You'll love cloning. It's like riding a bike, easier to do than describe. IMO the key is moist, not wet medium.
150w HPS Club and Resource Guide......
- Thread starter Pipedream
- Start date
Definately like the pics I see here and around the net of budsickle clones in a 6" pot with what looks like 2 oz of bud on them. Tried 12/12 from seed this time and it didnt turn out anything like that. One plant in 1.5gal got tall as hell(27") even with being 12/12-seed, and the others in small cups might put out an eighth each LOL. So maybe clones are the answer. Want high plant numbers in small pots for big SOG harvests. 
Anyway I see all these different methods of cloning and always wonder if its really that complicated. Thus the interest in J23s attempt. Trying to get an idea of how much stuff I really have to buy like heating mats and humidity domes n shit.
Got 3 plants at almost 4 weeks veg that I just topped/attempted to FIM, will be putting them under the 150 in another week or so. I have to say my 12/12 from seeds has been somewhat of a fail so I'm going back to the regular way.
Anyway I see all these different methods of cloning and always wonder if its really that complicated. Thus the interest in J23s attempt. Trying to get an idea of how much stuff I really have to buy like heating mats and humidity domes n shit.
Got 3 plants at almost 4 weeks veg that I just topped/attempted to FIM, will be putting them under the 150 in another week or so. I have to say my 12/12 from seeds has been somewhat of a fail so I'm going back to the regular way.
J23
Member
jpizle, it's femmed NL so I was 95% sure but today I'm 100% positive. It's a girl!
Not sure, but it seems like for a 2-3 days my girl showed a slower grow rate as if the energy was consumed rather to form flowers. Today my impression is that it stretched noticeably since yesterday. Or maybe I'm just exited to see hairs!
As far as my cloning: I failed! I'm a living proof that you can f%$k up easiest thing if you're driven by stupidity. I didn't had a dome over the cutting! There is an exhaust fan in the same chamber and I guess air rotation sucked out all the moisture from the plant.
I have only one more cutting but now, since the plant formed flowers, isn't it too late for extracting clones? Still have a couple more femmed seeds...
Not sure, but it seems like for a 2-3 days my girl showed a slower grow rate as if the energy was consumed rather to form flowers. Today my impression is that it stretched noticeably since yesterday. Or maybe I'm just exited to see hairs!
As far as my cloning: I failed! I'm a living proof that you can f%$k up easiest thing if you're driven by stupidity. I didn't had a dome over the cutting! There is an exhaust fan in the same chamber and I guess air rotation sucked out all the moisture from the plant.
I have only one more cutting but now, since the plant formed flowers, isn't it too late for extracting clones? Still have a couple more femmed seeds...
From what I gather you can clone now it just take em a long time to root and revert back to veg stage. I'd think there would be a lot of stress going back to 24/0 from 12/12. But hey I'm only on my second grow so 
Was rooting(pun on ya) for you though, looks like we'll have to buy humidity domes and such...
EDIT- Hey J23 is that Nirvana's NL?
Was rooting(pun on ya) for you though, looks like we'll have to buy humidity domes and such...
EDIT- Hey J23 is that Nirvana's NL?
You don't need to buy a humidity dome. Any clear to opaque bowl will work just fine. I have several sizes laying around depending on how many cuttings I'm trying to root. The smallest is a clear 6oz plastic party glass for individual cuttings, the largest is the flimsy clear dome that covers a store bought cake. Keep things warm and moist, not wet for about a week to 10 days. I do use rooting powder. $7 at HD.
great work, sb! looks super dank.
PACKERBACKER
Member
Please help PACKERBACKER wire his pc fan
Please help PACKERBACKER wire his pc fan
I've heard that you can power a PC fan w/a cell phone charger. True?
I have a PC fan rated... Start Voltage 4V, Rated Voltage 5V, Power Input Max 3.6W, Rated current Max 0.3 amps.
I also have an ac adapter rated 12v = 1.5A, Input 120V.
Can I use them together, or should I look around for a lower rated adapter? I probably have 3 or 4 others laying around.
Thanks
Please help PACKERBACKER wire his pc fan
I've heard that you can power a PC fan w/a cell phone charger.
