150W ballast CMH help

[joesmithjoe]

So i am looking to downsize quite a bit, my first setup was a 400w cmh and it was great for what it was but now I don't have the room for such a light. I am looking to fill an area 24"X40" and I want to keep with CMH. Before you answer, please be sure you know about CMH. I am looking to use a 150W CMH bulb and ballast. I have read that below 250W it is ok to use a digital ballast and above you must use a magnetic ballast. Is anyone using a 150W CMH with a digital ballast currently? I know that 150W CMH bulbs are pulse start and have an ANSI code of M142. What I don't know is if a ballast like this will work for me. I am pretty sure this guy would work well but it's not cheap and I don't want to learn the hard way. A lot of the ballasts I see for horticulture do not list the ANSI codes.

 

[STUNKY]

a 400 would be great for that space.. .. not sure about all the other stuff..

 

[joesmithjoe]

The box is in a place where it needs to be silent. With a 150W I can keep things cool with 1-2 computer fans.

I also plan on supplementing everything with 2 180W lighthouse LED panels.

 

[Ursus]

they got a 250watt switchable ballast. I would 100% recommend that for you. Use the MH for veg and switch to the HPS for flower.

 

[fungzyme]

150s run with a pulse start metal halide ballast (a standard ballast, not a digi - unless you pay out the ass for the new CMH specific electonic ballasts like your second example above).

 

[joesmithjoe]

I ended up getting an m142 electronic ballast for a good price. I am sticking with 150W because I am trying out a theory of mine, I didn't want to go any bigger.