Check out this Dinosaur!! Im not sure what to do with it..

found it on craigslist.. Guy said it was a 400w Metal Halide ready to go with reflector and built in ballast.. I only paid $40 so I couldnt pass it up and figured I'd see what its about.. I have always grown with CFL's.. So first of all its old! lol, built in 1978 Im pretty sure.. It's made by Hi-Tek..

Ok first of all it didnt have a 400w mh bulb but a 400w mercury vapor blb.. looks a little used but it still works.. I can put a metal halide in it right? The ballast is rated at 400w. Heres the problem..

When you first start it up it buzzes really loud and quiets down after a couple minutes.. But after about 45min. It started buzzing again and it was pretty loud, I noticed that moving/pushing etc on the ballast changed the noise but did not completely quiet it..

Can I have some suggestions on this thing LMAO Im new to MH and HPS.. Should I use it or did I just buy a worthless P.O.S..?? I would like to use it but I cant use it if its going to continue buzzing. Im thinking about taking the ballast apart and cleaning it out and making sure all the connections are are in good shape..

Its not even meant for growing is it? Its like an old warehouse light or something...?

Great.. H33 stands for Mercury Vapor.. Can I use a 400w MH bulb in this old baseball field lighting? ha

I bet that this is going to get very hot, And it looks like you are in a tight area..I bet temps are going to be an issue... Peace

biggun said:

I bet that this is going to get very hot, And it looks like you are in a tight area..I bet temps are going to be an issue... Peace

Click to expand...

Ehh not really, Its already sitting in my closet. Didnt take long for me to figure out that its pretty much useless..oh well win some you lose some. I went to home depot and bought a bunch of more CFL's and made a pretty sick reflector. I have been using CFL's since I started growing in early '09 but never have I used as much light as they have to offer. Im pretty satisfied. Ill add pics of my new set up in my grow thread tonight or tomorrow..