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death by 'DIY'
If you ordered the ballast, I would assume it is what you ordered. Why would it not be?
Color of the wires doesn't matter, just that the proper wire is landed to the proper wire. ATL has instructions for wiring a ballast kit. There are also instructions here in several threads.
If you want us to check the ballast, show a picture of the ballast. The sticker that has the numbers is what we need to see. This thread has repeated the numbers of the required ballasts ad nauseum. A search should turn up just about anything you would want to know multiple times.
IMO, and don't take this the wrong way people... but if you are not apt enough to even know if you have the proper equipment or not, then what the fuck are you doing trying to wire something up? Surely you don't have a clue as to how to wire one up, and apparently do not realize you are dealing with serious business.
Boneheaded moves kills people, and more often than not you put others than yourself in jeopardy with your ignorant moves.
drymouth, no shit man...you will get the help you need here, but gees man do try to get a grasp of what you are dealing with here. Anything that deals with AC voltage can kill you deader than a mackerel, and can burn down your loved ones while you sleep.
Do be careful and take the time to actually study up...or get exact instructions from someone.
Color of the wires doesn't matter, just that the proper wire is landed to the proper wire. ATL has instructions for wiring a ballast kit. There are also instructions here in several threads.
If you want us to check the ballast, show a picture of the ballast. The sticker that has the numbers is what we need to see. This thread has repeated the numbers of the required ballasts ad nauseum. A search should turn up just about anything you would want to know multiple times.
IMO, and don't take this the wrong way people... but if you are not apt enough to even know if you have the proper equipment or not, then what the fuck are you doing trying to wire something up? Surely you don't have a clue as to how to wire one up, and apparently do not realize you are dealing with serious business.
Boneheaded moves kills people, and more often than not you put others than yourself in jeopardy with your ignorant moves.
drymouth, no shit man...you will get the help you need here, but gees man do try to get a grasp of what you are dealing with here. Anything that deals with AC voltage can kill you deader than a mackerel, and can burn down your loved ones while you sleep.
Do be careful and take the time to actually study up...or get exact instructions from someone.
drymouth
Member
No shit.... its all good heres a pic of the sticker
I looked on the av site and there wire config only shows that of the colored wires even the old pic simba posted some pages back doesnt match up trust me wheni tell you "I'VE BEEN RESEARCHING" lerking on this thread for awhile, I'm just now grasping and gathering all ive learned to finaly tackl this
I looked on the av site and there wire config only shows that of the colored wires even the old pic simba posted some pages back doesnt match up trust me wheni tell you "I'VE BEEN RESEARCHING" lerking on this thread for awhile, I'm just now grasping and gathering all ive learned to finaly tackl this
O
onehitjake
Howdy everyone.
Thanks for all the fine reading in this thread. I think I read the whole thing,
and have been following it since nearly the beginning.
I'll be a happy CMH user in the near future.
I happen to have several ballasts to choose from.
I have some pulse start halide ballasts in 250 and 400w sizes as well as some of the s51 type.
I used to use pulse start ballasts with Radium bulbs over a reef aquarium. It's strikes me funny
that a popular ballast used to drive euro style Double Ended halides and overdrive some SE halides
here in the states has a S51 ansi code sticker on it. The PFO 400w HQI I bought for the aquarium
hobby has the same ansi code as my old 400w HPS ballasts.
I'm going to try out both bulb types with their respective ballasts. I like the extra PAR values/output life
you get with the pulse start driven bulbs. So I figure since I have the ballasts, I may as well try them side
by side with the s51 to see the differences myself. I'll also check and report their watt draw with a
Kill-a-watt meter. I have no Idea if one or the other will be more efficient with electricity, we'll see.
Thanks for all the fine reading in this thread. I think I read the whole thing,
and have been following it since nearly the beginning.
I'll be a happy CMH user in the near future.
I happen to have several ballasts to choose from.
I have some pulse start halide ballasts in 250 and 400w sizes as well as some of the s51 type.
