***Need Help Finding A 250w HPS System***

[eastlax]

After a decent amount of consideration, I have decided to go with a 250w HPS system for flowering 2-3 plants.

(I wanted to go with the 400w, but cooling it sufficiently would be a problem.)

I need a complete set-up that is ready out of the box (I don't trust myself enough to wire a ballast etc.), and light on the wallet ($150 or less).

At first glance, HTGSupply had the perfect 250w set-up, but apparently they are only offering MH systems...

The option of adding an MH conversion bulb would be nice as well, but it's not a deal breaker (since I plan to veg for only 2-3 weeks using CFL's).

My local hydro shop is not an option, as they don't offer ready to go systems (and the only 250w option they have is a Lumatek Digital Ballast for $165).

Any help on finding a good deal from a reliable/reputable company online would be much appreciated!

-E

[HeyGabbaGabba]

Here's something that comes close to what you want:
Lumatek 250 watt Grow Light kit with HPS bulbs - eBay (item 280402053203 end time Sep-28-09 18:52:27 PDT)
I've bought from this seller before without issue as well.
It's a digital ballast, so you can use both MH and HPS bulbs without having to buy an expensive conversion bulb.

I can't imagine you getting the setup you're asking for for under $150, unless you go for a magnetic ballast. But then if you do that, you'll have to buy a conversion bulb to use MH.

[eastlax]

Originally Posted by HeyGabbaGabba

Here's something that comes close to what you want:
Lumatek 250 watt Grow Light kit with HPS bulbs - eBay (item 280402053203 end time Sep-28-09 18:52:27 PDT)
I've bought from this seller before without issue as well.
It's a digital ballast, so you can use both MH and HPS bulbs without having to buy an expensive conversion bulb.

I can't imagine you getting the setup you're asking for for under $150, unless you go for a magnetic ballast. But then if you do that, you'll have to buy a conversion bulb to use MH.

First off, thanks for the reply HGG.

I think you might have misread my post though, as I mentioned that the digital Lumatek is not what I'm looking for (and that the MH conversion bulb is not a deal breaker).

(My local hydro shop actually has the same ballast for a little bit cheaper, but again it's not what I'm looking for.)

So for the record, I am looking for something with a remote magnetic ballast that is ready to use out of the box (no ballast "kits" that need to be wired).

The grow lights from InsideSun look decent for the $, but I don't know about buying "refurbished" and "used" ballasts. Is it worth it, or should I stay away?

Edit: After doing a quick ebay search I came across this deal: 250 WATT HPS DIGITAL GROW LIGHT w/ XL HOOD 250w BALLAST - eBay (item 390097356251 end time Oct-22-09 22:12:01 PDT)

Does anyone have experience with this particular ballast/set-up? Considering the price it looks great, but I can't help but question the quality of the ballast since it's supposedly Digital Electronic (and that type of ballast alone usually runs for more than the entire package).

Edit 2: Before anyone mentions it, Craigslist for my area was a no go. The only thing I could find are 1000w ballasts.

Anyone else have some input?

-E

[Jaysew313]

I dont see the difference between the 2. you plug the light into the ballast and the ballast into the wall. theres no wiring involved, just 2 plugs. And as far as refurbished goes id spend the extra on new with a warranty, but thats just how i roll, got bitten on a refurbed tv that lasted for 3 weeks and was totalled. I might have missed something with the lights, hydro wholesale is selling a 250MH ballast only for $150. I bought my whole 400 watt system from them for 150, looks like shits goin up.

[Jaysew313]

My bad you might have to attatch the socket to the reflector but the wiring is just 2 plugs.

[HeyGabbaGabba]

Why do you want a magnetic ballast?

[eastlax]

Originally Posted by Jaysew313

I dont see the difference between the 2. you plug the light into the ballast and the ballast into the wall. theres no wiring involved, just 2 plugs. And as far as refurbished goes id spend the extra on new with a warranty, but thats just how i roll, got bitten on a refurbed tv that lasted for 3 weeks and was totalled. I might have missed something with the lights, hydro wholesale is selling a 250MH ballast only for $150. I bought my whole 400 watt system from them for 150, looks like shits goin up.

