hps confusion,need quick help

ok so i got an 400watt hps system on the way but im confused on how to work it.do i plug the ballast right into the wall socket or what im totally lost.all help appreciated

ok you will have a cord that goes from the wall outlet to the ballast.Then on the other side a cord that goes from the ballast to the mogul socket. The mogul socket will mount to your reflector and the bulb screws into the mogul socket. Dont touch the glass bulb as finger oil can cause burn issues or possible explosions.If your wanting a timer setup put the timer into the wall outlet then the plug from the ballast into the timer.Pretty straightforward.

ok cuzz last time i tried and plugged the black cord that comes from ballast into wall and nothing happend just made humming sound,and there was no on/off button

Shouldnt be an on off button. As long as you have the wall cord the ballast the cord from the ballast to the socket and a 400 watt hps universal position bulb your good

why didn't it work last time?could it of ben the companys fault?

LIght connects to ballast, ballast connects to wall, its that simple, the buzzing you are hearing is quite normal for a magnetic ballast at start up. So your clearly powering the ballast, now you have to find out why the power isnt going from the ballast to the bulb. Have you checked its screwed in thoroughly or that the bulb is actually plugged in properly.

Couple things.Is the bulb good for sure and it is a matched 400 watt hps bulb no smaller or bigger then 400 watts? Is it a universal position bulb meaning it burns anyway its hung as bulbs can be specific as to verticle horizontal or universal positioning? did you connect the mogul socket yourself and wire it correct? check the ballast to mogul line that its plugged into the ballast tight.