DIY 400w MH project ends with a fizzle

**adamizer** · 03-30-2008, 11:20 PM

Recently i saw a classifieds ad for "used 400w MH top-mounted multi-tap ballast 'gym' lights" at a small town an hour away...at 25 dollars each
So I went! (DUH) and bought one for a buddy and one for me.

The whole way home i felt like a fuckin badass and i was so excited.

I took one to a friends house and since he's pretty much letting me do all of the complicated parts of his grow for him (he's not really mentally invested) i took it apart for him and made the ballast remote and changed the voltage so he could use it (i'm a good friend) and BTW it totally works like a pro craigs list ftw

THEN i go to do MINE (the REALLY exciting part) and after hassling with the ballast enclosure for an hour i finally get it open...

just to learn that mine is not multi tap (277v to boot)

so pissed

**Juntistik** · 03-30-2008, 11:36 PM

tell your friend that yours is actually better, and swap em out!

the good ol' switcheroo

**adamizer** · 04-01-2008, 10:22 AM

ya just went over and finished converting his light last night but now i'm wondering how many fire safety codes I've broken by attaching the remote cord connection using twisted wire with duct tape around it. think that shit could melt? or in a lightning strike, perhaps ignite?

*shiver*

**upinchronic1** · 04-01-2008, 10:33 AM

wait im not an electrician, and am rather retarded in the subject, but whats wrong with a 277v? yeah man swap that shit, you bought them.

**P@ssw0rd** · 04-01-2008, 10:34 AM

Why not just cut an extension cord down and use that. Good luck

**upinchronic1** · 04-01-2008, 10:36 AM

^do you know the answer to my q?

**adamizer** · 04-01-2008, 10:48 AM

well... 277 volt is pretty much used exclusively for industrial light systems (277 VOLT not watt btw) if it was 240 volt i could buy a pretty cheap converter but 277 volt is very uncommon (think stadium lights, gyms, parking lots).
basically the answer is no it wont work lol.

oh and i did use an extenstion cord it's just the connection between the ballast and the cord (and between the cord and the mogul) involves a decent amount of duct tape.

it worked on the first try tho.