ballasts and reflector question.

[Rebien]

hi, gonna be starting to buy the equiptment for my very first grow in about two months. i was just wondering if making a homemade reflector out of mylar sheets and wood would be a sensible idea or if it would be dangerous. also would i need a ballast with a phillips son T agro hps light (400w)?

thanks

Rebien Reviewed by Rebien on 08-14-2008. ballasts and reflector question. hi, gonna be starting to buy the equiptment for my very first grow in about two months. i was just wondering if making a homemade reflector out of mylar sheets and wood would be a sensible idea or if it would be dangerous. also would i need a ballast with a phillips son T agro hps light (400w)? thanks Rating: 5

[NoDrugs4Me]

only my input.... not set in stone.

wood catches on fire, bro. depending on room size, it's best to get an air-cooled hood. period.

[BlueDevil]

I would say worrying about the flammable nature of materials is all well and good, but I'd sooner put the emphasis on avoiding the actual fire to begin with!

Don't use cheap materials, and by that I mean (if I were you anyway) pass over the super low priced magnetic ballast and generic HID bulb and get yourself a digital ballast and a name brand bulb. In addition to running better and giving you more bulb performance for your money, digital ballasts won't supply current to the fixture and bulb if it detects somethings wrong with it. I hear they are more sensitive to juice fluctuations and outages, but I've never had a problem with my 400w Lumatek. Granted, I haven't used it that much, but I live in an area with absolutely crappy power service and rough weather. The UPS devices I have guarding my computers switch on multiple times a day, I know this because the APC software that came with them keeps logs for my review!

A homemade reflector sounds pretty risky - HIDs get HOT. Get yourself a basic air cooled hood, doesn't have to be a nifty cool tube. More money than simple reflectors or a DIY version, sure, but it is obviously magnitudes cheaper than having to procure a new house. Peace of mind is a good thing.

Good luck!

[stinkyattic]

-You need a ballast to run a HPS lamp.
-HIDs run hot and should ot be in proximity to flammable materials
-Batwing reflectors are so cheap it's almost funny. Check out the no-name store brand systems on Inside Sun, one of our sponsors- they're really basic beginner setups. I think I paid like $150 for my entire 400w including ballast, bulb, reflector, corset, socket. Ran that thing for a couple years and then gave it to a friend who is just learning the trade.
-I have seen cool home-made reflectors that people have made for Flourex style flourescent lamps, and my favorites involve a cafeteria-sized coffee can and a bottle of white spray paint. Go nuts. But with an HID, it's bes to do it right.

[veggii]

Hi, yes you want a HPS light it works for both cycles too.
but if you wanna make a T5 light
I made a 4bulb T5 light out of this one from home depot its sweet ! :thumbsup:
Lithonia Lighting - 4' Diamond plate Work light - 1241DPGESB - Home Depot Canada

[stinkyattic]

Hey veggii... that light fixture sucks. I bought FOUR of them for $23 EACH and all of them ended up with problems- either one or both sides failing within just a couple months of use. Try the El Cheapo ones at Home Depot- the plain white ones- I've found them to be much more reliable.
That's a fixture that takes a T12 or T8 light. You can't run it with a T5. That's a different socket size.

[veggii]

hey stinky
has anyone told you how beautiful you are :4: :lovestruck: :giveflower:
I swapped out the ballast n lampholders made a custom bracket and put 4 T5's in it,sweet!! I got a couple of the ones your talking about and I'm gonna try to turn those into a 4 bulb T5 too. wow I feel like a nerd know LoL

[veggii]

Hey veggii... that light fixture sucks. I bought FOUR of them for $23 EACH and all of them ended up with problems-.

do you still have the fixtures?? me want too make them into 4 bulb T5s

[veggii]

heres a pic of light with bulbs in it ....:thumbsup:

[stinkyattic]

That thing is pretty fucking sweet. Nice work on that.
Check your email when you get a chance, I wanted to ask you something in private.