Question about 250 watt hps

[dillaman]

just orderd a 250 watt hps bulb. can i screw it into a regular light bulb socket im broke and i hope i dont need anything else special.
Thanks.

 

[jugg1es]

No, you need a ballast at the very least. Ballasts control the electrical current running to the bulb. HPS bulbs are not able to control the current running into them like incandescent can. Incandescent bulbs use what's called a filament that acts as a natural resistor to limit current throughput. HPS bulbs do not have filaments, and will therefore draw current at an unlimited rate until it is destroyed (I don't know how long it will take for a 250watt HPS bulb, but it definitely is NOT long enough to grow cannabis). I would guess it will either burn out or explode within a day without a ballast.

 

[d3thr0w]

ok it is ture u need a ballast for it and u need it to be a 250watt ballast obviously. but if u skrew it into a normal socket nothing will happen. it wont explode it just wont light up..ive tried they just dont work. so sorry to tell u but ur gonna have to spend about another 40 to 60 bucks atleast for a cheap ballast

 

[jugg1es]

ok it is ture u need a ballast for it and u need it to be a 250watt ballast obviously. but if u skrew it into a normal socket nothing will happen. it wont explode it just wont light up..ive tried they just dont work. so sorry to tell u but ur gonna have to spend about another 40 to 60 bucks atleast for a cheap ballast

the image of an exploding bulb is much more dramatic though.

 

[smokebros]

get a ballast and reflector combo