Convert a common home security light into a remote ballast grow light

entropic

Well-Known Member
It should list the wattage on the ballast.
To find the electricity cost you find out how much you pay per kilowatt (1000 watts)

If I had a fixture drawing 200w running 24 hours a day in a 30 day month I would pay:
((200 * 24 * 30) / 1000) * $0.12 = $17.28 per month.
That's ((watts * hours_on * num_of_days) / 1000) (to convert to kilowatts) * Cost_per_kilowatt
 

pasadenabri

Well-Known Member
Mogie fun little do it yourself post but you can now buy 600 watt switchable digital ballast brand new with a warranty for $115 and thats cheaper then this 150 watt single hps light .Plus from reading alot of posters on this site Im scared of national fires poppin up from dummies houses lol.Good read
Hey filthy, or anyone, where can I find this? Everyone always talks about good prices, the best price I could find was $230 for a 1000 wats and about $220 for a 600.
 
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Damion5050

Well-Known Member
Well bigd I just got online and ordered a Clonebox setup from the homegrowbox company alond with a T5 4 foot 4 bulb so it's 212 watts and 20,000 lumens.. I plan to get another T5 light because the clone box has 2 shelves one shelf will be for mothers and the other one for clones, and vegging plants..
 

fierybong

Well-Known Member
NCI, they're the kind sold at home improvement stores as hps flood lights, this one doesn't have a light sensor so there's less work modifying it.
Home depot has a 70 watt HPS light in their lighting department (go figure) for around 65 dollars.

The guy in lighting specifically made mention to me of kids buying them to grow pot (without prompting) when I inquired if I could see the box, so use cash I guess.

Online for 62.95 with reflector/housing/ballast: The Designers Edge L-1730-70Whps 70 Watt High Pressure Sodium Dusk To Dawn Security Light With 10" Acrylic Reflector
 

entropic

Well-Known Member
Lmao, I'm guessing some people had loose lips while buying their lights there or that guy has some experience himself.

It's much less suspicious than buying one at a hydro store, and less suspicious that buying a piece at a headshop.

All in all though I wouldn't buy one from home depot unless it's deeply discounted, you can get much better deals online.

$95 for a 400w HPS
High Tech Garden Supply
 

bigd921

Well-Known Member
Well bigd I just got online and ordered a Clonebox setup from the homegrowbox company alond with a T5 4 foot 4 bulb so it's 212 watts and 20,000 lumens.. I plan to get another T5 light because the clone box has 2 shelves one shelf will be for mothers and the other one for clones, and vegging plants..
nice let me know how they work out for you......
 

Mr. Maryjane

Well-Known Member
this is fuckin GREAT! I thought I was gonna have to spend, like, at least $200, now I only need like 60 bucks...................that's still gonna be hard to get.=(
 

outrunu

Well-Known Member
I'm gonna be running a 150 I'm getting from HTG, but I think I am going to do this to a 50W model I found and use it for additional/side lighting I think. $30 for the 50.
 

surferbum6900

Well-Known Member
i have an extra 150watt bulb layn around i was thinking about makeing anothger light just to run another set up. cheapest way to go anyone? just need the ballest and shit
 

bygmyke

Active Member
this thread is all fine and dandy but can anyone help me out in wiring up a MH for remote ballast instead of a HPS?
 

Bauks

Well-Known Member
you want me to do the maths? ok

the cfls are
4x27watts=108watts
4x1750lumens=7000lumens

the hps is
1x70watts=70watts
1x6300lumens=6300lumens

the hps is much more cheaper to run with just a slight lowering of lumens. i see what you mean
I Was informed the other day that lumens Don't Add Like That .....
The Analogy Went... If you mix a 50 degree cup of water with another 50 degree Cup of water you don't get a 100 degree cup of water Just more* 50 degree water
 

mikeq0w1

Member
:wall: I got a Regent 70 watt HPS security light. I took it apart and rewired it in a aluminum fixture I made. I followed all the steps except I didn't make it a remote ballast because I didn't have an extra extension cord. Instead, all the parts are in the one aluminum box with the socket screwed to the top. I plan on making a reflector and hanging 2 such lights horizontally to grow 2-3 plants.

Only problem is I haven't got that far because the damn thing wont work! I wired it correctly but when I plug it in to the wall outlet in my room nothing happens... at all. No ballast buzzing, no light even flickering, nothing.

I know the extension cord I'm using is good. The bulb, ballast, ignitor, and socket are all new and look good. I've gone through the wiring MANY times to make sure its correct. But I cant get this light to turn on!! Does anyone know what the problem might be???:-(
 

plaguedog

Active Member
:wall: I got a Regent 70 watt HPS security light. I took it apart and rewired it in a aluminum fixture I made. I followed all the steps except I didn't make it a remote ballast because I didn't have an extra extension cord. Instead, all the parts are in the one aluminum box with the socket screwed to the top. I plan on making a reflector and hanging 2 such lights horizontally to grow 2-3 plants.

Only problem is I haven't got that far because the damn thing wont work! I wired it correctly but when I plug it in to the wall outlet in my room nothing happens... at all. No ballast buzzing, no light even flickering, nothing.

I know the extension cord I'm using is good. The bulb, ballast, ignitor, and socket are all new and look good. I've gone through the wiring MANY times to make sure its correct. But I cant get this light to turn on!! Does anyone know what the problem might be???:-(

Could it be a bad bulb?

I am working on a 150 I just got from lowes for 29.99, but the damn ballast is WELDED to the light socket bracket. I have to wait a few days to borrow my cousins 4" grinder so I can cut the damn thing off the ballast. Sucks because I wanted to finish this little project this weekend.
 

sine143

Well-Known Member
sorry for the thread rez, but had to share my experience

Got a 50 watt HPS security light. It was suppossed to come with bulb but it was missing, dicounted to FIVE dollars at HD. I then promptly put a 50 watt bulb in my pocket.

5 dollars gets 50 watts of HPS.... its cheaper than CFLS!
 
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