600w HPS/MH ballast question with a twist. With PIC!!!

My question is this.

I have a (4) 600w HPS/MH ballast connected to (4) Xtrasun reflecters.

Is it worth the money to buy (4) new Metal Halide lamp so I can be able to switch them out when it is in the Vegitative stage, and then back to the HPS for the Flowering Stage. Is it really worth the money?

What is the advantage? Does it increase yield? Increase potency? What is the benifit if any? Thanks for the help.

-Mike-

fastnova383@gmail.com said:

My question is this.

I have a (4) 600w HPS/MH ballast connected to (4) Xtrasun reflecters.

Is it worth the money to buy (4) new Metal Halide lamp so I can be able to switch them out when it is in the Vegitative stage, and then back to the HPS for the Flowering Stage. Is it really worth the money?

What is the advantage? Does it increase yield? Increase potency? What is the benifit if any? Thanks for the help.

-Mike-

Click to expand...

The MH is considered ideal for vegging. It's more on the blue spectrum, while the hps is more on the red/orange side. I'm not real familiar with the exact scientific terms, but that's about the gist of it.

When you are vegging your plants, if you're using MH, they will allegedly grow bigger. HPS on the other hand is more like the sun of the late summer, early fall months, when an outdoor plant would finish.

I don't know if anyone can answer your question about whether it's worth it or not, because that would depend on too many subjective things. I would say, however, that if you are running four lights (is that what that "4" means in your post?), you've spent a good deal of money. So my personal answer to your question is why would you not do it the right way, when you've invested that much cash in the first place?

Thats a great point. I think I will baseline my first harvest, then buy the MH bulbs to compare. In theory it makes sence. We will see, and time will tell. Thanks. -Mike-

if time is an issue for you mh will def grow them a bit quicker, but i know people that do it both ways with great outcomes.

Can I use a 175w MH bulb in the 600w quantum series Dimmable lighting Ballast? Are will the bulb blow up. Are even worse, can it mess up my BALLAST?

The ballast has a switch for 100% power 75% power 50% power.

you can use lower wattage lamps in higher wattage ballast. In some cases, you can even use higher wattage lamps in lower wattage ballast. Ex. a 630 watt lamp in a 600 watt ballast it will just pull 600 watts. Be carefull though. I am not a UL listing. -Mike-

I think I'd check the owner's manual on something like that. It sure would suck to destroy your ballast. I'm not a UL scientist, either!

Thanks for the info. I will definately do so after this first harvest for a base line.