rockstar25

i just found ur community and after 2-3hrs of surfing around i decided to ask u some questions i have
i've started growing some =bonsai= plants of greek traditional seeds (veery good quality but veeeeery slow)
because sun light was getting hard for me to hunt on around the room all day i pursuased a mh400w bulb (for later use) and a 400w hps lamp
i also obtained the right socket for the bulb ,i know i have to get some capasitors too but i dont know yet what kind of , but ill get no problem ...
the problem is with wiring ....
ill post some photos under this post so u could plz help me ...
ps: just for the hps ,i wont use the mh on this1 grow ,maybe on the next 1...

rockstar25

my current config
plz help its really time for the hps to get to work
really really thank u to any1 that helps

penguin

Hi rockstar25

Welcome to HempCultivation.com There's a ton of useful information here. A good place to start is with the posting guidelines and the grow guide, there are links for both in my signature.

All high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps require a ballast. There are two kinds of ballasts: magnetic and electronic, the latter are relatively new, cost more than magnetic ballasts, but are also more efficient.

Magnetic metal halide ballasts consist of a transformer ("core and coil") and a capacitor. Pulse-start MH may also have an ignitor. HPS have a transformer, capacitor, and an ignitor. MH and HPS lamps require different starting voltages, so it's important to use the right kind of ballast for your lamp. Switchable ballasts that can run both MH and HPS lamps are available, as are conversion bulbs (MH bulbs that are specifically designed to run on HPS ballasts, and vice versa).

Ballast kits are available that provide the components. With a kit you supply the box (metal) and do the wiring. Alternatively you can buy a complete ballast that's already wired and ready to go.

In addition to the ballast, you need a cordset and socket. These must be properly rated for use with HID lamps. And you may also want a reflector. There are many styles of reflectors available.


penguin

__________________

rockstar25

thanx for ur reply but u didnt really help me much out ....
cant afford a good reflector, i made one of aluminium foil myself for this grow im not changing until my next
this is my current config
i lost my ignitor , ill buy a new one
i followed ur signature's links but they didnt help me much out
this is a ballast for 400w hps
my bulb is solarburst 400w hps
i dont know what kind of capasitors to get, but ill get them anyway ....

just tell me which ends (numbers) do i have to connect between , and where should i get some ground from PLZ SOMEONE!!!! ...

ps: ty im not interested on buying a kit since i already have these brand new items , and plz some1 help cause im alrdy on 5th week veg ..
ps2: been using a very poor fluoruntil now combined with some sun ... had a big sock from transplant but survived
ps3:my mh bulb i will use it when i get a mh ballast ...not intending to use it for the next grows either ..

pearl

Check out the attachment at the bottom and see if that helps.

Heres where I got it from.

http://www.overgrow.com/growfaq/966

Hope that helps.
I hope you know what you are doing because you are playing with high voltage electricity !

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________

Pearl's Drip System ~ Fall Harvest 2006 ~ Live Predators

rockstar25

thank u
thank u
thank u

but there isn't any way to open my ballast ... ? lol
ill figure it out anyway ... thank u again

OrionTheHunter

that picture can be confusing as hell. It didnt help me much, so here is a step by step on assembling a Balast kit i put togeather. hope it can help you out.!

https://www.hempcultivation.com/420/...ad.php?t=86380

__________________
3rd grow Running

High Stess, bad luck, totally awesome first grow(finished)


Here we go again!!!! (aborted )

rockstar25

i decided to go to an electicityt shop and make me one kit for my 400w hps
the kit isnt working ...
this is the new kit i bought and not working ....
i can see both ends of the socket connected to the same place on the ignitor so im pretty sure this isnt correct


and this is the photo of my ignitor showing a diagram close

lets see
both ends of socket connected to right place of ignitor (N) ???
right place of capasitor connected to right place of ignitor too (N) !?
left end of capasitor to right end of ballast
middle place of ignitor (L) = power supply
left end of ignitor = left end on ballast
right place of ballast = (the left place of ignitor) + power supply

what is wrong with it ? can anyone help me out ?
(the ballast cant open in any way)

ps: just look how ur own configuration is made and tell me .... im trying to fix this over a week guyz com'on plz help me out , my trees need urgent light attention b4 its too late for them

OrionTheHunter

dude do you have msn messanger or anything. This isnt too complicated. its just intimidating. did you read my tutorial i wrote?? yes it is a MH ballast i wired up but its pulse start so its configured EXACTLY THE SAME AS HPS.

you pictures are very very unclear. Give me a list of the wires you have coming out of your ballast. Is it multitap?