I used to use pulse start ballasts with Radium bulbs over a reef aquarium. It's strikes me funny
that a popular ballast used to drive euro style Double Ended halides and overdrive some SE halides
here in the states has a S51 ansi code sticker on it. The PFO 400w HQI I bought for the aquarium
hobby has the same ansi code as my old 400w HPS ballasts.
I'm going to try out both bulb types with their respective ballasts. I like the extra PAR values/output life
you get with the pulse start driven bulbs. So I figure since I have the ballasts, I may as well try them side
by side with the s51 to see the differences myself. I'll also check and report their watt draw with a
Kill-a-watt meter. I have no Idea if one or the other will be more efficient with electricity, we'll see.
hey folks, first, thanks to all the posters, the info posted
has been invaluable, i've read nearly the entire thread and
i'm sold, especially after seeing some of the results you guys
are gettin'.
anyway, i'm a micro-grower with a cab that measures
33 inch's across, 18 inch's deep and approx 60 inch's tall.
i already know i want to upgrade to a 400CMH in a proper
hood (currently using 2x 150HPS in a DIY cooltube) and
i'm just looking for confirmation that i've understood well
enough to choose correctly.
i've selected this ballast kit from advanced lighting
and this bulb (the horizontal) to go with it. plus, i'm
considering the SS or the SSII, haven't decided yet.
my questions are pretty simple, first, will this combo work! lol
second, am i right in assuming that the ballast kit comes
with everything needed except a box to install it into and
a cord set?
and lastly, with the Super Sun air-cooled reflectors, can
the glass be removed easily if i don't end up needing a
sealed hood?
anyway, thanks again for all the help you've already given
with all the information you all have already posted.
peace, someotherguy
has been invaluable, i've read nearly the entire thread and
i'm sold, especially after seeing some of the results you guys
are gettin'.
anyway, i'm a micro-grower with a cab that measures
33 inch's across, 18 inch's deep and approx 60 inch's tall.
i already know i want to upgrade to a 400CMH in a proper
hood (currently using 2x 150HPS in a DIY cooltube) and
i'm just looking for confirmation that i've understood well
enough to choose correctly.
i've selected this ballast kit from advanced lighting
and this bulb (the horizontal) to go with it. plus, i'm
considering the SS or the SSII, haven't decided yet.
my questions are pretty simple, first, will this combo work! lol
second, am i right in assuming that the ballast kit comes
with everything needed except a box to install it into and
a cord set?
and lastly, with the Super Sun air-cooled reflectors, can
the glass be removed easily if i don't end up needing a
sealed hood?
anyway, thanks again for all the help you've already given
with all the information you all have already posted.
peace, someotherguy
O
onehitjake
someotherguy
I'll handle one and two for ya.
As long as your ballast says it's s51 and your bulb does too (they do) you're okay.
Look at the wiring diagram on your link and if you understand it, you're ok. If not,
maybe you should re-think it.
I've assembled a few ballasts in the past of a few types. I'm comfortable doing it, but I'd never
recommend it to someone without the knowledge to read a wiring diagram or ability to recognize
which wires on your kit are what. Please take that to heart.
The kit does lack an enclosure and both in and out wiring plug and mogul socket.
I'll handle one and two for ya.
As long as your ballast says it's s51 and your bulb does too (they do) you're okay.
Look at the wiring diagram on your link and if you understand it, you're ok. If not,
maybe you should re-think it.
I've assembled a few ballasts in the past of a few types. I'm comfortable doing it, but I'd never
recommend it to someone without the knowledge to read a wiring diagram or ability to recognize
which wires on your kit are what. Please take that to heart.
The kit does lack an enclosure and both in and out wiring plug and mogul socket.
thanks for your confirmation as well as your concern bro.
fortunately, i was trained in electronics by the military
back in the day (the '70's, lol) so i have some working
knowledge of how electrons flow and how to read a wiring
diagram, hell, i still know Ohm's law, lol and how to read
the color stripes on old school resistors!
O
onehitjake
Holy crap, I forgot all about those things.
