I'm in need of a new ballast, and was looking at the 400 watt lumatek. I'm confused as to what socket, if any, I need to purchase with it. I currently have a "remanufactured" coil style ballast, which gets really hot. I'm looking to use a cooltube reflector with the lumatek, so which socket set do I need? I have the socket that came with the cooltube as well, if that can worK? I've tried looking around on both the forums and the 'net in general, but haven't found a clear answer yet.
-
As of today ICMag has his own Discord server. In this Discord server you can chat, talk with eachother, listen to music, share stories and pictures...and much more. Join now and let's grow together! Join ICMag Discord here! More details in this thread here: here.
Help a Newbie with a lumatek please?
- Thread starter Bluestar
- Start date
M
MEDI-EVIL
im using a lumatek 600 watt not sure what you mean.do u mean the E40 socket.
petemoss
Active member
Bluestar,
You will need an adapter to connect the male plug from your light to the female plug from the Lumatek. When you order the Lumatek, tell them you need an adapter to connect your light to the ballast. It's called something like a Sun System-to-Hydrofarm adapter. The female plug from the Lumatek is three round prongs arranged in a triangle while the male plg from the light is usually three flat prongs with one prong turned 90 degrees. It only costs about $5 more.
You will need an adapter to connect the male plug from your light to the female plug from the Lumatek. When you order the Lumatek, tell them you need an adapter to connect your light to the ballast. It's called something like a Sun System-to-Hydrofarm adapter. The female plug from the Lumatek is three round prongs arranged in a triangle while the male plg from the light is usually three flat prongs with one prong turned 90 degrees. It only costs about $5 more.
ok there are three types of cool tubes on ebay
either 5", 6", or 8"
5" cool tube
these are only 5" and have a socket on them but no cord
9.25'' X 5'' X 5''
EBAY has a 5" cooltube they say will fit a 400watt bulb ( it doesn't say what kind of 400....IDK
http://cgi.ebay.com/400-Watt-HPS-Metal-Halide-Light-Cool-Tube-Reflector_W0QQitemZ280342229202QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item4145b2f0d2&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A15%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50
example( these are prolly only good for 250 watt (dont get one unless you are runin 250 watt HID --(250 hps and mh will fit) -- OR a 400 HPS bulb only)
http://cgi.ebay.com/400-Watt-HPS-Me...5|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318|301:0|293:1|294:50
if ya get one of these you will have to get a mogul cord with a plug that goes to ballast ( most ballast use a universal plug)
as seen here
and this will be need to attach to cool tube with no cord
if you just want the cord
something like this witha plug for the ballast and splice the end onto your existing cool tube socket
http://i16.ebayimg.com/01/i/08/b0/b0/72_1.JPG
http://cgi.ebay.com/400-Watt-HPS-Me...s=66:2|65:15|39:1|240:1318|301:1|293:1|294:50
6 inch cool tubes
like this
http://cgi.ebay.com/19-air-cool-tub...5|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318|301:0|293:1|294:50
come with a 15 foot cord prewired into the cool tube and a plug on the end
Dimensions: 19" long x 7 1/2" wide x 6" high
this socket will fit any HID 250-1000
the 8 inch are basically the same thing just bigger and will fit all bulbs
IMO
if you dont have the MOGUL cord and socket , bulbs
and already have a cool tube
then this is a good deal .....
the cord may be cut and spliced onto a cool tube
comes with 2 bulbs
lumatek and a crappy reflector
http://cgi.ebay.com/Lumatek-400-Swi...34.c0.m14.l1262&_trkparms=|301:1|293:1|294:30
if you dont have a reflector yet ....forget the cool tube
and go with a sealed reflector if it will fit in your grow room
somethin like this is nice
http://cgi.ebay.com/400-Lumatek-Gro...34.c0.m14.l1262&_trkparms=|301:1|293:1|294:30
when I bought a HID lumatek kit ..I went with a batwing cheap reflector and then after seeing my temps skyrocket..I went out and bought a sealed reflector ..i could have saved some cash and got the sealed reflector kit in the first place
Vegan
correct if the cooltube ALREADY has a plug.. that doesnt fit the ballast hes working with
M
MEDI-EVIL
you can pick up a kettle plug in any hardware store cheap..
Sorry I'm such a newb when it comes to sockets and such. The socket (if I'm reading right) that I have is a mogul (it has no cord attached to it, just the screws for attaching the wires). It came with a 6" cooltube (the tube was bought a few years ago, seperate from the ballast. The ballast is a whole different story. It's a 400 HPS, but it's in an electrical-box type housing (I came to find out after the fact that the guy was just building them and calling them remanufactured). It's almost 1' square.
I was looking at order the lumatek from gchydro and have the choice between:
1) Hydrofarm socket
2) Sunlight Supply Socket with HF Plug Adapter
Also, about bulbs.... I have a universal hps bulb from gchydro, the lumatek should work with it, right?
I was looking at order the lumatek from gchydro and have the choice between:
1) Hydrofarm socket
2) Sunlight Supply Socket with HF Plug Adapter
Also, about bulbs.... I have a universal hps bulb from gchydro, the lumatek should work with it, right?
Ok, so I've got one more question, if somebody would be so kind. I was going to go with the kit Vegan kindly pointed me to, but if I'm reading it right, doesn't come with lamp cord. The cord that's included is for the ballast to plug into the wall outlet. So I'm going for the ballast and cord from gchydro. I'm planning on splicing the cord to the socket that's in the cooltube, but not sure which cord to buy, or if it even matters. I can pick either the Hydrofarm socket or Sunlight Supply Socket with HF Plug Adapter. Does it matter? Is one easier than the other?
if you are referring to the lumatek , with the bulbs
http://cgi.ebay.com/Lumatek-400-Switchable-Grow-Light-kit-MH-HPS-2-lamp_W0QQitemZ280348316316QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item41460fd29c&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1262&_trkparms=%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A30
it comes with a 15 ft lamp cord which you will disconnect form the scheesy reflector and connect to the cooltube ,,the lamp mogul cord is constructed with screws and nuts and comes apart quite easily.. inside are twisty wire connectors .
i got the same kit and took it apart with a philips screwdriver
remember you will need to change bulbs every so often , the lose their intensity after a while
so they wont go to waste//
You could probably get away with swapping out mogul bases without having to rewire . Same boat , bought 400 lumatek , plus 6in. sun system adapter , didn't mesh . Used hydrofarm lumatek 8ft. extension , snipped female end and connected three wires . Now plug and play ! Hope it helps .
