175w MH Quesions (Electricians Wanted!)

Nitro1990

Nitro1990

Active Member
you need an
ignitor/capacitor
but looking at that transformer wouldn't say that's safe looks severely damaged that's my opinion

i install security lights for my job and if i seen that transformer in that condition i would replace it
 
J

JustinCglass

Member
I'd say for safety and dependability and quality,
Just spend the $250 and get yourself a 400 watt
Don't risk burning your house down to save a few bucks
If you addament about using it, just have someone who is very knowledgeable to
Run a new wire, breaker and plug, and make sure the thing is operating properly,
It'll probably cost you the same amount to do that.
Just try to take the logical route
The last thing you want to do is burn down your house
 
IAm5toned

IAm5toned

Well-Known Member
sigh.........

thats an fcan ballast, also known as a potted ballast.
the ignitor/cap is built in.
there is noway to tell if it works by appearances... the f can gets a little warm, and that heat is what causes the exterior to look so rough.
you test it with a known working lamp.and socket.
all it needs for power is a 3wire small appliance cord, that you can pick up almost anywhere that sells electrical stuff...

175w doesnt really justify adding an entire circuit and hiring a professional to do it for you, as the computer your sitting at, probably is using more than 175w, unless its a laptop.
 
Psychild

Psychild

Well-Known Member
IAm5toned said:
sigh.........

thats an fcan ballast, also known as a potted ballast.
the ignitor/cap is built in.
there is noway to tell if it works by appearances... the f can gets a little warm, and that heat is what causes the exterior to look so rough.
you test it with a known working lamp.and socket.
all it needs for power is a 3wire small appliance cord, that you can pick up almost anywhere that sells electrical stuff...

175w doesnt really justify adding an entire circuit and hiring a professional to do it for you, as the computer your sitting at, probably is using more than 175w, unless its a laptop.
Click to expand...
Safe enough to wire it up and see if it works? or throw it out?

Edit: Last I knew it was working while installed on the building, but due to some recent storm damage they were able to go ahead and replace all of them. I'm pretty sure the storm didn't effect this light unless maybe a power surge when the lights went out? Even then it wouldn't be unsafe to try it, because it wouldn't work...right?
 
Psychild

Psychild

Well-Known Member
I would obviously get a new hood for this and wouldn't leave it all dirty and what not, but I figured it's already a ballast and igniter so why not get a bulb and hood and try it? I'm not going to stick it straight into my closet, I will be absolutely sure it's safe. Seems to me its just dirty.
 
IAm5toned

IAm5toned

Well-Known Member
just plug it into a gfci outlet when you test it.... like the ones in the bathroom that have buttons on it to reset.

but to be totally honest, a 175w mh realy is not even enough light for a single plant larger than 12-16"
youd be better off ditching it and going with a 250w
 
Psychild

Psychild

Well-Known Member
IAm5toned said:
just plug it into a gfci outlet when you test it.... like the ones in the bathroom that have buttons on it to reset.

but to be totally honest, a 175w mh realy is not even enough light for a single plant larger than 12-16"
youd be better off ditching it and going with a 250w
Click to expand...
I use solo cups in my closet √ 175w would be perfect for me. I only have about 8-12 plants at the moment. With my added 372w CFLs in there it could be quite a show. All of my CFLs are soft white right now, and adding that blue light would be crazy! I know obviously that will be way too much heat for that tiny closet, so it'll probably only end up being around 200w of CFL, but either way that's WAY more spectrum and wattage for my grow. Just don't want to sacrifice quality for speed, if you know what I mean.

I'm really only getting about 1.5-2sqft of grow space right now.
 
Psychild

Psychild

Well-Known Member
IAm5toned said:
just plug it into a gfci outlet when you test it.... like the ones in the bathroom that have buttons on it to reset.

but to be totally honest, a 175w mh realy is not even enough light for a single plant larger than 12-16"
youd be better off ditching it and going with a 250w
Click to expand...
I plugged it up to that outlet and it imediately tripped the switch...so I plugged it into a surge protecter. I could hear something clicking in the ballast every second or 2 but the bulb never turned on. Is that possibly the way I wired it, or is it just bad? (I Wired white on white ; black on dark green ; red on light green) Also tried switching the black and red but still had the same outcome.
 
weedsmith

weedsmith

Active Member
your schematic show's for 120v. common- (white) connects to the commom-(white) on power coming in to fixture and to one side of light socket. red from ballast goes to other side of light socket. black from power in goes to black on ballast. blue and white wire from ballast goes to nothing just cap it with a wire nut. it is for commercial voltage all green wires are usually ground wires. hope this helps. seee ya!
 
Psychild

Psychild

Well-Known Member
weedsmith said:
your schematic show's for 120v. common- (white) connects to the commom-(white) on power coming in to fixture and to one side of light socket. red from ballast goes to other side of light socket. black from power in goes to black on ballast. blue and white wire from ballast goes to nothing just cap it with a wire nut. it is for commercial voltage all green wires are usually ground wires. hope this helps. seee ya!
Click to expand...
Just whay I've been waiting for, thanks man!
 
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