Holy crap, I forgot all about those things.
LMAO, yeah, i guess i AM gettin' a little long in the tooth! (been blazin' since '69)
O
onehitjake
Okay, I opened up my PFO ballast boxes. Unfortunately my 400w pulse start ballast has an ansi code of m135, which is the wrong one for this bulb.
http://www.lightingsupply.com/CDM400-V-O-PS-4K-ED28.aspx
So, I won't be playing around with any pulse start lamps.
However, the other one, I already knew was s51 and opened her up
just for a photo. What do ya know, it has a Venture S51 in there.
So, I'll just be ordering the bulbs most here are for the HPS400w S51
and be happy.
I can still do the kill-a-watt test if anyone wants to know the watt draw.
Peace and stuff. :
http://www.lightingsupply.com/CDM400-V-O-PS-4K-ED28.aspx
So, I won't be playing around with any pulse start lamps.
However, the other one, I already knew was s51 and opened her up
just for a photo.
What do ya know, it has a Venture S51 in there.So, I'll just be ordering the bulbs most here are for the HPS400w S51
and be happy.
I can still do the kill-a-watt test if anyone wants to know the watt draw.
Peace and stuff. :
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-03/sj/index.php
Not directly on the CMH topic but, some good info on Metal Halides and Ballasts.
Not directly on the CMH topic but, some good info on Metal Halides and Ballasts.
O
onehitjake
Thanks Azeotrope.
I did take a look around the web after discovering the m135 sticker inside.
I was thinking the same thing that the m155 and m135 could be identical,
or maybe just has different capacitor and ignitor.
I decided to hold off on the purchase, have a smoke break and look again
later at the ballast to see if the cap n ignitor match up with a spec sheet
for the m155.
So, it's later now
I looked here
http://www.venturelighting.com/VLPS/Opti-Wave400W.html#400W
The capacitor is the same, but I'm unsure about the ignitor.
Come to think about it, I'm unsure about the transformer too.
I'll dig around some more before actually click the order now button.
Here are the pics of the m135's innards.
I did take a look around the web after discovering the m135 sticker inside.
I was thinking the same thing that the m155 and m135 could be identical,
or maybe just has different capacitor and ignitor.
I decided to hold off on the purchase, have a smoke break and look again
later at the ballast to see if the cap n ignitor match up with a spec sheet
for the m155.
So, it's later now
I looked here
http://www.venturelighting.com/VLPS/Opti-Wave400W.html#400W
The capacitor is the same, but I'm unsure about the ignitor.
Come to think about it, I'm unsure about the transformer too.
I'll dig around some more before actually click the order now button.
Here are the pics of the m135's innards.
O
onehitjake
Well, that was fast. They look Identical except for the operating amps of mine is 1.65 and the one below 1.7 on the 277v line.
(which I'm not using anyway)
For shits and giggles, have a look at their asking price for this thing. hehe nuts!
http://www.drillspot.com/products/3...2-001D_Metal_Halide_Hid_Core_Coil_Ballast_Kit
Looks like I'll be rolling forward with the plan and order some bulbs tonight.
(which I'm not using anyway)
For shits and giggles, have a look at their asking price for this thing. hehe nuts!
http://www.drillspot.com/products/3...2-001D_Metal_Halide_Hid_Core_Coil_Ballast_Kit
Looks like I'll be rolling forward with the plan and order some bulbs tonight.
i don't know if this will help you man but here's a link to
an S51 kit for $58.00 USD
http://www.advancedtechlighting.com/so400-71c-211.htm
here's the data sheet on it.
O
onehitjake
Thanks someotherguy.
Yeah, that's more like what a raw ballast should cost. Really makes that $200.00 one in the link above look like the rip off that it is.
I do indeed have some though.
Yeah, that's more like what a raw ballast should cost. Really makes that $200.00 one in the link above look like the rip off that it is.
I do indeed have some though.
I think he said he had a M135 400watt? The only pulse start ballasts that will work with a CMH is the 150 watt and less. The 400 requires a magnetic core S51
