switchable mag ballast caps-n-ignitors

[the gnome]

I have a 1000w switchable hps/mh mag ballast.
it took a dump fri so I'm ordering parts.
i don't use hps and run Mh only.
the hps caps are more $$ and there's they take an ignitor.

theres pulse start MHs (uses ignitor+cap)
and probe start MHs--- that use a cap only
looking at parts available for the 1000w MH,
i have choice of a dry film 24uf 480v cap
and a *pulse start* oil filled 24uf 480v cap.

the only ignitors for Mh i see run from 50-450w
so I'm assuming these are 400s or less MH ballasts.
Ive look at the bulb and no mention of probe or pulse start
BUT that it takes an M47 ballast only so i'm thinking this is a probe start Mh type ballast?

in a nut shell has anyone replaced a cap in a switchable 1000s hps/mh ballast with a mh cap and run only mh in it?

EDITED
found out what i needed to know here
lots of good info, very interesting piece on how bulb burn position affects kelvin/color/bulb life and even lumen output.

 

[AlterEgo860]

just had this happen to me.. got a 1000w switchable.. that the powercord connection was fried.. but then wen I rewired that.. I realized that something either cap or ign.. is not working either.
wat im wondering is.. with the switchables. will a MH Light up without a working IGn.. or ? because its not working with MH or HPS. so im guessing it m ust be a pulse start mh.

id also like help with this thanks.

 

[BrnCow]

Oil filled is supposedly better in electronics but I am not sure about lights...

 

[dansbuds]

The only thing the switch does on a switchable MAG ballast is bypass the ignitor to run the MH bulb .
& yes .... the oil filled CAP is better & will last longer .

 

[the gnome]

i got my 24uf 480v Mh cap(oil filled) and installed it yesterday, works like a champ.
the link I posted above has lots of info on probe and pulse start Mhs.
most of the 1000w bulbs are probe start and need no ignitor.

The only thing the switch does on a switchable MAG ballast is bypass the ignitor to run the MH bulb .
& yes .... the oil filled CAP is better & will last longer .

yup DB,
and you can run the Mh bulb on the 26uh 520v hps cap, so looks like as long as the voltage and uf are equal or greater than the 24uh 480v mh cap it'll run a mh bulb

with the switchables. will a MH Light up without a working IGn.. or ? because its not working with MH or HPS. so im guessing it must be a pulse start mh.

pulse mh bulbs neee an ign.
its easy to tell the difference looking at the bulb.
here's how they are wired in the bulb

 

[AlterEgo860]

I got a question.. my ballast wont light either bulb.. but still hums.. this one is 6 years old.. and hasn't had a single issue. butt the wires from the power cord.. on the inside.. melted from a loose connection.. I don't know if that caused something else to go or wat.. but im going to grab a new ballast in the morning.. and then try to get this one going.. it sucks.. im thinking because It wont light either.. that its the cap.. and I don't want to be wrong so ill grab a replacement.. fix this one and add this one to my 400w for the veg room.

 

[the gnome]

my ballast still hummed when the cap blew in my switchable 1000w
it also blew the bulb.
took me 2 hrs of fooking around before i checked the obvious lol!

many times when the cap fails it domes out the top and bottom
and distorts the cap casing

it nearly blew this one apart!

 

[AlterEgo860]

its weird. everything inside looks fine.. sept the 1 orange wire going from the 120v power connector to the ballast. so I wired the power directly to the powercord like my other ballast. and it still buzzs but no light.. tried multiple bulbs.. and in diff ballasts.. so I know the bulbs work.. the hood cords are fine. basicly ruled EVERYTHING out except the ballast. I know its the ballast now.. so I just don't want to buy an ignitor and cap.. and then realize I should have spend the extra 60 bucks and got an entire kit.. and replace it .

 

[the gnome]

is it a switchable 400w?

 

[AlterEgo860]

1000w.. I want to fix this 1 so I can use it for my veg room for now.. but id like to fix it so it can go back to hps and mh.. so ill needa cap and ignitor.. I have 5 ballasts.. and I don't remember which one I had replaced last.. so I have to keep better track..

 

[the gnome]

pull a cap-ign. out of 1 working and put it in the bad 1.

I have 7 mag ballasts now, when i ordered last week i got extra caps for spares
I'll also start wriing the date on the ballast case when the last replacement was put in,

after 3 yrs if the cap or ign fails i would replace both regardless and have back ups ready to go

 

[AlterEgo860]

ya the thing is.. id rather not fuck with the working ones.. just incase. lol.. im a just ask the hydrostore dude to hook me up with a cap and ignitor. and a new 1000w. and just fix the problem and fix the ballast asap. im just so mad right now. because in all seriousness my harvest date was timed for this week.. and since this is the room running new strains. didn't know they go a lil longer. lol I haven't started flushing.. but I was talking to my buddy and he was saying to toss my 400w in there.. and watch how much more stink ill get.. he was saying how a lot of the terpenes are burnt off from the intense light.. wen he had his ballast blow. and used his 400whps instead for the flush.. after all the swelling was done.. he said his smell went up ridiculously and still does it the last 7 days of flush uses a 400w mh or hps. he hasn't seen a diff between mh or hps. but with goin from 1000w to 400w. I just cant afford to lose any weight here. im really stretching thin on money with my job paying most the bills the buds keep me having food in the fridge and clothes on my back.. so I don't wana fuck this up.

 

[AlterEgo860]

ok guys.. yesterday after lights wen out I ran in grabbed one of the ballasts and tried fixing my other ballast that blew.. it was the Cap. just switched out the working one in my working ballast with the one from the bad ballast.. and it didn't work .then tried the workin cap in the bad ballast.. and started up just fine. so now I know the CAP is deff bad.. ordered an ignitor and cap replacement and will install on arrival..

thanks for the idea.. I just didn't wana end up with 2 ballasts fucked .. but It was worth it for sure .

 

[TheCleanGame]

I LOVE Mag ballasts!

LOL

Keep it Clean!