smokethatkushh
Well-Known Member
anyone built there own ballast? i see it for sale and its half the price of the already assembled ballast? only thing im missing is the protection case do i need that anyway?
ballast kit/ build your own
- Thread starter smokethatkushh
- Start date
panhead
Well-Known Member
Im a pretty decent hand with a soldering iron,after rebuilding shit loads of broken tube hifi gear over the years im sure its a task im qualified to do but i shy away from it.
You can get a standard metal amo box from an army surplus to use as the outer case if you wish & yes you very much need the outer protective case,if you touch a transformer you'll be uncle fester after it lights you up.
If you do decide to build your own ballast kit & your not allready aware try to keep this in mind when building & installing in the case.
Heat is the number one enemy of electronics,the best ballast designs isolate critical components from the transformer to keep them away from the heat.
You can get a standard metal amo box from an army surplus to use as the outer case if you wish & yes you very much need the outer protective case,if you touch a transformer you'll be uncle fester after it lights you up.
If you do decide to build your own ballast kit & your not allready aware try to keep this in mind when building & installing in the case.
Heat is the number one enemy of electronics,the best ballast designs isolate critical components from the transformer to keep them away from the heat.
smokethatkushh
Well-Known Member
wow you scared me to not do this
spoonfucklol
Well-Known Member
lol....he prolly just saved your life
panhead
Well-Known Member
Wow,its a good thing you didnt get shocked,getting away with touching a xformer without getting light up is lucky,saying a person cant get electrocuted from touching them is a bad advice, as well as pointing out that transformers are not grounded.
Voltage can & will travel between the neutral wires without being grouned,then what happens when your left hand is touching the xformer & your right hand is touching another item that is grounded,Kablamo you just grounded the xformer & the voltage will travel right through one hand,all the way across the chest,and heart & out the other hand at the point of ground.
If you think xformers are a joke you need to learn quite a bit still,xformers are nothing to play games with & will light you up quick.
panhead
Well-Known Member
Dont listen to that kid who posted you can mess with transformers,we'll read about him catching his hair on fire from playing with a transformer,i was very serious & you can get seriously hurt if you ground out while messing with it.
An old timers trick is to work with one hand behind your back or in your pocket so you dont ground out while your in the unit working.
Shoot forum member "Oregonmeds" a pm & see if he will help you trouble shoot your ballast,he's an electronic tech so a simple ballast should be in his range of experience.
OregonMeds
Well-Known Member
Wiring up a ballast kit is no big deal, they usually have a wiring diagram right on the transformer. When pricing it out realize it doesn't include things like the cords, plug in, bulb, bulb socket, reflector, and case. And you may also have to provide wire nuts.
Unless you have most of these parts already it'll probably cost more to build than just buying one already done like from htg.
If you're really strapped for cash better deals can be found any day of the week buying used equipment. Just check ebay and craigslist... I'm seeing some $40-$55 400w complete lights in my area on the used market. Search for terms like "industrial light" "wharehouse lights" "High bay" "low bay" as well as grow light or HPS.
If you decide to build one sure, I'll help, it's easy but just not the best deal right now IMHO.
Oh and if you're looking at a small light, a cool and cheap case for the ballast is a dead computer power supply... Should fit most ballast kits under 400w and makes things really easy.
Unless you have most of these parts already it'll probably cost more to build than just buying one already done like from htg.
If you're really strapped for cash better deals can be found any day of the week buying used equipment. Just check ebay and craigslist... I'm seeing some $40-$55 400w complete lights in my area on the used market. Search for terms like "industrial light" "wharehouse lights" "High bay" "low bay" as well as grow light or HPS.
If you decide to build one sure, I'll help, it's easy but just not the best deal right now IMHO.
Oh and if you're looking at a small light, a cool and cheap case for the ballast is a dead computer power supply... Should fit most ballast kits under 400w and makes things really easy.
Electricty is DANGERIOUS, you cant see it or smell it or hear it, execpt in very high voltages, BUT you sure as hell can feel it. That been said, I have 3 DIY ballasts at my home. One is on a 100w hps securty light that is out front of the house. Ive had that light since 1992, never any probs, Its a transformer, capacitor, and igniter mounted to a piece of circut board and mounted in the corner of the garage, with wires run out to the light. In my grow room I have 2 of the same type of set-ups one is a 250 mh and one is a 400hps. Both sit on the roof of my room where they get fresh air for cooling. They have been up and running since June of 08 (Thanks G. Bush for the check). Of course Im smart enough and scared enough to know NOT to touch them when they are pluged in. I bought the kits from HGS and am very happy with that choice.
superhighme
Well-Known Member
OregonMeds said it right. The kit is just for the ballast itself, so unless you're looking at it because you already have all the additional parts then its not really that great of a deal. if you're trying to find a cheap light set up I've seen HPS and MH set ups on craigslist for $50-100. and I mean.... you just love tomato's so much that you decided to start an indoor garden!! WHOOHOO!!
smokethatkushh
Well-Known Member
thank you oregon and panhead