Question about some 2nd hand lights

singa4

Active Member

• Mar 5, 2014

• #1

Hi,

I picked up a grow tent and what the dude described as a 600w light / reflector / spare globe.

He couldn't tell me anything about the ballast, its labelled reflector control gear for 600w hps lamp.

I have tested both the globes and they both work with the ballast. One is a lucagrow lu600 which I think is a 600w hps.

The other is a krc400/t/h/960/e40 which I think is a 400w MH.

Is it safe to assume I have a switchable ballast given that the MH and HPS globes both work in it?

Should I use the 400w MH for veg or just play it safe and use the 600w HPS for the whole grow?

Thanks

 

dannyboy602

Well-Known Member

• Mar 5, 2014

• #2

Most mag ballasts are switchable I believe but there should be a switch on the ballast to be sure.

 

singa4

Active Member

• Mar 5, 2014

• #3

dannyboy602 said:

Most mag ballasts are switchable I believe but there should be a switch on the ballast to be sure.

Click to expand...

No switch, would the MH lamp work at all if it wasn't switchable?

 

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Well-Known Member

• Mar 5, 2014

• #4

mine does not have a switch, just plug & play (MH or HPS)
Dr. Jekyll

we would be more concerned using a 400 watt bulb in a 600 watt ballast
you may want to do some web searching to find the manufactures recommendations/specifications
Mr. Hyde

 

Jimmyjonestoo

Well-Known Member

• Mar 5, 2014

• #5

Ive always heard you can run mh on a hps ballast(same wattage) but not the other way around. Something about the hps needs something extra to fire up that the mh ballast doesnt have. Never tried it myself seems sketchy. But just like hyde said your best bet is to research your specific ballast.

 

dannyboy602

Well-Known Member

• Mar 5, 2014

• #6

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde said:

we would be more concerned using a 400 watt bulb in a 600 watt ballast
you may want to do some web searching to find the manufactures recommendations/specifications
Mr. Hyde

Click to expand...

good idea. Keep the wattage the same in bulbs and ballasts. No switch? I'd use the MH bulb in the HPS ballast but def keep the wattage consistent. U can get a decent ballast off craigs list. eBay sells them cheap too