Hello fellow smokers; I had a question. I am doing a 4x1000w set up. I am using the mlc 4xt controller/brain running on 240v on a double pull 30amp breaker with 10-3 gage wire.Today I fired the lights up for the first time. 3 lights fired up. I let them run for a while then I unplugged the socket from the ballast that didn't fire up. I thought it was the Ballast that was faulty so I unplugged all the cords from the brain leaving one plugged in that did fire up. I then hooked up the socket into a working ballast and the light didn't fire up but after about 3 seconds my ballast blew up in sparks and fried. My question is can a socket do this to a ballast?Thanks RIU, you guys always help with my issues. Happy holidays!!!!
4 x 1000w vertical
- Thread starter cornutz
- Start date
superstoner1
Well-Known Member
sounds like you have something wired wrong. and are fully prepared and committed to vertical?
Is there really anything to go bad on a socket? I'd figure you got a bad ballast.
Personally I think it's easier to do everything with 110 - the ballasts are cheap, the wire is cheap, the relays are cheap and everything is simple. Unless your setting it on a concrete floor with nothing around it, I sure as hell wouldn't try and use a ballast sparks came out of. Is any of this stuff new or bought locally? Take it all to the hydro shop and get them to test / replace whatever doesn't work.
Personally I think it's easier to do everything with 110 - the ballasts are cheap, the wire is cheap, the relays are cheap and everything is simple. Unless your setting it on a concrete floor with nothing around it, I sure as hell wouldn't try and use a ballast sparks came out of. Is any of this stuff new or bought locally? Take it all to the hydro shop and get them to test / replace whatever doesn't work.
Thats what I thought. Maybe internally some of the wires in the socket were touching. I do not know. The ballast worked fine with another socket. It was after I hooked up the socket that didn't fire up into a working ballast that my shit fried. I do not understand why this happened and just wanted some opinions on whether a socket is capable of doing this.
I ran 240 to cut the amps down. The controller is rated for 30 amps so I wouldn't be able to run 4 1000 watts at 110/8.6 amps each.
Krondizzel
New Member
8.6? lucky guy. mine are 9.5 @ 120v. good ol' magnetics!
And wow... that's quite the interesting tale you have. subscribed to this one!
And wow... that's quite the interesting tale you have. subscribed to this one!
superstoner1
Well-Known Member
when you say socket, is this an outlet that is part of the light controller?
superstoner1
Well-Known Member
in the long run it is cheaper and easier to use 240v ballasts. cost of ballast is not even a factor these days with most being able to run on 120 or 240. the ballasts run much cooler on 240 and life span is increased.
Krondizzel
New Member
I think that is what he means. I have taken one apart because I wanted to do a vertical hanging light so I thought I could just unscrew this particular one from the reflector, but once I unbolted it, it had a bunch of wiring in there. I said oh hell no, and put it back how it was originally supposed to go.
So yeah, it is completely possible that it came wired wrong.
So yeah, it is completely possible that it came wired wrong.
No it's the thing I screw my bulb in. It's a vertical set up so I have no hoods just straight 100% bulb. I have it hanging from the ceiling. I did not remove the socket from a hood, I wouldn't do that. They sell lamp sockets by themselves.
You can say that again lol.. This is my first grow using digitals. I've always used magnetics, never failed me once!
Krondizzel
New Member
Right. I found that out at a later time.
superstoner1
Well-Known Member
gotcha, i also have those from a more than unsatisfactory experiment with vertical. check the little tap that makes contact with bulb base for problems, or its in the socket. make sure to recheck your remaining ballasts for no problems if they were connected to that socket.
