70 watt hps. Need some help

[GRASSMASTA]

I just received a 70 watt hps bulb from a friend of mine and was wondering if anyone knew if there is a way I could find a cheap ballast set online? And if so, will it come with wiring instructions or will wiring be easy. The most important question is if I do buy a ballast kit for it will I be able to wire it so I can plug it into any household outlet?

GRASSMASTA Reviewed by GRASSMASTA on 10-21-2008. 70 watt hps. Need some help I just received a 70 watt hps bulb from a friend of mine and was wondering if anyone knew if there is a way I could find a cheap ballast set online? And if so, will it come with wiring instructions or will wiring be easy. The most important question is if I do buy a ballast kit for it will I be able to wire it so I can plug it into any household outlet? Rating: 5

[stinkyattic]

That is a security bulb. The housings and ballasts are sold at hardware stores. You should know that the spectrum of a security HPS and an agricultural HPS are not necessarily the same. I have run a 70w sec lamp before and while it does grow plants, it grows lanky plants compared to a better lamp. And the reflector is totally wrong. For the cost of a security light, you can get an El Cheapo setup from a discount grow supply vendor. I'd recommend saving your money and getting something better, like a 250w agricultural ballast-reflector-bulb set. Just my 2 cents.

[GRASSMASTA]

Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it. I just bought a hps security light for 38$ with shipping. The only reason I did this is because i'm currently running two lights one 65watt cfl with ballast, and one 24watt cfl but that is for a small closet grow. I have two lights shipping the 70watt HPS and I have 4 more 24watt cfls to put into a vanity bar... How do you think two plants would turn out under this lighting? and any suggestions? Thanks

[aaaaaaa]

Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it. I just bought a hps security light for 38$ with shipping. The only reason I did this is because i'm currently running two lights one 65watt cfl with ballast, and one 24watt cfl but that is for a small closet grow. I have two lights shipping the 70watt HPS and I have 4 more 24watt cfls to put into a vanity bar... How do you think two plants would turn out under this lighting? and any suggestions? Thanks

I no expert but defiantly 3 plants with very adequate lighting. The general rule is 100 watt CFL per plant, I forget for HPS wattage thought. The way to go would probably be actually grow maybe 4-5 plants and using SOG and LST techniques to get the most out of the grow. As far as how much smoking material it depends on fertilization techniques and growing techniques.

[stinkyattic]

As I said, I've run a 70w HPS before. It was inadequate for the 3 plants I tried to flower under it. Also, a single 100w CFL will not allow you to finish a plant. With CFLs, or any low-wattage system, you shoudl rEALLY be running multiple points of light. The extreme example of this is LED arrays.