why can't i just plug in my light and let it be?
What is the point of a ballast??
- Thread starter SmokeyTheBear
- Start date
maybe you need more details. i have a reflector with a plug and everything just no ballast. shouldn't i just be able to plug it in and go?
Thanks to Wikipedia:
Ballasts are used where an electrical load cannot effectively regulate its current use. These are most often used when an electrical circuit or device presents a negative (differential) resistance to the supply. If such a device were connected to a constant-voltage power supply, it would draw an increasing amount of current until it was destroyed or caused the power supply to fail. To prevent this, a ballast provides a positive resistance or reactance that limits the ultimate current to an appropriate level. The combination of a negative-resistance characteristic and a series impedance allows a stable operating point to be maintained. Examples of such negative-resistance devices are gas-discharge lamps.
Are you using an HID light? If so does your reflector have a built in ballast? Can you link me/us to the products you're using?
Ballasts are used where an electrical load cannot effectively regulate its current use. These are most often used when an electrical circuit or device presents a negative (differential) resistance to the supply. If such a device were connected to a constant-voltage power supply, it would draw an increasing amount of current until it was destroyed or caused the power supply to fail. To prevent this, a ballast provides a positive resistance or reactance that limits the ultimate current to an appropriate level. The combination of a negative-resistance characteristic and a series impedance allows a stable operating point to be maintained. Examples of such negative-resistance devices are gas-discharge lamps.
Are you using an HID light? If so does your reflector have a built in ballast? Can you link me/us to the products you're using?
this is the reflector i'm using it's has the bulb screw in and cord just no ballast. i also have a 250watt hps bulb for it.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180454249472&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180454249472&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
ohhh, i see. that cord plugs into a ballast, not the wall, and yah you need the ballast.
i have a sun system 150 hps system right now. do you think the ballast for the 150 will be able to support a 250 watt bulb?
No, my understanding if you need the bulb/ballast to match
Do not mix lamps and ballasts of varying wattages!
You can use the reflector with the 150 lamp and ballast you have or, you can get a 250 ballast for the 250 lamp.
You can use the reflector with the 150 lamp and ballast you have or, you can get a 250 ballast for the 250 lamp.
beejium
Member
you need the proper ballast, for the lamp... never mismatch: wires, bulbs, fuses, motors, ballasts, or any electronic device. working with electricity requires some caution. i am not an electrician, but i have learned the hard way to match everything properly. fires, burns, and electrocution, are the outcome of not matching properly.
think elecro-caution
think elecro-caution
pistolvania420
Member
all a ballast is, is a transformer used to step the voltage up.
loudthoughts
Member
this might help ya.
https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=98554&highlight=ballast+faq
https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=98554&highlight=ballast+faq
