Please check this out

Reflectorized 600w HPS lamp works with any standard High Pressure Sodium ballast system (S106 type - standard).


http://cgi.ebay.com/600-watt-HPS-Reflector-Grow-Light-BULB-Gavita-Sodium_W0QQitemZ160238250025QQihZ006QQcategoryZ42225QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

Am I reading this right? I have a 400w hps ballast and a digital 1000w hps/mh ballast that I've never used,with no bulb ...will this 600w bulb work with them? The 600w bulbs have 3 times the lumens as a 400 watter and I feel dumb for buying the 400 watter now.

i think the 600w will work with the 1k ballast you can only go under with the bulb never over and it has to be hps or mh switch the ballast correctly

NO YOU CAN NOT!!
Ballasts need to be matched.. They're part of a specially tuned RLC circuit..

born2killspam said:

NO YOU CAN NOT!!
Ballasts need to be matched.. They're part of a specially tuned RLC circuit..

Click to expand...

take it easy cowboy im only going by what ive read on this form.if its wrong please by all means lets have the right info.............
Does The Bulb Have To Match My Ballast you are correct sir thank you for getting me off my ass to look up the correct info

I know its a common misconception, and to a point you can tinker with varying degrees of quality/success if you know what you're doing, and a few workable mods have been posted on the net.. That beind said, less informed ppl have really expanded on that..
Didn't mean it as a personal attack, just didn't want to understress my opinion..
Put it like this, if it does light, it won't save money in the long run since it will stress your bulb to a very early death.. Best place to get ballast components locally are electrical/lighting outfitters.. They usually sell transformers, caps, and ignitors separately or in kits.. All bare bone, ready to wire yourself.. Far cheaper than hydroponics stores.. I got a 400W MH kit with bulb, and a highbay reflector (that worked DAMN well 12" above plants) for $40 a few years ago.. Parts for 400W HPS set me back $55 iirc..
If you do wire one up yourself though, insulate exposed connections like at the socket itself.. Should go without saying, but I'm saying it..

born to kill thanks for bringing this back out into the light catastrophic failure should not be taken lightly.........i think it needs its own thread because like i said i was under the assumption it was OK..how frikkin dangerous

I was actually thinking about starting a ballast mod thread, but I can't trust ppl to stop where they should in this hobby.. The number of nute burn cases proves that.. I've even been tempted to try some pretty dumb shit myself..
Theres no worse B-Roll for us than pot plants coming out of a house with fire-trucks and a coroner's van parked out front..

i have rigged alot of ballast.. Took a 70w hps ballast push a 150w hps bulb. took that 70w hps ballast and hook to a 175w mh ballast and pushed a 400w Mh and never had any problems.

unless your an electronic engineer don't pass advice that possibly could cause fire or death by electrocution.. if anything happens to headie i would feel somewhat responsible even if it is just a burnt out bulb

Actually, if I had accredidation to worry about I'd be more tight-lipped.. RLC circuit like HID comprises aren't really that tricky to understand, but you need more than a multimeter to measure/tune them (watt-meter, oscilloscope), and straying too from the norm blindly isn't wise,, Not to mention, the parts you need to mod them aren't exactly salvagable from other devices, and anyplace that carries them will also carry better options..
I was toying with the idea of modding ballasts to alter the color spectrum of bulbs.. Never to chince out on proper equipment..

i toy around with alot of ballasts and mix things up and try them. but i do no recomend trying it unless you know what ur doin and taking any chance of what the outcome may be after u plug it in. i've had lights blow up instantly, and been shocked couple times but iam also a licensed electrician.