True?I have a PC fan rated... Start Voltage 4V, Rated Voltage 5V, Power Input Max 3.6W, Rated current Max 0.3 amps.
I also have an ac adapter rated 12v = 1.5A, Input 120V.
Can I use them together, or should I look around for a lower rated adapter? I probably have 3 or 4 others laying around.
Thanks
BongDaddy
Member
maximum distance for 150w remote ballast?
maximum distance for 150w remote ballast?
I bought a Sun System 150w HPS, and I took it apart so I could remote the ballast. I noticed on the ignitor that it said maximum distance from lamp to ballast is 2 ft. I know some of you folks have done this modification before. Is that something new that Sun System started doing, or do you guys do something to "get around" that limitation?
maximum distance for 150w remote ballast?
I bought a Sun System 150w HPS, and I took it apart so I could remote the ballast. I noticed on the ignitor that it said maximum distance from lamp to ballast is 2 ft. I know some of you folks have done this modification before. Is that something new that Sun System started doing, or do you guys do something to "get around" that limitation?
O
oddis90
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=131842
^This should give you all the information you need to know.
Wish I had read this myself before i went out and bought a bunch of random fans/dc adapters lol.
you'll probably want to find a .5 amp adapter for that fan, or hook up more fans to that one adapter.
^This should give you all the information you need to know.
Wish I had read this myself before i went out and bought a bunch of random fans/dc adapters lol.
you'll probably want to find a .5 amp adapter for that fan, or hook up more fans to that one adapter.
BongDaddy
Member
Good heads up, BongDaddy. I need to check my ignitor and see if it has a similar warning.
Here's one option...
http://www.ballastkit.com/hpsstarterignitorforhighpressuresodiumballast-p-414.html
Doesn't list maximum bulb-distance. You might consider calling the mfg or dist for tech info. You could check with SS and see if they recommend a particular ignitor for your specifications.
If you're willing to consider another ignitor, try this string search. May take a few hits before you find what you're looking for.
ignitor +150 watt hps ballast
Pipedream might know exactly what you need. I can't remember the minimum post requirements for sending and receiving private messages, it's either 50 or 75. If you don't want to wait for that, I'd be happy to inquire. Just say the word.
Here's one option...
http://www.ballastkit.com/hpsstarterignitorforhighpressuresodiumballast-p-414.html
Doesn't list maximum bulb-distance. You might consider calling the mfg or dist for tech info. You could check with SS and see if they recommend a particular ignitor for your specifications.
If you're willing to consider another ignitor, try this string search. May take a few hits before you find what you're looking for.
ignitor +150 watt hps ballast
Pipedream might know exactly what you need. I can't remember the minimum post requirements for sending and receiving private messages, it's either 50 or 75. If you don't want to wait for that, I'd be happy to inquire. Just say the word.
I've heard that you can power a PC fan w/a cell phone charger.
I have a PC fan rated... Start Voltage 4V, Rated Voltage 5V, Power Input Max 3.6W, Rated current Max 0.3 amps.
I also have an ac adapter rated 12v = 1.5A, Input 120V.
Can I use them together, or should I look around for a lower rated adapter? I probably have 3 or 4 others laying around.
Thanks
Great link, oddis90.
It's ok to use a higher rated adapter for amps/mA. You can run up to 80% capacity of the adapter safely.
The part I'm sketchy on is the voltage. A 5vdc adapter will run a 12vdc fan (so long as the amp/mA rating meets spec.) It'll just run slower rpm and cfm will be diminished.
I'm not sure if the 12v adapter will run the 5vdc fan faster than it's rated rpm. If it does, the life of the fan may be compromised.
Hope you find what you need to know in oddis90's link. You could also shoot Pipedream a PM, I'm sure he'll know.
Happy w/e 150 clubbers!
BlueGrassToker
Active member
An HPS lamp needs to have a burst of around 2500 volts to fire up the salts within the arc tube. That is the job of the ignitor.
Ballasts get supplied with an ignitor that is capable of providing the high surge of energy that will fire the lamp, and that sized ignitor will only fire that particular wattage lamp. It won't have enough "juice" to fire a larger lamp than what it was intended for.
