Thinking about HPS

What do I need, just the bulb? Or what?

You need a ballast to run HPS you can't just plug it into 120volts and expect it to work. To compare it to something familiar I'd say thing of a flourescent setup, you need a ballast to light the bulb.

You might want to go with a grow setup like one from HIDHUT with an electronic ballast for around $150 which includes an electronic ballast and reflector, everything plugs in nice and neat so you won't have any problems, you can also buy a setup with a magnetic ballast which are cheaper but will buzz eventually, depending on how you are on money or the tolerence for noise I'd go with electronic if possible.

The other alternative used by many people is to buy an HPS floodlight, that way everything is enclosed in the fixture itself. If you have adequate ventilation you shouldn't have a problem with heat depending on the size, if you do you could drill holes in the fixture and vent it or remove the ballast and place it outside the room. A floodlight will run you around $100 for a 400 watt one.

Those are your choices but you will definitely need a ballast and a socket made for the bulb.

So does that ballast plug into the wall or what?

And thanks a lot for your help.

sidekick said:

So does that ballast plug into the wall or what?

And thanks a lot for your help.

Click to expand...

Yes it plugs into the wall!

Just Google HPS Grow Light and you will get ALL the info that you need.

www.htgsupply.com

Good prices

You have to have a ballast... A ballast basically controls the electricity and creates a lot of heat... Like La said you can get a floodlight hps from a hardware store but the ballast will be built in and it will be a big pain to control the heat in your room...

You can find a complete system on most hydroponic stores on the internet, I've found very nice 600w systems with ballast and air cooled reflector hoods for around 150-200, what size growroom do you have, as this is the determining factor in what size bulb you want to go with...

If you get a grow kit it will, if you just buy a ballast you will have to wire a cord up yourself. Something to think about is your ability to do something like that, while it isn't hard some people prefer not to mess with electricity.

If you go with a flood light you will have to wire a cord up to it also, usually just 2 or 3 wires, wire nuts to connect the cord and you'll be fine.

Alright, thank you.
I think my grow room is roughly 7 feet longs and about 5 feet wide and about 6 feet high.

sidekick said:

So does that ballast plug into the wall or what?

And thanks a lot for your help.

Click to expand...

I actually have my collection of pet hampsters running on mini-treadmills w/ alternators built in to power my grow!! Think GREEN!!!

lol, j/k

couldn't resist
GL W/ UR GROW SIR...

Haha, La9 I'm looking into that website you linked me and I'm looking at the kits, they look nice. What do you suggest I get from my grow room size?

I would cut the room in half, 1x400w mh for veg, 1x600w hps for flower... that way ur still right at 1000w and having 2 rooms saves a lot of time and hassle if you learn to clone thats the way to go...

I don't think it's possible at this time to split the room. But can't I have like 10 growing in the veg stages under 400w then once into flowering stage put the 600w in?

thats why you have to split the room into 2 parts unless you have everything going 12/12, the flower has to be set to 12/12

Luv2Gro said:

I would cut the room in half, 1x400w mh for veg, 1x600w hps for flower... that way ur still right at 1000w and having 2 rooms saves a lot of time and hassle if you learn to clone thats the way to go...

Click to expand...

That is a good start but it depends on what you plan on doing or growing or have the money to purchase.

I would just veg with flourescents, and use a 400 to 1000 watt hps to flower with depending on what you want to spend. If you add ventilation to the room you shouldn't have any issues with heat since it is fairly good sized. You could also run two 400's or 2 600's. Just depends on your plans. If you do spend the money for a good setup then please don't skimp and buy Nirvana seeds, get Serious Seeds to start out with, you'll have a much better grow and much better quality.

Did you go to the HIDHUT website or the HTG that someone else mentioned. If you go to HTG and buy their brand of lights, their bulbs have a tendency to blow out within a month so if you buy there you shouldn't buy their brand or buy a name brand bulb so you won't be without light when you need it. Yes they will replace it under warranty but you still have to send it back and all that stuff, it's up to whether it's worth the hassle or not. HIDHUT their brand of stuff has lasted several years with zero problems, I think they are around $10 more but you have to think about what you want to deal with.

Would I be straight if I had like 20 plants veg stage under like 600w hps? 12/12?

sidekick said:

Would I be straight if I had like 20 plants veg stage under like 600w hps? 12/12?

Click to expand...

I'd too also like to know this.

12/12 is what you want for flowering not veg.

Most people go 18/ 6 for however long they want and then 12/12 for flower. There are some growers on here that go 12/ 12 from seed to harvest and their plants look really nice also.

Find out what works for you.

I think anything less than 14 hours of light per day will make the plants go to flower as soon as they can.

Ohh, thank you!

Wow Sidekick and SideK!ck