I'm trying to save money so i came up with an idea on how to build a MH/HPS light with a ballast but I don't know if it would work and i don't want to waste my money if it wouldn't work... so this is what i came up with: taking a piece of cardboard, making it a proper shape/size for a ballast, then cover it in Mylar blankets and then make a hole in each end of the cardboard so i could glue two outlet-to-light adapter's in the holes. Wasn't sure if that would work? Edit: sorry for the title, I meant HPS/MH light
A ballast is what controls the flow of electricity to the light. You are looking into making a reflector hood not a ballast. Reflector hoods for HPS/MH bulbs should always be made of metal. Plastic will melt, paper will catch fire, wood is more trouble than metal and it 's still a fire hazard. Usually a ballast comes with a reflector so you shouldn't need to buy/make one. If you do, in fact, want to make a ballast and not just a reflector then you need to keep in mind that you are working with electricity and as a general rule when working with electricity, if you need to ask a question about it then you don't have the experience to try and undertake the project.
im about to buy one of those 600 watt ones I think but are they self cooled hmm? Sent from my iPad using Grasscity Forum
no you need on open space, fans and a good ventilation system hooked to it to draw out the hot air. There are air cooled hoods that are just open and you need to put fans on them.
Professional reflector made by high reflective rate material, you cannot diy it Sent from my iphone 6 plus using Grasscity Forum mobile app