HPS Light repair question any electricians?

[GrowRebel]

I have a 150W HPS lamp. The ballast died on me years ago and I got a new ballast for it. Well I didn't know how to hook it up and there were no instructions so I left it on the back burner for a few years. Last month I got a gig with some electricans and one of them showed me how to hook up the light.

The problem .... the old container with the ballast is too small for the new ballast and the cap. and starter. The new ballast will fit, but not the other stuff. The electricans made it sound like it would be an easy task to get another "box" for the lamp, but so far I haven't been able to find one. The gig is over and I can't ask them any questions .... so I'm wondering if anyone here can tell me if it would be safe to leave the cap. and starter out, and just use the old container to house the new ballast.

I would like to use this 150W HPS in addition to my 430W HPS ... the more light the better right?

If you need pictures I can provide them. Thanks
:rastasmoke: :jointsmile:

[4x5]

get an old PC power supply and empty it out, use that; I use three to house my ballasts, they work well, have good ventilation. just need to drill(welding in my case) a few holes for mounting.

[GrowRebel]

No .... don't have an old pc power supply .... The old container is big enough to house the ballast, but not the other stuff. I just want to know if it will be safe to leave the ingnitor and cap. outside the container ... as well as some of the wires.

Thanks for posting.:rastasmoke: :jointsmile:

[NewGrower]

Ive seen lots of things used to house a ballast old army ammo cans tool boxes
just need a metal box of some kind and holes for the lamp and power cord and a few vents to help keep the heat down inside the box id find something thou to put it in because of the possible fire risk better to be safe

[GrowRebel]

Yes I understand what you're saying .... I just thought the cap and ignitor would not get hot like the ballast will and I could get away with them being out .... I'll see if I can find something to use. There must be some kind of metal box I could get to house all the parts .... I'll go back to the hardware store and see if I can find something cheap.
:jointsmile:

[Shovelhandle]

see
http://www.onlinepot.org/grow/wiringlights.htm

btw, if a transformer fails, make sure the capacitor is good, or even better yet, just replace it. A bad capacitor will cause a new trans to shit the bed and they're cheap enough.

Shov

[invision]

you must have a older type of ballast none of my 150's have capacitors just the ignitor and ive used them over a year now.

but yes they are easy as cake to wire

[Shovelhandle]

yep, newer Advance HID ballasts have the components potted together.
The HPS would have transformer, capacitor and igniter all potted together.

Shov

[GrowRebel]

Oh wow .... I do have a old PC PS .... It still works just only 300W ..... I'll take it apart and see if I can use it. Will let you know .... Thanks
:jointsmile: :rastasmile:

[GrowRebel]

see
http://www.onlinepot.org/grow/wiringlights.htm



Shov

Whoa .... you guys have been busy while I was checking out the ps .... thanks much for the info!:clap: :areindeer:

[GrowRebel]

get an old PC power supply and empty it out, use that; I use three to house my ballasts, they work well, have good ventilation. just need to drill(welding in my case) a few holes for mounting.

I gutted my old PS and put the ballast, cap and ignitor in .... it is an old light btw .... bought it back in the 80's :eek:
It works fine .... I just have to figure out a way to keep it quite ....humming noise ..... and a way to mount it. :D

:rastasmoke: :jointsmile: