Is this the type of bulb you\'re talking about?

the photo's so jumbo (if it shows up), I couldn't find out how to resize it.

And in the FAQ on the 5th page there is a post about lumens, and how to figure, and basically infers (if I understand it correctly) that a 70W HPS will make do all the way through the cycle .... ?

So these (HPS & MH) just go right into a regular light socket?  I have no clue ...  I was picturing tubular bulbs like the flos or halogen.

Incidently, I wish I had looked here at the beginning of my research:  http://www.lowes.com/lkn?act....rLights .  Of course, I would have gone out and spent $100+ on their set up instead of sitting here on my a** finding out I may be able to get by with a couple $15 bulbs.

 

Well heck.  Is swearing allowed here??  It's been one of those *really trying* days.


try this: http://www.lowes.com/lkn?act....L_BULBS

 

rad,


i wish that those bulbs fit in a regular socket... you need special wiring that comes in a case known as a ballast. the ballasts are usually designed for a particular type of bulb...

 

Hello Rad!


I too looked at using these bulbs, but misty is right, you need a special ballast. I was at Lowes/Menards, and could not find the right ballast to fit with the bulb. I think the faq's mention how to make one. But trust me, consider purchasing one instead. Unless you know what you're doing, a big fire/electrical shock hazard is in your future.


Try these guys:


http://www.insidesun.com/


If all else fails, you can purchase 160w of floro's for a very small crop(2, maybe three plants). And yeah, they're cheap. Using floro's aren't great, but they'll get ya' goin' until you can afford better.


I hope this helps!

 

Huge post rad! With a HID (high intensity discharge- includes HPS,MH as well as Mercury vapor) light you need a ballast/capacitor and sometimes a starter. Its better to buy the setup complete and modify to your needs rather than try to build your own. Inside sun is a great source.

 

Huh.  I see flos in my future.


And something like this http://www.lowes.com/lkn?act....50HPSRC probably wouldn't work?  I wonder, I assume those fixtures have the ballasts included.  Oh well.  I'll have to keep looking.

 

That last light would work great for a couple of plants.

 

YAYYY!! That's the best thing I've heard all day!

 

When you buy that light let me know, I used the same one for my mom/clone room by making it a remote ballast unit.

 

But now that I think about it, my neighbors have a streetlight in their back yard (literally), maybe I should just take that out for them ... LOL.


Someone I know who works for a gov't contractor tells me "If you weren't dishonest before you worked here, you will be soon."  I'm beginning to feel like that, thinking "well, if I sell some of this it would help pay for it, but then I'd be a dealer ... or I could steal it ... "  LOL.  I think I need some sleep, I'm certainly looking forward to starting a new day.  I've had it with this one.

 

Well I started rewiring things as a little kid but I really think a ballast is beyond me, although my general outlook on life is "how hard can it be?"  Unfortunately I have a real HANDS OFF stigma for ballasts, because all the ones I've handled were radioactive, leaking PCB nasty things that weighed as much as lead (well almost).  I don't know what the modern ones are like but I know people who know things and that usually gets me by.

 

Rad here are two links to check out on wiring your own ballast. Just remember that florescent ballasts are different from HPS or MH ballasts in that HPS/MH requires an ignitor to strike an arc in the lamp.


http://www.overgrow.com/faq/browse.php?qa=966


http://www.overgrow.com/faq/browse.php?qa=1151

 

Let me know what you want to do....I can coach you if you need it.

 

No really heavy wiring involved, just removing the bulb,socket and reflector then lengthening the leads. Easy stuff and no rewiring of ballasts etc.

 

That doesn't look bad at all.  Would it matter if my power outlet isn't grounded??  Dead serious, the household wiring consists of "fuzzy wires" and "bare wires", no ground, degraded insulation where it exists.. The diagram looks like it would be okay.  Worst case I can plug it into a surge protector or gfci.  I should probably make sure the fuse can handle it too ...


Thanks for the tip, I will be seriously looking into it.  Those links are great.

 

GFCI is your best bet, but the amp draw on the circuit creates heat....couple that with bad insulation and you have a fire danger. It would be best to run a new dedicated circuit to power the grow by itself. Fires do more than burn your house....they get you caught.

 

Tru dat bout fires getting you caught. A friend of mine had his house catch on fire while he was growing, burned everything he owned and got him busted for growing. Not cool stuff.

 

ya

 

Ohhhhh man just checkin how many posts i have

 

ya