Ballast Question w/pics & description

[gr8misadventures]

Could someone explain in layman's terms what this could be used for, if anything, in indoor growing?

Thanks in advance.

Electronic Ballast REL2S110 - 2xF48T12 or F60T12 or F72T12 or F96T12HO

Model: 197830
Store SKU #: 1000543260
Electronic ballasts are quieter than magnetic (no ballast hum)
Smaller components and lighter (up to half the weight) than magnetic
Larger number of components
New Technology

gr8misadventures Reviewed by gr8misadventures on 01-05-2010. Ballast Question w/pics & description Could someone explain in layman's terms what this could be used for, if anything, in indoor growing? Thanks in advance. Electronic Ballast REL2S110 - 2xF48T12 or F60T12 or F72T12 or F96T12HO Model: 197830 Store SKU #: 1000543260 Electronic ballasts are quieter than magnetic (no ballast hum) Smaller components and lighter (up to half the weight) than magnetic Rating: 5

[Dutch Pimp]

'Advance' is a good name in ballasts...:thumbsup:...I need to check deeper...though...:stoned:

[Vancefish]

Could someone explain in layman's terms what this could be used for, if anything, in indoor growing?

Thanks in advance.

It's a flouresent lighting ballast. It in turn powers Flouresent light bulbs.

This one runs standard T12 bulbs (prefered by most are T5s). This one also runs HO, which means high output. Meaning this will run bulbs which are a higher wattage(More lumins) then standard 40w T12s (But NOT the VHO or VERY high output bulbs).

This is an electronic ballast. This means instead of a Magnetic core bathed in tar to keep it cooler(most magnetics), This one uses electronics to regulate electric flow rates. These are quieter, run cooler and do not overpower the bulbs as much. Which translates to longer lasting bulbs.:thumbsup: ALSO,.. Tar bathed magnetic ballasts can over time leak tar as well.

So,.. Long story short to run this ballast you'll need:
A. The ballast itself.
B. Two sets of endcaps(4 endcaps total)
C. A power wire and wireing TO the endcaps (might come with it?).
D. Two High output T12 bulbs.
E. Some sort of mounting for both the endcaps and bulbs to be attached to AND something for the ballast to attach to.

So, to answer your question. This could be used to power two T12 flouresent grow bulbs. It's power alone would only be enough to start plants. However NOT likely to be powerful enough to grow them very large. Think of it as the high output version of a shop light without the case, bulb connectors(endcaps), or wiring.

Hope that helps. :thumbsup:

[gr8misadventures]

That helps immensely, thanks so much.

I am, in fact, only starting the plants from seed. The system is already in place for larger plants, but have always grown from clones, so doing research now to start the seeds. I have about 20 seeds, all different strains....but I have 5 or 6 that I don't know what they are. Starting the trial and error portion of this experiment with the unknown seeds ;o)

Again, thanks very much for your information.

[Vancefish]

Ah, sorry.

I just noticed it says it'll run either 2, 48" or a single 60", 72" or 90" bulb.

I hate to say this so late. However this will likely not be powerful enough on it's own. You'll likely get more out of a series of CFLs. This would work for supplimenting the CFLs too.

I believe 48" HO bulbs run around 60W. So, 120w total from this ballast if your running two bulbs. If this ballast costs more then say $20 it's not worth it. Reason being you could buy two 48" shop lights with grow bulbs totaling 160W(40w extra) for around $60 (U.S. anyway). Then add a few CFLs for added intensity.

I hate to post a link to my own grow log :wtf: But here it is!

http://boards.cannabis.com/grow-log/...rial-grow.html

You can see the light I built from HomeDepot for $90 total. I'm putting out 11,650 lumins from 241w total. However my sockets are rated to handle 660w at 220V each and could thus run much higher wattage CFLs(when I find them :thumbsup. If you read the thread you'll also see I had some stretching before I added the CFLs. Thus proving even the extra 40w I had was not quite enough until I added the CFLs.

Good luck!