question about mh ballast

[StoninStanley]

i have a mh, i want a hps. ive already spent alot of money for my grow, so i was wondering if i could hook up an igniter to it and use it as a hps ballast? it says metal halide on the ballast but from what ive seen a hps is just a mh ballast with an igniter....could i do this? if its possible i would even put a switch on it to make it switchable

[Dooby420]

im pretty sure there are conversion bulbs that are made to match ur ballast
i use a 400w hps balast with a 400 mh conversion bulb

[StoninStanley]

well ive been paranoid about getting it mailed to my house, i have no safe addy right now...but there's an electrical shop down the road

[WilliamClarkeQuantrill]

no, there is no way to wire in a conventional three wire HPS ignitor into a probe start metal halide ballast. the conversion bulb is your best choice. IMHO :smokin:

[Ravishing68]

I'm running 400 watt conversion bulb. Have had no problems with it. I got it at a local nursery.

[CB]

i have a mh, i want a hps. ive already spent alot of money for my grow, so i was wondering if i could hook up an igniter to it and use it as a hps ballast?

yes you can, make sure it's for the transformer you have

if you need help wire'n it up just yell

peace

edit got that backwards.... hps ballast minus igniter will fire a MH ... same as a few incandescent bulbs at lower wattage ballast..... duh i just read all that whilst work'n on my 1k hps :rolleyes:

[StoninStanley]

ok thanks for all the replies, i guess ill have to go with a conversion bulb then...

just dont want my neighbors curious as to why i have a huge hid bulb delivered to my house, especially a conversion bulb which has no real value except to the indoor grower...i know that some online hydro shops dont stealth package their shit so it freaks me out

[Dooby420]

You'll probably be okay if you're just ordering the conversion lamp... but still use your best judgement :2cents: