Upgrading Light System ???

[blackfin]

hi everyone, lets see if ya'll can answer a question for me

i have a 400mh with a sungro reflector and i want to upgrade it to a 600hps..... now what i was thinkin i could do is this, gut my 400mh ballast box and replace it with the 600hps ballast.... because 600hps ballast kits transformer, ignitor, and capacitor are only like 75usd, opposed to buying one pre-wired from a hydro store and getting robbed

now the only problem i can see is if i need a different lamp socket and a different socket cord, but i don't see anywhere that a different socket is required.... of cource i'll need a different lamp.....

now it's a 400mh econo sunlight supply ballast and i would assume that the socket cord would have the same configuration weather it's a hps or a mh (you know the where the socket cord plugs into the ballast, isn't it just a electrical cord really, anyway)

so if it's the same i could just connect the existing port to the new ballast components and plug in the existing lamp cord into the existing port which is connecting to my socket

thank you,
bf

 

[blackfin]

bump....

i'll state the question more clearly

can i use all existing components (ie. socket, socket cord, socket cord port, and ballast box) of my lighting system except for the transformer, ignitor and capacitor to upgrade to a 600hps from a 400mh

 

[BluEBLaZeS]

probably not...
your ballast must support hps, not just MH. some ballasts are only made for mh and some for hps...
you might blow a fuse or set fire to something.

 

[blackfin]

i know that they require different ballasts..... i'm asking if i can switch out the ballast but still use the socket, socket cord and port, and ballast box???

you know everything the same except the transformer, ignitor, and capacitor (ballast)

 

[Blunt_69]

YES. No problem there.

 

[blackfin]

alright, thank you, that's what i figured but just wanted to make sure.... hope this helps other people wanting a upgrade that's not gonna cost an arm and a leg.... so lets review....

if you have a 400w ballast that you want to be a 600 and already have a reflector, socket, socket cord, electrical cord, and ballast box....all you have to do is buy a ballast kit and wire it up as opposed to buying a whole new ballast that's going to cost 200-300usd

 

[Guest]

dont go cheap when it comes to electricity and doing something illigal!!

 

[blackfin]

i'm pretty good with electrical.... just wanted to make sure it will work.... besides the kits come with a wiring diagram..... and as long as you take your time and double check everything you will be fine.....

you don't have to be so aggressive, bro

later,
bf

 

[BIGGER BUD]

Go for it BF, look after the pennys and the pounds will look after themselves. Hydro shops are a rip-off imo , not all just most. Does anyone know what the solarburst MH bulbs on e-bay are like, they seem almost to cheap.
Cheers EVERYONE laters.

 

[Guest]

sorry dint mean to sound aggressive...good luck to ya...im just paranoid....

 

[Guest]

Hey blackfin, howz it goin?

Good idea on upgrading your light. I have a 400mh that I'm not using and I could use a 600 hps soooo, I may want to try this as well. Do you have a link handy for a place to buy the ballast kit or are they pretty common?

Thanks bro...hope all is well with ya..

 

[BudGood2006]

Those aren't always a great deal. I've bought a few 600w HPS kits, some came with a long range ignitor, some came with a short range. You're only saving a hundred bucks or so, it'd be to your advantage to upgrade to a digital ballast. I've seen them on Ebay for 200. Longer bulb life, less electricity used, quiet, less heat produced... The choice is really very simple.

Just use replacement cord ends to attach the ballast cord to the lamp cord. Use something different that the power plug, if possible, to prevent you plugging in the wrong one. If not, have the female plug attached to the cord coming out of the ballast, and the male plug coming off the lamp cord. I would recommend going to Home Depot or the like and buy twist-lock plugs over anything, just to make sure the cord doesn't come apart. Or use electrical tape to hold the plugs together.

When you cut the cord to attach the cord together, leave a bit of cord with the special plug that goes into the ballast. If the cord that comes with the ballast is long enough, you can almost cut off all the cord from the lamp, or take apart the socket and just wire in the ballast cord to the socket. This way you have a 400 mh extra, to use as a veg light, or sell it to offset the cost of the 600 digital.