Hello, im a first time indoor grower and i was lookin for some help with HPS lights and how a Ballast actually works, im assuming its necessary to not burn down a house, but do you need one for every light? Also, on a little bit of a side not, how many plants per light would you say is reasonable?
thanks for any help

Hey
yeah 1 ballast per light, no getting around that.
400w ballast = 400w bulb cant go up or down same for other watts.

There are SOME cases where plp CAN match, BUT I don't know about it or have any experience in that area.
about 8 plants a light or so depending how close you group and the reflector.

Welcome to RIU

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HPS (and MH) bulbs do not regulate their own electrical usage - the more you give 'em, the more they use, until they blow. The ballast is what regulates the amount of electricity entering the bulbs. Yes you need a ballast for every bulb. I have 400w HPS/MH lights - the most I've had under them, is 12, in 3 gallon buckets - but depends on the pot size, and how big you plan to grow them, as well.

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yeah you already have 2 lucky fucker LOL
Im ordering one today YAY!!!

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Thanks guys

No problem bud, always be sure to rep those that help ya out.

Happy growin and start a journal when you get started.

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“trust our government officials and just take the damn vaccine!” - NBC puppet Dr. Nancy Snyderman

I'm starting a grow (just two plants) with Cfls, I'm curious though about HID lights. Do ballasts just plug into a regular outlet? I see some people put them on separate circuits too? Yeah, and I picture the ballast having a wire with a socket at the end that the HID bulb screws into? Is this semi-accurate. thaks.

-smokeroflightning

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It should come with a reg plug that goes in any out let.

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Yup, or you can do like what I am and wire it straight to your service panel

__________________
“trust our government officials and just take the damn vaccine!” - NBC puppet Dr. Nancy Snyderman

If you want to grow your own smoke, get a 400 watt system. The reason I suggest that wattage is because you can grow dense buds you won't be dissapointed with, and you will have a small enough system, that you'll be able to deal with the heat (which is a very big issue newer growers underestimate)

Even a 400 watt system with bad ventilation can cause your grow area to climb into the mid 90s. But if you drop down into the 250 watt systems or lower, you fail to give the plant the light it needs to reach its full potential, some may argue this.

The 250 watt is good for keeping a mother, so maybe two lights, 400 for flowering, and 250 for mother. Simple, economical.