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Psilosopherr
A psilly goose



Registered: 02/15/12
Posts: 12,278
Last seen: 1 month, 10 days
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Do grow lights need ballasts or reflector hood deals
#19080268 - 11/03/13 01:03 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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Obviously they benefit from them, but they seem expensive. Does I need them?
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puff4200
Natural born lever puller

Registered: 09/26/10
Posts: 1,269
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Re: Do grow lights need ballasts or reflector hood deals [Re: Psilosopherr]
#19080328 - 11/03/13 01:16 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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I'm not quite sure how you would be able to not have them unless you buy one of the all in one types which aren't a good idea because then you cant simply replace the ballast when it burns out. Definitely needed though. Your bulb is housed in your hood in a larger than normal light bulb screw-in. A cord will then run from that to your ballast, the plug that's on the end of this is not a normal wall plug for a reason. your ballast will then have a cord running out the other side which will be a normal wall plug. Expensive as they are they are all needed, with that being said as long as you don't completely cheap out on a ballast it will work fine, no need to get the best one out there. Your hood is pretty important though don't cheap here, controls how your light is thrown.
I also forgot if your not familiar with magnetic or electronic ballasts id suggest magnetic. There cheaper on average and there work horses. Easier to repair if they do break (most of the time can fix them yourself) and there less likely to break.
Edited by puff4200 (11/03/13 01:18 PM)
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ellomello
XP



Registered: 08/11/08
Posts: 2,423
Loc: babilonUSA
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Re: Do grow lights need ballasts or reflector hood deals [Re: Psilosopherr]
#19080357 - 11/03/13 01:22 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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I think fluorescent tube lights work fine, don't make to much heat, the ballast is included inside the lights' casing, and they are the most affordable option (especially if you know of some free ones). I have an indoor garden using six florescent tubes that is growing just fine. It would work just as well for cannabis.
-------------------- PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN get back to the garden
some came singing, some come to play, some come for keeping the dark away
Edited by ellomello (11/03/13 01:25 PM)
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psi
TOAST N' JAM


Registered: 09/05/99
Posts: 31,456
Loc: 613
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Re: Do grow lights need ballasts or reflector hood deals [Re: Psilosopherr]
#19080599 - 11/03/13 02:26 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
rbalzer said: Obviously they benefit from them, but they seem expensive. Does I need them?
If you hooked up a HID bulb directly to house current without a ballast, I'm pretty sure bad things would happen and the bulb would be wrecked (possibly explosively.) The ballast is needed to limit power to the bulb.
The reflector is a lot more optional but obviously it serves an important purpose when it's used. Look into coliseum style grows, basically you surround the bulb with plants in every direction. Since pretty much all the light hits plants directly, there is no need for a reflector. The cost of setting something like that up would most likely be a lot more than the cost of just buying a reflector.
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Eywa_devotee
Goddess Worshiper


Registered: 10/04/10
Posts: 1,088
Loc: State of Confusion, Arkan...
Last seen: 3 years, 7 months
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Re: Do grow lights need ballasts or reflector hood deals [Re: psi]
#19081583 - 11/03/13 05:38 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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Spend the cash and get at least a 600W HPS or Metal Halide lamp. You can use florescent, but green needs a LOT of light to grow well. The reflector is optional, you can just paint the celing white and keep enough distance to prevent burning. Removing the glass from enclosed reflectors allows you to get more UVB which stimulates trichome development.
The newer digital ballasts make bulbs last a lot longer if they are NOT used with probe start bulbs, but when they fail, they usually fail spectacularly. Magnetic ballasts are proven and durable.The newer high powered LED lights are still too expensive, but work great in veg for supplementing MH.
If you hook a MH with a probe start to house current without a ballast, it burns up the probe and either ignites the tube with explosive results, or flashes and burns up the foil electrodes inside the quartz tube. Pulse start MH or HPS bulbs will not light up with normal wall power applied.
-------------------- "Love one another." "To Love is to know me." "Love is the Law, Love under Will." "In Compassion, all sorrows end." Regardless of the Master, the message is the same- Choose love and you shall live, Choose Fear and you shall die. Help bring peace to this Earth: Love one another, and serve others before yourself.
Edited by Eywa_devotee (11/03/13 05:40 PM)
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