will MH ran on HPS setting reduce lumens?

[Former Guest]

i have looked for an answer and all i can find is that you can run the MH on HPS setting obviously and it explains how the bulbs operate but nothing about if the metal halide bulb would produce less lumens because of it. I'm asking because the hydro store employees told me that i shouldn't do that because of that reason and i need to buy a whole new ballast because they can't get the part to fix it. i can buy the part to fix it eventually but in the mean time, is there really a loss of lumens??

 

[the gnome]

your running a mag ballast right...
what part is it that need to be fixed?
but theres only a few things to fug up in mag, the capacitor, transformer and the ignitor.

 

[Former Guest]

the capacitor. i can order one from amazon for $38. i wanted to take the 1000 w out of my veg and put it in the tent with my other one which is what i was talking about on the other thread. i can then replace the veg light with the 400w and order the part. just curious in the meantime in case i don't get around to it or is there really a difference? I'm mostly questioning the hydro store logic as they said scared me telling me i could die trying to replace it and they don't have the part so why don't i just buy a ballast.... really?

 

[stoned-trout]

the cap holds a charge...I have changed quite a few and never had any issues... think you can discharge it simply if worried....electrical is my weak area ..think you just jump terminals with something safe.. might want to ask someone smarter than me tho as I don't want any dangerous info hurting anyone

 

[The Doktor]

the capacitor. i can order one from amazon for $38. i wanted to take the 1000 w out of my veg and put it in the tent with my other one which is what i was talking about on the other thread. i can then replace the veg light with the 400w and order the part. just curious in the meantime in case i don't get around to it or is there really a difference? I'm mostly questioning the hydro store logic as they said scared me telling me i could die trying to replace it and they don't have the part so why don't i just buy a ballast.... really?

When it comes to wearable parts or equipment breaking down, I will just throw it away and buy a new one if it is under $500.00. The whole Macgyver repair scenario does not apply to everything. If you are not trained or have the specialized skills or equipment to do a given repair, then you are playing with danger. Not only that but I laugh and just shake my head at some of the boneheaded diy jobs on these weed forums wondering how these some of these people are still alive let alone not burning their homes to the ground. But mostly, I value my time more than anything. There is a dollar amount attached to every minute to every day of your labor. If a ballast takes a shit, then the clock starts at the moment you decide to open it up and decide to fix it. So every minute you start searching the web or ask on forums for repair advice, take what you would normally make per hour (for those of you with actual jobs or careers) and tack that on top of the busted ballasts MSRP cost. Oh? You want to start buying replacement parts and small tools or equipment to "try" and fix this? Add that too. Pretty soon, all the math starts to add up and your busted $150.00 ancient mag ballast will soon start to cost upwards of $500-$1000 because you wanted to try and save a few dollars with no guarantee that your repair will work or that it will stay in working order without fucking something else up. Personally, my time is worth a hell of a lot more than that and so the thought of just buying a state of the art 1000k digital ballast from a good company (Solis Tek, Lumatek,
Phantom, etc) for $200.00 that is safer and more dependable. That is a hell of a better option from a business and personal time management point of view. And this is coming from someone that does custom industrial engineering.

TL;DR: Throw out that busted ballast and just get a new one that you don't have to worry about MH/HPS settings or any of that other nonsense with those old clunkers.

 

[The Doktor]

the cap holds a charge...I have changed quite a few and never had any issues... think you can discharge it simply if worried....electrical is my weak area ..think you just jump terminals with something safe.. might want to ask someone smarter than me tho as I don't want any dangerous info hurting anyone

Yes, capacitors without the proper training and equipment will kill you rather dead. And it will hurt a lot while it is killing you. You have been lucky so far playing with those things and wouldn't be testing your karma balance for quite some time.

 

[Former Guest]

okay senior members...i see what you're saying now

 

[rives]

A bad capacitor will lower the light output of a ballast.

Depending on your familiarity with electrical work, it isn't at all difficult to change the cap out and many people do it as regularly scheduled maintenance. First, make damn sure that the ballast is unplugged and that the replacement capacitor value and voltage ratings are the same as the original one. There should be a bleed-down capacitor across the leads on the capacitor that automatically dissipates the charge, but you should always short the leads out with a screwdriver shaft to make sure that you aren't going to get zapped. Make sure that you are holding the insulated handle (no metal contact with your hand) and touch the screwdriver across both leads at the same time. Transfer the leads from one cap to the other (the order isn't important), screw it down and re-assemble the case.

Done.

 

[stoned-trout]

finally a pro.. and ya that... I aint throwing something out I can repair simply...I never put myself at risk I was extremely carefull.. I been zapped before and learned my lesson...not ballast related

 

[The Doktor]

Depending on your familiarity with electrical work

Yep, that doesn't sound like anything bad could happen afterwards...

 

[The Doktor]

finally a pro.. and ya that... I aint throwing something out I can repair simply...I never put myself at risk I was extremely carefull.. I been zapped before and learned my lesson...not ballast related

Because I did not advocate the untrained handling of electronics that can kill you and valuing my time costs more by throwing something broken and cheap makes me unprofessional? I'm not sure how you come to that reasoning but okay.

