Help! Are HPS ballasts hard to setup?

I want to get a simple 150w hps because I didn't like how my cfl's in conjunction with my bad soil pretty much stunted my plants and they will only probably produce 2 grams so I'm pretty much done with cfls. Friday I will be purchasing a 150w hps since adding 6 new cfl's plus the reflective hoods will add up to about the same as a 150w hps with half the lumen output and possibly producing more heat since I have a closet grow. Only thing is looking at the picture I'm confused at how they work and if i have to do any sort of extra wiring. Also one website is where I want to buy the ballast from but the other website has a cheaper 150w bulb so my next question is it good to get your ballast and bulb from two different places? Below is what the pic from the website looks like and it looks confusing lol. Someone please help me out here

Also what is the difference between a Mogul base and a medium base socket? Because looking now it doesnt come with the hps kit. But they both look the same

i bought mine as a kit, it worked out cheaper that way, and all i did, was open the box, plug the kettle plug coming out of the ballast into the one from the light, and then plug the ballast into the wall. thats was it

Unless you really know about wiring stuff(which I dont) it might be better, and a lot safer, to buy a ready to plug in light. I just did a search for 150 watt hps on ebay and saw a bunch of nice looking 150 hps lights for under $100 and that includes shipping.

You can buy ready to go HIDS... budgets kits too... a 400 watt budget kit is only £100 so 150 should be cheaper although i havnt looked at 150's

A ballast is a simple plug in system and not what you have pictured. Here is something like what you would be looking for: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/150-WATT-HPS-DIGITAL-GROW-LIGHT-XL-HOOD-150w-SUN-SYSTEM_W0QQitemZ270422932813QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3ef6767d4d&_trksid=p3286.m63.l1177&_trkparms=%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A200

Thanks a lot guys, especiialy for the link. Happy growing

Jaysta said:

Thanks a lot guys, especiialy for the link. Happy growing

Click to expand...

you can buy a ballast on its own very cheap and wire it up yourself its really simple and much cheaper.

This faq includes illustrated images of the components and wiring of a HPS Ballast within Europe (220v). The last diagram dicpicts the wiring of a multi-tap HPS ballast.



LUDA.