Ballast questions

My ballast doesn't have a on off switch..I have to plug it in or pull it out of the wall to turn it on and off is this right?Or do some just doit this way? Its a 400w value line switchable ballast...

Well i guess all of you indoor growers that have looked at this post use the sun some how or you all use cfls..Good thing its not a safety question I guess!!!!!!!!!!

That is how most of them work. You'll want it on 24/7 for Veg and you'll need a timer for 12/12

This is what I do....I plugged my ballast into a SURGE PROTECTOR that has multiple plug-ins in it, there is an on/off switch on that. That's what I use. I wouldn't really directly plug it into your wall socket, but that's just me. I would think you need something else in between that. BEST OF LUCK!

Ahh thank you both for the info!!!

yo i gotta timer for 12/12 cycles, but before that i just hit the on/off switch on my timer for the light...also when i first plugged in my ballast to the serge protector, it fried my laptop's keyboard? Any suggestions? I dunno how it happened, but once i touched that plug to the socket....My laptop turned off, TV shut off, WII turned off, sound system in room made loud boom noise...WTF explain plz? (Laptop's keyboard still doesn't work)

I just have my phone go off when i need to unplug for my 12/12 cycle. I bought a timer but it only supported the 2 prong plugs and my MH setup has the 3 prong plug in thing. so i was a little irritated, but so far this is working pretty good. when i get around to running down to the store again Im going to check and see if they have anything that fits the type with 3 prongs. *sigh*

and yes its normal not to have a switch.