I'm very new to growing and decided to go to home depot for their 400watt hps bulbs. when I got there they sold the bulbs but I could not find anything to connect the bulbs too... is there any simple way to connect a 400watt HPS bulb without being a electrician. I would really like something I could plug into the wall instead of hardwiring. Thanks!
Home Depot Lighting
- Thread starter JBodule
- Start date
willbraypimpin
Active Member
how much did you pay for the bulb
willbraypimpin
Active Member
yea i bought a 400 watt hps system with a reflector and ballast for only 150 bucks but i think it will be worth it
yea they had a 150watt reflector and lamp read to go at lowes...but no one carry's a 400watt bulb and lamp together..anywhere...we went to like 3 diff stores...At home depot they had the ballast but they were just a bunch of wires at each end and no power cord...anyone have like direction on how to hook it up?...no one at homedepot knew what htey were doing
titanium3g
Well-Known Member
They have a 400w HPS ballast at Home depot? Word? How much was it?
Wiring up a ballast isn't hard, there are directions somewhere and u just need an extension cord with an end cut off to wire it.
Wiring up a ballast isn't hard, there are directions somewhere and u just need an extension cord with an end cut off to wire it.
420bugmenot
New Member
Guys save your money. you're not going to get as good of results with these bulbs as you would from one specifically for plants. save up a couple hundred bucks and you can have a very nice setup. This cheap rigjobs will just cost you more in the long run and your results wont be as good
MajoR_TokE
Well-Known Member
Yes, Yes, Yes, you are right! Listen to this man...
btw heres a link for ur wiring request just be carefull 
natrone23
Well-Known Member
If I were you I would buy some CFl's or shop lights....alot of people on here use them...or....save about 150$ to 220$ and buy a full 400w hps setup from HTG Supply.com.....I got my 400 hps from them...its great deal......plug it in your ready to grow...........and I'm pretty sure they don't sell 400 w ballast at HD........That type of lighting is alot more complicated than you think,,,its not as simple as you think....your not dealing with home lighting
The only difference with commercial lights from Home Depot is the reflector, HPS is HPS, no difference in light spectrum. The grow shop fixtures isolate the ballast for lighter weight in the bulb reflector part of the light. The reflector in commercial lights focuses the light into a beam so that you can light up a parking lot like a flood light. Grow lights use a reflector that spreads out the light (diffuses the light) so a larger circle is formed not a tight beam. If you have common sense, you can build a reflector from sheet metal and spray the lit side with flat white heat paint for engines etc. One big difference is that you don't have to order it from a grow shop that is probably run by the police or the owners sell your info to the cops for a little extra profit. Where I come from the police don't like people that grow pot in their houses, so the less someone ADVERTISES that they are doing it the more likely they won't get that midnight knock on the door. Wiring is simple, black is hot white is neutral and green is ground. All 3 prong heavy extension cords use this color code, so cut off the end, strip the wires one inch back AND USE WIRE NUTS to connect the wires to your lamp wires. Don't try hooking up HPS without a ballast like an incandescent house bulb, cuz they are totally different by design. You can find real cheap used HPS lights at yard sales, flea markets and in papers that sell used stuff, just replace the bulbs because old bulbs don't give off the same light as new. If Home Depot doesn't have em any electrical supply house has everything you want no questions asked, no cops involved. 20 years and no arrests in a small town where everyone knows your business, I guess I did something careful enough. Just my opinion, that's all
tyrantfour
Active Member
well said budman
they do sell the 400watt hps lights at home depot...i held it in my hand debating weather to buy it haha..they just didnt have the package like the one on that website..I have the money so im prolly ganna order one from there..there are diff kinds of 400watt hps bulbs? I figured a 400watt hps was a 400watt hps haha..so rigging one up with a ballast at home depot is diff than buying a expensive package online? I think im going to go with a MH setup first anyway for vegging...then once its big ready to flower, hopefully, ill have a nice hps setup by then...thanks for your help! any input is awesome!
backyardchem
Active Member
where can one find a nice setup like you talk about?