How hard is it to connect a ballast?

[eternal154]

Hi, I'm new to this forum and growing, I'm planning on my first grow but I can't decide whether to go with CFLs or HPS, the problem is that I have no idea how to connect a ballast to the HPS and don't know if I could do it myself. How hard is it to connect the ballast? Would a person with no experience in such things be able to do it?

I was thinking about this ballast http://growing.lt/magento/index.php/ap/balastai-pro-v-t-150w-250w-400w-600w.html (probably 250w or 400w)

 

[ProfessorPotSnob]

With your lack of Electrical understanding it would be wiser to buy a plug and play unit unless you have a mentor who may help you with such ..

Its fairly simple to setup but one needs a good teacher in my humble opinion , I always ask a certified electrician to help me with such tasks for peace of mind and safety .....

 

[eternal154]

Would some internet tutorial be enough or will I end up getting electrocuted?

 

[crazymanny00]

light goes into socket, socket into ballast and ballast into the wall.... simple

 

[robert 14617]

are you in europe or the us , this ballast has a wire diagram right on top , but it is set up for 220 i believe

 

[ProfessorPotSnob]

Lol you might find such by searching, dont power anything your working on and you wont have to worry about electrocution lol

 

[Turm]

Figure out the exact model you're looking into, a lot of the time you can find manuals online for wiring em, I did that for two of my ballasts. Can be cheaper but if done wrong can be extremely hazardous.

 

[eternal154]

are you in europe or the us , this ballast has a wire diagram right on top , but it is set up for 220 i believe

Europe. Would it be hard to follow the diagram without any electrical knowledge?

 

[robert 14617]

do you at least know what color is ground in eu

 

[eternal154]

do you at least know what color is ground in eu

Nope...

But I guess I could just google it?

Edit: the great google has told me it's green-yellow

 

[robert 14617]

looks like you will have a black and a blue going to bulb and same from cord

 

[eternal154]

What if I'd buy it and post photos of it? Could any expert here help me connect it?

 

[Turm]

Dude just save your damn money, you clearly have no idea on any of that stuff. The last thing you ever want to do is rush into cultivation let alone something electrical.

 

[eternal154]

Dude just save your damn money, you clearly have no idea on any of that stuff. The last thing you ever want to do is rush into cultivation let alone something electrical.

So should I just go for CFLs then?

 

[tip top toker]

Just buy an HPS kit as suggested previously. There is no need to wire things yourself, it is simply plug and play.

 

[sworth]

Whatever you do, don't buy from the site you linked. Their prices are a complete rip off.
£436 for a 400w ballast?!?!?!?!
http://growing.lt/magento/index.php/ap.html

 

[eternal154]

Whatever you do, don't buy from the site you linked. Their prices are a complete rip off.
£436 for a 400w ballast?!?!?!?!
http://growing.lt/magento/index.php/ap.html

The prices are in LTL (my country currency), if I do buy from other sites I would have to pay around 20-30 euros just for the shipping which makes it even more expensive.

(436 LTL is around 100 GBP)

 

[tip top toker]

http://growing.lt/magento/index.php/ap/aalbref-600.html

Why not buy something like that? all you then have to do is plug it together and you're away. No fuss about having to wire things up correctly without setting your house on fire etc.

 

[eternal154]

http://growing.lt/magento/index.php/ap/aalbref-600.html

Why not buy something like that? all you then have to do is plug it together and you're away. No fuss about having to wire things up correctly without setting your house on fire etc.

I wish I could, but I can't really afford that.

 

[sworth]

Here's the same thing
http://www.charlieshydro.co.uk/store/600w-Maxibright-Eurolux-Light-Kit-436.html

For £60ish not £600ish