Question on remote ballasting

[bounty29]

I'm going to be growing in a cabinet, and I think I'll be mounting the ballast on the back of it. I was just wondering, If I built an aircooled hood, and wired the HID socket to the male end of an extension cord, and then wired the ballasts to female ends, could I just mount a MH ballast and an HPS ballast on the back of the cabinet, and just switch the bulb and plug when I wanted to use the different light?

 

[Harry Gypsna]

If you leave the ballasts internal wiring intact, you can simply hardwire your hood to it, using the chopped off extension lead as you described, just make sure your wiring is safe.... I take it you meant a chopped off extension and you dont want to try to use the plug and socket from it??
I did a thread on converting a Low bay into a remote ballast light...that might help some....Ill get the link for you.

Here it is http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=16776

Hope that helps some.

 

[bounty29]

Hmm... not sure that's what I meant. I'll use a picture I found from different users on the site to explain what I mean.

I'd have the one reflector and socket, like shown on the upper right, and have two seperate ballasts with plugs, like shown in the bottom left. One of them an HPS ballast, and one MH ballast. When I wanted to switch, I'd just unplug the reflector/socket from the one ballast, switch bulbs, and plug it into the other one.

Would this work?

 

[Guest]

HPS and MH are NOT interchangeable if that is what you are asking. You would need a conversion bulb as HPS ballasts have components that MH does not. A capacitor I think - dont remember.

 

[MTF-Sandman]

It'll work fine...just make sure that the ext cords you use can handle the current that'll be flowing through them plus a decent safety margin.

 

[bounty29]

HPS and MH are NOT interchangeable if that is what you are asking. You would need a conversion bulb as HPS ballasts have components that MH does not. A capacitor I think - dont remember.

That's why I'd have two seperate ballasts. What I'm asking is will there be any problem with switching ballasts and bulbs like I said before, and using the same socket/reflector?

And yeah, I'd only be using 150w~ so most extension cords should handle it. Thanks for the help everyone!

 

[Guest]

So long as you dont use an HPS bulb with a MH ballast, or vice cersa, no. Should work fine. Good luck!

 

[Harry Gypsna]

Yes mate, that should work fine as long as you use the correct type of connections... sorry for the misunderstanding...

 

[Guest]

i been using mh in hps ballasts for years ,,just swap the bulbs,,infact ive never seen a mh ballast solely for mh use

 

[Harry Gypsna]

Hazy, most of our ballasts here in UK are made to run both, but not so over the pond mate

 

[Guest]

What I'm asking is will there be any problem with switching ballasts and bulbs like I said before, and using the same socket/reflector?

Thanks for the help everyone!

no probs too use just 1 reflector,just plug an play

 

[rasputen]

Uh...sorry to stir the HPS vs MH pot....BUT!

I have been using CMH (Ceramic Metal Halide) bulbs for 3 years now for all "seasons". The CMH is a conversion bulb for HPS ballasts. Now I have all HPS ballasts and I get nice short internode spacing and great flowering from one bulb & 1 ballast type. (K.I.S.S.!)

It works great for me, and is much simpler to manage.

Also the white light of the CMH makes it much easer to diagnose the health and needs of the plants as opposed to the harsh yellow of the HPS.

PS: look at the spectrum charts of the first 2 links and you will see the full spectrum of CMH vs HPS.

PPS: I use the Philips but Ushido and Eye have them now also.
The last link is the only source I know of.

Just thought I would pass this tip on as I see noone else here mentioning these fantastic CMH lights that have changed my way of growing so much.

http://www.nam.lighting.philips.com/us/ecatalog/hid/pdf/p-5497.pdf

http://www.eyelighting.com/ss/EQS-N-52-84-00029.pdf#search="CMT400/W/HOR"

http://www.eyelighting.com/tb/MH/CeraArc/EQS-N-52-78-55108.pdf

http://bulbs.com/products/product_detail.asp?page=home&inventory=13318

 

[rasputen]

Just adding some pictures to help with the above CMH rant.

1st...CMH light on left and HPS on right.


2nd....The Phillips CMH bulbs I have used for 3 years.



3rd...The spectrum says a lot. Which looks like more bang for the buck to you?

 

[bounty29]

Those look very interesting... Are they only available in 250w and 400w?

 

[rasputen]

Yes, so far 250 & 400.