Industrial Lighting

[BigBud2414]

:bongin:Hows every one doing? I was wondering if anyone has used an industrial low bay MH lighting setup like the picture. If so how hot do the ballast get? Thanks

 

[Mutt]

Running one in my grow now (400w Metal Halide)
1st off ditch the reflector...hang it vert. Ballast is magnetic and does it get hot. you'll want to extend the socket wires (by splicing a few more feet of wire on) and make the ballast remote.
Get a new bulb...can be had if 400W and under at Lowes.

 

[BigBud2414]

thanks got a great deal on 2 400watt

 

[captain1]

wish I would have know you could use them I have a few laying around my shop. Just went out and bought MH and HPS.

 

[Mutt]

The bulbs at lowes are universal position. Most of the bulbs they give out with those hi-bay fixtures are vert only. Just a heads up.
I like mine vert becuase i'm a multi-strain grower. Removes any ht. issues. but if you want to do a single strain SOG or ScROG I would get a universal pos. bulb and a Horizontal reflector. Insidesun carries just the reflectors. Or you can make one. Replacment bulb at lowes is like 20 bucks.

 

[BigBud2414]

My room is way to small for the huge reflector so I plan on do as you said and remote the ballast and hang the lights vertical Thanks for the advice.

 

[leafminer]

Yeah I've been using two 150W HPS high-bay that look pretty similar.
I'm just remoting mine - the ballast hanging from the top takes up over a foot of grow space.
However, I like the reflectors - they are really great at keeping all the light in the zone and not wasting any. Only problem is that the beam is a bit too well focussed and causes a central hot spot. I fixed that with one of them by making and adding a cone diffuser using cardboard and Mylar, but I'm working on the #2 right now and I am cutting the reflector down in size to reduce the focussing effect somewhat. But yes, these lamps get the job done. I got mine on EBay complete with 4 bulbs for like $40 the pair.

 

[leafminer]

Update:
Finished the first one this morning. Great!
First, it is not necessary (probably) to dismantle the whole ballast like I did. If you remove the bulb and look into the mogul socket you will probably discover the mounting screws at the bottom of the socket. If you can remove these the whole socket will come loose and you can simply cut the wires and splice in a length of cable to remote the socket.
You can use the reflector too!
It is way too big. What I did, I drew a line around it about half way up and used the jig saw with a metal cutting blade to remove the excess.
Result: a lightweight HPS reflector with socket and bulb, easy to hang, no excessive heat from the ballast, no danger of heavy ballasts coming down and crushing the plants.
I was able to lower my lamp to about 2ft above the plants after modifying it.

 

[dr pyro]

make sure its not mercury vapor most of those are

 

[BigBud2414]

Ive been think about doing the same thing with my reflectors just to see if they were use able but i think if i have the reflector on i will only be able to run 1 400w instead of 2 400w my space is only 3' * 3' * 7' i do plan on run the ballasts close to one of my intake fans to try to keep them cooler

 

[leafminer]

Squash the sides together to make the reflectors somewhat oval?
Without the reflector a large amount of light is being wasted, being sent upward to bounce around all over the place.