Ballast question..

GibbsIt89

GibbsIt89

Well-Known Member
i have a few questions reguarding ballasts. not to get too too into n e thing (like my setup) but my first question is:

what ballast is best? horizontal, or baseup?

i am running both with "plantmax" 7200k spectrum bulbs (pictures)

my second question is:

does a MH/HPS ballast cause more red spectrum no matter what kind of bulb is in it?

i am using a MH/HPS 400watt horizontal ballast with a "plantmax" 7200k spectrum bulb and it seems to have more of an orangy spectrum to it then my baseup ballast that is just a regular 400watt MH ballast. which like i said above am using the same spectrum bulb
 

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Shanus

Shanus

Active Member
I use the old type ballasts. Im loving my PL lighting, but they are kinda pricey. I doubt mouting position matters, mine can be mounted either way. I also run a 400w hps that I put in my own box. was a conversion kit off ebay. I dont see it mattering if its vert or not either. I am looking at the new switchable ballasts, but honestly Im skeptical of the reliability of digital. Soon very soon, I will upgrade to digital, just gna give em time to work the bugs out.

As far as color, I dont think a ballast controls that. My PL ballast is both hps and mh. It has a switch to change between bulbs. Some companies overpower their ballasts a tad to get extra lumens, but it sacrifices longevity of bulbs. A ballast simply powers a bulb, with a specific cycle and wattage. Aside from start-up voltage spikes, I think most ballasts perform nearly the same. Big differences in voltages between ballasts would cause issues running bulbs (which happen to be fairly standard).

In short, pick a reputable ballast company, and stick with them. Buy a bulb that is the spectrum you like, and stick with it. Ive run both mh and hps bulbs along with cfl's. Perhaps light color IS important, but I found that AMMOUNT of light, room temps, and nutrients were of greater concern. Regardless of lighting, those other factors made a bigger difference overall. Hope this helps. Best of luck to ya.
 
StonedBlownSkiller

StonedBlownSkiller

Well-Known Member
Shanus said:
I use the old type ballasts. Im loving my PL lighting, but they are kinda pricey. I doubt mouting position matters, mine can be mounted either way. I also run a 400w hps that I put in my own box. was a conversion kit off ebay. I dont see it mattering if its vert or not either. I am looking at the new switchable ballasts, but honestly Im skeptical of the reliability of digital. Soon very soon, I will upgrade to digital, just gna give em time to work the bugs out.

As far as color, I dont think a ballast controls that. My PL ballast is both hps and mh. It has a switch to change between bulbs. Some companies overpower their ballasts a tad to get extra lumens, but it sacrifices longevity of bulbs. A ballast simply powers a bulb, with a specific cycle and wattage. Aside from start-up voltage spikes, I think most ballasts perform nearly the same. Big differences in voltages between ballasts would cause issues running bulbs (which happen to be fairly standard).

In short, pick a reputable ballast company, and stick with them. Buy a bulb that is the spectrum you like, and stick with it. Ive run both mh and hps bulbs along with cfl's. Perhaps light color IS important, but I found that AMMOUNT of light, room temps, and nutrients were of greater concern. Regardless of lighting, those other factors made a bigger difference overall. Hope this helps. Best of luck to ya.
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In a nutshell
 
GibbsIt89

GibbsIt89

Well-Known Member
ya i figured that as much just needed to clarify, mayb someone out there has done some hardcore testing u never know lol. but thanx for the replys.. mayb its just me but it does seem as tho the MH/HPS ballast is a little more orangy, idk. but i dont know n e thing about the ballasts either cuz i recieved all my equipment from a friend for DIRT cheap, some bud lol kind of funny actually but ya i have no idea, mayb its just the way the ballast is set up, i thought mayb becuz it was also an HPS ballast it MIght hav something to do with it, but ya thanx again. (one ballast is from "homegrown hydroponics" a link off dutchnutrientformula.com, and the other one is nameless)
 
tyke1973

tyke1973

Well-Known Member
You want a inclosed ballest and wall mount it what ever one comes with the light...........................tyke.........................................
 
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