pull air through for some testing.
picture.php


It works great! It was totally cool to the touch, even after running for a while! i love the mighty little 150w hps!
picture.php


Hope someone gets an idea or some inspiration from this!
 
C

cameron666

Member
does anyone have any grow experience with a 150w metal halide bulb with 3000k. could it be compared to a 150w HPS, i cant get a 150w HPS bulb in the Rx7S fitting, but i do have a 150w CMH that i used for my last grow. ill be using both. thanks
 
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