doug2000

Hello,

Okay, I've searched and read all the messages I could find regarding building your own ballast, but I am still unclear on a few things.

First, the word "ballast" seems to have multiple meanings. In one connotation, "ballast" seems to mean the entire "box" - i.e., the thing you plug the light socket into. In another connotation, "ballast" seems to be used interchangeably with the word "transformer" - which is just one component of the overall "ballast box" (the other components being the capacitor and the igniter.)

Next - are these three components made specifically for HID lighting? I figure that the igniter is specific, but the capacitor should be generic. What about the "transformer"? I've seen the word "transformer" used to refer to any sort of "power supply", so my first impression is that it should be a generic part. But, when reading about HID parts, the implication that I get is that this type of transformer is specific to the particular HID light in question. Which is it - generic or specific to HID lights?

Also, how much should these components cost, and could someone supply manufacturer names and part numbers? And maybe an online source to buy them? (Or national chain store, if any carry these parts.) I'm in northern NJ, so if anyone knows a local supplier, that would be great.

I've called a few electric supply stores, as suggested, but each one has referred to a "kit", which includes the transformer/ballast, capacitor, and igniter. And these were all priced at around $150 for a 1000W HPS kit - much more than the approximately $50 in parts indicated in the articles I've read.

Finally, if I'm going to build my own ballast, I was thinking that I might as well build a flexible one. In particular, I was wondering if I could easily make it switchable so that it could support HPS or MH, and also wondered if I could make it support multiple wattages.

Regarding switchable between HPS and MH, would a switch that simply eliminated the igniter from the circuit do the trick (HPS needing the igniter, and MH not needing it)? Or does HPS and MH need different transformers and/or capacitors?

Regarding support for multiple wattages: I read in a post by Harrad that "a little-known trick" is that you can (in his example) replace the capacitor in a 400W ballast such that it would support both 250W and 400W lamps. He also mentioned that there would be some (energy?) loss with this approach - can anyone quantify how much loss we're talking about? If possible, I'd like to create a ballast that can support both 600W and 1000W lamps (or maybe 400/600/1000). That way I can fine-tune my energy usage as needed.

Thanks for any help!!

Doug