The ignitor is doing quite a big job in providing such a high voltage burst, and the nature of the device dictates that things such as longer or bigger wires carrying the power can decrease the energy that the lamp finally sees.
In other words...the ignitor may well push out the needed 2500 volts, or even a bit more, IF it is within the Ballast To Lamp rating that it was designed for. If the leads (cord, wires, conductors...whatever you want to call them) are longer and fatter than what the ignitor was rated to work with, the voltage gets diminished before it gets to the lamp end of the cord.
If the voltage at start-up that the lamp sees is sufficient to fire the lamp, then things are well and good, even if there is a longer cord than what the ignitor is rated for.
But, if a longer cord was added it could very well be that it is robbing power from what the ignitor provided, and the lamp will not fire properly.
Most any 150 coil and core ballast on the market is going to have an ignitor that is rated for about 2 foot of BTL length. For sure ballasts that are all in one units.
In fact, most any HPS ballast up to 1000 watts including howard, and sola are going to only have an ignitor that is rated for 2-5 ft BTL length. HOWEVER, it seems to me that it's evident that often times the ignitor provided may well be rated for two foot, but will work with cords of longer lengths.
I personally have set up Sola 150 HPS ballasts with a 2ft rated ignitor with about three times that length of cord with absolutely no problem firing the lamp.
And...if the ignitor will fire it, it is good to go even if you know it was only rated for 2ft. It will be fine if it fires the lamp and won't cause any shortened ballast life issues.
Advance ballasts (which are Philips) do have some longer length models around, but they may be hard to find.
A person could always test their ballast and see just how long the leads can be before it won't fire the unit. Just stay shorter than that and you are golden.
But what you don't want to be is on the jagged edge of length of cord that will work. If you test cord lengths and find that you can remote the ballast ten feet before it won't fire, then make the cord 8 feet or less. Ambient temperatures can come into play, and you don't want the lamp being able to fire when it's warm, but struggles to fire when colder. If you are on the edge of what the ignitor can handle, this situation could very well happen.
One tell tale sign that you have exceeded the BTL length for that particular ignitor is the lamp will cycle as if it were getting ready to fail. It may fire after a cycle or two, or not. If it does cycle, and you know the lamp is good, shorten the leads between the lamp and the ballast.
BongDaddy
Member
Wow BGT, lots of awesome info there. I was only considering extending it 3 or 4 feet at most, so from what you said it sounds like that would be fine. I'm about to put it all together and test it. And like you said, if it works I'm golden.
Couple of other questions, if I still have your "ear"...
What gauge of wire would you recommend for the extension? Equal to the stock leads? Heavier? Lighter? I have lots of odds & ends around so I could probably do whatever.
Also, would you have a recommendation on what I could use for a heat sink for the 150 ballast? Ideally the remote ballast would be out on top of the cab, which is light plywood.
Couple of other questions, if I still have your "ear"...
What gauge of wire would you recommend for the extension? Equal to the stock leads? Heavier? Lighter? I have lots of odds & ends around so I could probably do whatever.
Also, would you have a recommendation on what I could use for a heat sink for the 150 ballast? Ideally the remote ballast would be out on top of the cab, which is light plywood.
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BongDaddy
Member
Thanks for the PM offer DiscoBiscuit, but I think I got the info I needed from BGT, unless there's something I missed. Although maybe if you or PD know the answer to my wire gauge question?
Hopefully I'll be fine working with the stock parts in the Sun System. Other people don't seem to have had much trouble remoting them. I can deal with it however I have to use it. I'm just in this to supply my wife and me, and I'm just starting out so I want to take my time and K.I.S.S. as much as I can.
EDIT: While I was rereading my post I thought of this question...is that distance only an issue for the ignitor, or does the actual ballast itself have the same limitation? I could always leave the ignitor in the fixture near the lamp, and just remote the ballast alone.
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I'll defer on the ignitor location. IMO it's a very interesting idea.
IMO, a grounded extension cord is fine. There's a remote ballast diy thread by SugarbearII in the designs forum. It even uses the male/female plug and socket for convenience. Best wishes with the conversion.
