Flipflop advice required.

[kronk]

Hi guys

I'm running a flipflop with one mag ballast and 2 lamps in No1 tent, each lamp run for 2 hours over 12/12. What I want to do is use the same flipflop & ballast to run the very same set up but in a second tent, is this possible, if so can anyone advise how it maybe wired and what relays etc would be required.

Any advice or comments are always appreciated

 

[Hackk]

I cant imagine anyway that can be done. You need one ballast per bulb.

 

[kronk]

Hackk

you've seen a fliflop working? I'm currently running the above setup! You don't need one ballast per bulb!

 

[Hackk]

Hmmm, are you running a magnetic or digital ballast?

And now that I reread your post, I misunderstood it the first time. Personally, if you want to run two rooms and four bulbs on one ballast, you can afford a second ballast.

 

[T-type]

...

 

[Frozenguy]

You can't if you want each tent flip flopping in time also.

You can have both tents on at the same time, each flip flopping inside, but not two separate flip flopping tents on flip flopping time. Unless you get a second flip flop unit..

Or you use two additional timers ("small" ones I suppose) in between each ballast and the wall. Set your flip flop for 2 hour flip flopping for 24 hours. The timers will control what ballast is on, and the flip flop will flip flop both ballasts but only one will be on at a time.

EDIT: Wait with only 1 ballast? no.. You'll need a second or else its most definitely not cost effective.

 

[mcattak]

2 bulbs 1 flip 1 ballast
4 bulbs 2 flip 2 ballast

only way I could see running 4 bulbs from 1 flip 1 ballast is to have a special flip made for that purpose

No way to do 18 hr cycles...Will need supplemental lighting

mc

 

[poipu79]

you can but will need 2 SPDT relays and a timer for each

...poipu

ps I made a wiring diagram but is hard to read...shitty phone camera

edit its switchable also

 

[mdk ktm]

You CAN run 4 bulbs off of 1 ballast. You would have 2 bulbs in each room, and each room would have to be 12/12 obviously. I have absolutely no idea how I would wire the relays though, I have not made it that far in my self taught grow room wiring class.

good luck!

 

[joe fresh]

the only way i see you can use 4 lights on a single ballast would be using 4 600w bulbs with 1 1000w ballast, by using one relay and 2 of these --SunPulse Splitter USE 1000w HPS Ballast for 2 600W Bulb-- http://cgi.ebay.com/SunPulse-Splitter-USE-1000w-HPS-Ballast-2-600W-Bulb-/290492452262


other than that i cant see how you could do it without overloading the ballast

 

[growshopfrank]

Yes you can if I understand you right you have 2 tents each running 2 lights alternating (in each tent) 2 hours on 2 hours off for your 12 and 12 So you need 1 flip for each tent and 1 more to switch from tent 1 to tent 2 a total of 3 flips and you are done.

 

[junior_grower]

for the cost of the additonal hardare ( 2 flips) you would be better of getting a second ballast, mags don't like to be flipped 12 times a day that will wear out the ignitor.

 

[mdk ktm]

Yeah, It would take a serious toll on the ballast. Shutting off and starting every 2 hours, i'm not sure if you would have to wait 15 minutes to restart it or not. Is it the bulb or the ballast that doesn't take too kindly to hot starts?

 

[Hackk]

both. Like I said before, you will be spending more money in the long run if you try to configure it the way you want. It will be cheaper (and more reliable) to just get a second ballast

 

[poipu79]

better pic I hope

 

[kronk]

Guys

thankyou for all your replies,I'm about to embark on a large grow and was trying to keep costs down, the results that I'm getting from the flipflop that I'm currently using are amazing, in terms of sheer uniformity. Poipu79, thanks for going to the trouble. I'll report back here in a few weeks with the results.

Cheers again guys

K