why do you NEED a ballast???

A

all41

Active Member
im new everyone and one of my main worries apart from smell is electricty now i've read up on a ballast and it seems to me that they not only light, the light they also balance the light for the plants, now im figuring to keep my 400w off the radar couldn't i just light my bulb with copper wire and a battery like the science projects?? i could care less about balancing long as my light work and is not showing up on my elect.bill :idea:
 
JonnyBtreed

JonnyBtreed

Well-Known Member
your ballast actually makes your light MORE EFFICIENT. Not by wattage, no matter how you power it, its still using 400 watts or a little more. Depending in the ballast you get, you will still be using the 400w but the light is using the energy more efficiently to power the bulb.
 
TRICKKY

TRICKKY

Well-Known Member
all41 said:
im new everyone and one of my main worries apart from smell is electricty now i've read up on a ballast and it seems to me that they not only light, the light they also balance the light for the plants, now im figuring to keep my 400w off the radar couldn't i just light my bulb with copper wire and a battery like the science projects?? i could care less about balancing long as my light work and is not showing up on my elect.bill :idea:
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You have to have a ballast for HID lighting. You won't start the light without one.

As for keeping it off the radar. 400w bulbs will not show up on any ;-)

Seriously, it won't cost much to run 1 400w light, and the increase in your electricity bill will be negligible.
 
robert 14617

robert 14617

Well-Known Member
one 400w light run for 18 hours is no more than two security lights its not going to flag suspicious activity on your account...the electric co makes money on your usage do you think they would stay in business if they turned in everyone who increased usage ,hell id do more to protect my clients who used more elec.
 
mygirls

mygirls

Medical Marijuana (MOD)
JonnyBtreed said:
your ballast actually makes your light MORE EFFICIENT. Not by wattage, no matter how you power it, its still using 400 watts or a little more. Depending in the ballast you get, you will still be using the 400w but the light is using the energy more efficiently to power the bulb.
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if u have a multi wire ballast and its set up for 110 power it will cost a little more then haveing it hooked up to 220, or 277
 
TRICKKY

TRICKKY

Well-Known Member
If you went out and bought a dishwasher, or a tumble dryer, then either of these would probably cause the same increase in electric useage.

I've gone as far as 2 600w plus 150w on fans and had no problems. I've seen a lot more being used tho.
 
mygirls

mygirls

Medical Marijuana (MOD)
just remember its when that ballast comes on every time is were the most power is used. so 12 n12 hour cycle will use more power then 18n 6 . thats why i run my veg room 24 hours a day. once they r up and running at full power is when it is useing less power.
 
bazoomer

bazoomer

Well-Known Member
mygirls said:
just remember its when that ballast comes on every time is were the most power is used. so 12 n12 hour cycle will use more power then 18n 6 . thats why i run my veg room 24 hours a day. once they r up and running at full power is when it is useing less power.
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i never knew that !..cheers, (you learn something new every day )
 
A

all41

Active Member
TRICKKY said:
If you went out and bought a dishwasher, or a tumble dryer, then either of these would probably cause the same increase in electric useage.

I've gone as far as 2 600w plus 150w on fans and had no problems. I've seen a lot more being used tho.
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first of all thank all of you for your input:clap: well i already bought my 400w light to be used for veg..and i will most likely go buy the 1000w for my flowering side i still haven't built my grow box yet so im still in the begining stage!! keep filling me in yall thanks!!
 
mygirls

mygirls

Medical Marijuana (MOD)
bazoomer said:
i never knew that !..cheers, (you learn something new every day )
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no problem. the only thing im not sure but i think i heard this on here somwhere, that if u have lets say a 1000wtt ballast that u can run any wtt bulb in that ballast up to a 1000 wtt bulb. if anyone can shed some light one this subject it would be greatly apr.
 
mygirls

mygirls

Medical Marijuana (MOD)
all41 said:
first of all thank all of you for your input:clap: well i already bought my 400w light to be used for veg..and i will most likely go buy the 1000w for my flowering side i still haven't built my grow box yet so im still in the begining stage!! keep filling me in yall thanks!!
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just remember not to build your room bigger then your light coverage
 
mygirls

mygirls

Medical Marijuana (MOD)
you want the most light on your plants, so build your room to just how many plants u grow.for.exap. my veg, room w/ a 400 wtt mh is 6ft by 6 ft by 6 ft and my flower room w/ a 1000 wtt hps is 7 ft by 7ft by 7ft
 
mygirls

mygirls

Medical Marijuana (MOD)
all41 said:
oh and i got a switchable ballast yall so i do have it already! its a sun system 10 remote ballast store guy says its switchable one!
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i belive that means u can hook up to 110- 277- or 220, or i can mean you can swich from mh to hps
 
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