 

[the gnome]

I mostly use mag ballasts.
if the $18 cap is bad and it takes 15minutes to replace,
as opposed to replacing it and paying $150+....
the choice is pretty obvious what to do.

telling someone to chunk it for a new one is unprofessional if your the one selling him a new ballast,
NOW
if your just giving your opinion on it,
the term
"you've got more money than brains'
definitely applies ime

 

[stoned-trout]

if I put a lightbulb in my mouth while doing it ..do you think it might glow if I got zapped....lol ha ha ...you do what you want and I will do what I want....I don't believe in waste...

 

[rives]

Yep, that doesn't sound like anything bad could happen afterwards...

If people are uncomfortable with electrical work, they shouldn't attempt it. For people that are adept with tools and have a reasonable understanding of the principles involved, or a desire to learn them, a magnetic ballast is a pretty simple device.

Because I did not advocate the untrained handling of electronics that can kill you and valuing my time costs more by throwing something broken and cheap makes me unprofessional? I'm not sure how you come to that reasoning but okay.

You are new here. He wasn't commenting on your level of expertise, but mine.

 

[stoned-trout]

^^^ bingo.... he can take it however he wants...I could care less...I do shit way more dangerous for fun...not electrocuting ones self is easy ...don't ever work on a circuit and just shut off the switch..go to panel as theres a chance a dumbass will come in and flip the switch...my first experience with being electrocuted....dumb mistake on both our parts

 

[bombadil.360]

rives should have some sort of tag along the lines of: "electrical wizard"

 

[stoned-trout]

I read a lot of his stuff and consider him a valuable resource...hence a pro

 

[Snow Crash]

Capacitor for Metal Halide - $27.95+Shipping

Econolume 1000w HPS/MH Ballast - $90.95+Shipping

• 5 Year Warranty
  Switchable

Sun System Hardcore HPS/MH 1000w - 100.86+Shipping

• 2 Year Warranty
  Switchable

Digilume 1000w Digital Ballast - $169.95+Shipping

• 3 Year Warranty
  Sequential Start
  Soft Start
  Bulb Failure Detection
  THD >10%
  Dimmable 100/75/50
  99% Power Efficiency

So here's how I see it...

You can replace the capacitor for about $30. There is no warranty, and no guarantee how long that capacitor will last in your old ballast.

Magnetic Ballasts are cheap, <$100. But since they are so outrageously heavy the shipping cost on them can be kind of extreme (especially if you are in Maine and the warehouse is in California). They don't have very many features, are far less efficient, but that 5 year warranty on the Econolume is pretty untouchable. Even if the shipping is $60, that's still just $30 a year for total coverage.

Digital ballasts are the most efficient option. While the cost on the unit is higher the shipping is often much less because they don't weigh as much as their Magnetic counter part, which often makes both units about the same finished cost to your doorstep. A 3 year warranty is pretty nice, and the increased efficiency gives you more bang for your power bill buck.

Personally, I like being covered under a warranty. I've owned beater cars that needed regular maintenance. And I own a new car under warranty. I know which version suits me best because I'm not a mechanic. To each their own and I think all the options available to you are pretty equal. Some people TRIP OUT over $20 differences on equipment they run for years. Buy quality and it pays for itself.

 

[the gnome]

Personally, I like being covered under a warranty. I've owned beater cars that needed regular maintenance. And I own a new car under warranty. I know which version suits me best because I'm not a mechanic. To each their own and I think all the options available to you are pretty equal. Some people TRIP OUT over $20 differences on equipment they run for years. Buy quality and it pays for itself.

there's pro's and con's to both sides of mag or eballast i won't go into but say this.
i have both, currently my mags run the big room now because i'm running CDM bulbs.
I like the ease of using and the options of eballasts.
but when it shuts down its history, unless it's the fuse many have inside most peeps aren't aware of.
I pay $15 for a cap and always have 3 spares on hand these days.
so when when one goes out my light is back online in 15min.

as for warranties, they great.
BUT
as I learned with my 8 bulb T5 floro fixture that was under warranty @8months when the ballast in it blew.
no prob, just pack it up in a 3-1/2ftx4ftx4" box,
ship it back at my expense and get it back when ever they
find the 30min it took me to install the $45 dollar ballast.
in the mean time i have a pile of plants growing with no lite for X amount of weeks
BTW
I keep those ballasts on hand also


imho warranties are excellent for peace of mind.....
until you have to use it.
because when your eballast goes down 5wks in bloom and it 2+ weeks to get the new one under warranty,
albeit for free, your still screwed.
so would you rather have a few back up spare parts for your lamp/ballast?
or a warranty and no lite for weeks while $3000 of buds is rotting in the dark?
unless your real lucky and bought the item with warranty and live close to the hydro store....
which I'd say way, WAY more of us do not, at times toilet paper is more useful than your paper warranty.

of course, we all have different needs and circumstances... so to each his own

my

 

[Former Guest]

Metal halide conversion bulb $22 includes shipping plantmax 400w ran on hps setting that works on horticulture source.

I thought there might be lumen loss but couldn't find any mention of it. Thanks rives!

I might fix it though but this works for now to veg out clones for two weeks before the bloom room. Thanks guys! You're the best!