Best Budget 1000w Ballast?

I can only suggest a few things as it's up to you to decide. Hps Lights with built in igniters are considerably more expensive than hps lights without built in igniters. Ballasts that come with an igniter are more expensive than ballasts that don't have igniters. These ballasts can be obtained in either state. It is most likely that you will be replacing the lightbulb more than you will be replacing the ballast. I usually go to the local landfill after the RCMP leave. Sure they chop the stuff up with axes but there's always parts that survive. I think it's cool to have the court tags on the shit I get from this situation in my grow-op.

http://www.plantlightinghydroponics....ht-p-2463.html

usually go with the 600 W, so I havent got it yet, but i would just go with this if you want a 1000W...

but if you already got those reflectors then i guess this wont be of any use to you... thought i saw 80 dollar budget grow II ballasts on google shopping tho.

cheers

You didn't mention whether you are running 120 or 240 V, but... I got a good deal on Valueline 1000 watt ballasts that run at 240V and switch between HPS and MH. Have not used them yet, but I've fired them up. I expect that more expensive ballasts would generate less heat and be more quite, but I have them in an attic so it really doesn't matter. From the posts I've seen from other people, go with the cheapest ballasts you can get unless you have serious heat or have to do everything possible to minimize noise, which will mean things like digital ballasts and cost you some dough.

http://www.readysetgrowhydro.com/vaba.html

thanks redburns, I don't have any heat problems and run them in an attic so noise isn't an issue. Thanks for the help.