Do i need a ballast?

[New]

do i need a ballast to run a 250w hps bulb and also if i do does the bulb just plug into the ballast and if i dont what can i plug the bulb into? thanks

[pushit]

do i need a ballast to run a 250w hps bulb and also if i do does the bulb just plug into the ballast and if i dont what can i plug the bulb into? thanks

Yes you need a ballast. Google a pic of one and you will see how the setup is. The bulb will usually screw into a ceramic socket thats attached to the cord that runs to the ballast.

[n00b]

A reflector will probably help a lot too. Don't want any light going up :)

[canadianhemperor]

Buy a complete kit with bulb reflector ballast already assembled that way you make sure you dont burn or kill someone with your noob experiment!!!

[canadianhemperor]

and make it a digital switchable mh/hps that way you wont have to buy more equipement in the future. And they are less dangerous to operate and consume less power than a regular ballast!!

[Admiralgro]

Buy a complete kit with bulb reflector ballast already assembled that way you make sure you dont burn or kill someone with your noob experiment!!!

I got what I think your talking about from homedepot? It has a ten inch reflector an has 250v 660w on the side of it will that run a 250w hps bulb?