What I don't want is one of those cheap DIY ballast kits that you have to assemble and wire yourself...

The difference between which two?

The Lumatek that HGG linked and the one from HTGSupply?

Originally Posted by HeyGabbaGabba

Why do you want a magnetic ballast?

.....

.....

Disregard this.


-E

[Jaysew313]

The setup you posted is almost exactly the same as the one Gabba posted. if you get a light with the ballast built into it youre gonna have just as much of a heat problem if not more than a 400. The setup Gabba posted is everything you need and you dont have to wire anything, the socket has a harness that plugs into the ballast and the ballast has a socket that plugs into the wall. I dont know if youre goin north and im goin south or what.

[eastlax]

Originally Posted by Jaysew313

The setup you posted is almost exactly the same as the one Gabba posted. if you get a light with the ballast built into it youre gonna have just as much of a heat problem if not more than a 400. The setup Gabba posted is everything you need and you dont have to wire anything, the socket has a harness that plugs into the ballast and the ballast has a socket that plugs into the wall. I dont know if youre goin north and im goin south or what.

I completely misread the information in that link, I thought it was just the ballast included in that set-up.

Thanks for pointing that out, I will most likely be purchasing the Lumatek set-up then.

(Sorry if I came off as an ass in this thread, I've been dry for the last week and I have to say...it's making me feel irritable and snap at people prematurely.)

The 400w Lumatek is only $10 more through that seller, and it's really making me reconsider my decision of going with the 250...

Thanks again for the replies, +rep to both of you.

-E

[eastlax]

Originally Posted by eastlax

I completely misread the information in that link, I thought it was just the ballast included in that set-up.

Thanks for pointing that out, I will most likely be purchasing the Lumatek set-up then.

(Sorry if I came off as an ass in this thread, I've been dry for the last week and I have to say...it's making me feel irritable and snap at people prematurely.)

The 400w Lumatek is only $10 more through that seller, and it's really making me reconsider my decision of going with the 250...

Thanks again for the replies, +rep to both of you.

-E

I've been wrestling with the decision of going with a 250w or 400w hid for the last two weeks...

When I had finally come to a decision earlier today (to get the 250w), I came across this thread: http://forum.grasscity.com/general-i...-watt-hps.html

So would it be a smarter idea to buy the 400w kit and switch to a 250w bulb if it's too hot (this way I don't have to buy a new ballast if I want to use a 400w hps in the future), or just go with the 250w kit all the way?

(I'm assuming that using a 250w bulb in a 400w ballast will not draw the full 400w+ of electricity, but I could be wrong?)

Any input would be amazing (especially after the "lame" comments I made earlier).

-E

[Jaysew313]

Runnin a 250 on a 400 would draw less power, if youre gonna do veg and flower you should get a 400 MH/HPS switchable ballast and reflector and bulb i bought mine for 150 from hydro wholesale, you want mh for veg and hps for flower. If the cost is that close its a no brainer you can run a 250 on a 400 but you cant run a 400 on a 250.

[HeyGabbaGabba]

FYI guys, I just bought a 400W Lumatek ballast (in fact, I bought it for the same reason mentioned above, it was only a couple bucks more than the 250) and it ended up being too much for my cabinet. I'd suggest only getting what you need, if you go for too much, you'll have heat issues. I mean, after all, a 600W is only a few more bucks up from the 400... why not get that?

In the end, I had to buy all new equipment, because I just kept saying "it's only a few bucks more" and bought more than I needed.

[1000Hz]

I have a 400w hps with the euro reflector from htg and I have zero heat issues. I think the whole heat thing with hps gets blown out of proportion tbo. I was using cfl's before I made the switch and they were way hotter, I had heat issues out the wazoo with cfl's.. The Hps is a whole lot cooler and I couldn't be happier with it.