How to Assemble A HID Ballast for 120Volt Application.
By: OrionTheHunter



I am a true believer in purchasing and assembling your own HID ballasts. Why pay higher prices for pre-assembled HID lights? A waste of money. I will show you how to easily assemble a Pulse Start MH kit, and wire it for 120v applications. I chose the Pulse Start MH because it has all the same parts of a HPS system and a standard start MH system. You will see that you need not be an electrician to wire these simple machines and you can start saving money right away.



Parts Needed
1. Pulse-Start MH ballast kit.

2. 16 Gauge corded shop light. (see picture)

3. Set of wire cutters/strippers/or even a knife
4. Electrical Tape/Wire Nuts
5. Something to set your ballast on/in



Step 1

Okay lets get started we open our ballast kit and find we have 4 parts.
1. Ballast. This is essentially a transformer.
2. Capacitor. This will wire directly into the ballast.
3. We have an igniter. This wires into the ballast and the lamp.4
4. Medium socket MH bulb.



First Step to take your Shop light and make a cut. Mine is a 15ft. cord so I will make the cut right in the middle giving me plenty of cord for both the power outlet and the lamp itself.
1. Make your cut.
2. Strip the outer insulation off giving yourself a couple of inches to work with.

3. Separate the Black and White wires. (Some cords have a green wire leave this one alone for now)
4. Strip them down so you have about a ½ inch of insulation removed.
5. Repeat steps 2-4 For both sides of your cut cord



I like to wire up the lamp side first.

1. Find the red and blue wires on the ballast. Sometimes labeled X1,X2,X3

2. Take the black wire from your lamp and splice it with the red wires(X1). Take the blue wires(X3) and splice them together.

3. Next connection is a 4 way connection. Grab the following:
a. Yellow(X2) wire from igniter
b. White wire from lamp
c. White(com) wire from ballast
d. White wire from power cord

4. Splice together using tape/wire nut.

The lamp is now wired and all we have left is the Capacitor and lead from the power cord.

Grab the capacitor. This is an ac capacitor witch means it isn’t polarized. Simply connect the black and white striped wire and the other White (com) wire to the two wires coming from the capacitor. It doesn’t matter which go to which.

Last step for the wiring part.
1. Find the orange wire or the wire that has 120v printed on it.
2. Grab this and splice together with the black wire from the power cord.

That’s it your kit is wired up. Last step is to put in a safe place that is out of the way. There are many ways of mounting these things inside Computer cases, ammo cans, even just setting them on a block of wood. For safety all you need to remember is that this is an exposed transformer with an unprotected capacitor. It will take about 15 minutes for it to fully discharge and you can safely handle it.


Just plug that baby in and turn her on!



ive wired up hps kits just like this and they work. Only substitutions for your situation should be that you should make sure all of your cords are of the proper rating for your lamp. I know how frustrating wiring balasts can be, it took me a whole day to get this bugger working. If you still cant get it running maybe we can use netmeeting with your web cam and i can help you. Good luck dude.

__________________
3rd grow Running

High Stess, bad luck, totally awesome first grow(finished)


Here we go again!!!! (aborted )

rockstar25

i read the guide dude but i couldnt see the pictures
now here i can see it all !!!
anyway , just for case i took everything back to the electricity shop i bought and asked them very politely to reconfigure it ...
if its still not working ill get back to u bro .... but hey ... that was an understandable guide yes i read it all, just wasnt sure if it was the same for hps systems .... thanx again guyz, u know this post will help many out there with same-like problems like me ....
thanx again :d

ps: if i still have any kind of problems after i take em all back , ill try to pm u on msn

ps after edit :
this time they got it fixed its working very normal ! im going blind with all this light lol
thanx for the tips guyz .. if i wasnt in such a hurry i would correct the wiring mistakes with these instructions .... i just went it back to the store b4 i see all the responds u did on this topic u have been very helpful , thank u for that !
now .... when u solve a problem another arise as usual .... temp problems lol ....
id better make a new post on the forum
ur the best