According to the Certified Ballast Manufacturers Association, the average Magnetic ballast lasts about 75,000 hours or 12 to 15 years with regular use . In contrast, the Electronic ballast can last up to 20 years.
Do all HPS bulbs need a ballast?
You can’t run an HPS bulb without a fitting ballast . At best you’re going to break the bulb, and in the worst case scenario you’re setting an explosion up. A ballast is what powers your HPS bulbs.
Does HPS light need ballast?
Metal Halide (MH) and High Pressure Sodium (HPS) lights require a remote ballast to work . When building your own plant grow light, it’s important to match the ballast with the wattage of the bulb you will be using. You must also match the type of light (MH or HPS) you’re looking for with the ballast.
What does a ballast do in a HPS light?
The ballast ensures that the lamp only receives the current it needs and nothing more . Without the ballast to regulate the amount of electricity going into the bulb, the light would continue to increase in intensity until the bulb blows.
When should HPS ballast be replaced?
- 4000 – 5000 hours (HPS)
- 3000-4000 hours (CDM)
- 2000 – 3000 hours (MH)
- 30,000 (Gavita LEP)
Are HPS lights good for veg?
In response to the general question, can you use an HPS bulb for veg, the answer is yes . ... Basically you can use just about any light out there for any stage of growth, the real question is how well do each bulb work for veg.
Is HPS better than LED?
LEDs are much the same. Though they’re generally more efficient than HPS (with some clocking 2.8 μmol/joule), some LEDs are less efficient than high-quality HPS fixtures, and they give you less light. ... All too often, the μmol/joule rating on HPS products states the lamp efficiency, not the actual product efficiency.
Is it okay to put a 600w bulb in a 1000w ballast?
Using it to dim down a bulb, for example to run a 1000w watt bulb at 600w, is not ideal. ... The better use is to dim the ballast down to 600w and then use it to run an actual 600w bulb . That is the big advantage of a dimmable ballast: it allows you to power bulbs of multiple wattages.
Are digital ballasts cheaper to run?
The Costs Of Buying And Running A Ballast. Magnetic ballasts are easily the cheaper option when first buying. However digital ballasts, although pricey to begin with, will run more efficiently , use less energy and in effect help to lower your electricity bills over time.
What does a ballast do for lights?
Grow light ballasts power high intensity grow bulbs and lamps by regulating the voltage to a high intensity discharge (HID) light or compact fluorescent light . Some ballasts power specific bulb types while others are “switchable,” capable of powering both HPS and MH bulbs.
Do I need a ballast for a 250w HPS?
Metal Halide (MH) and High Pressure Sodium (HPS) lights require a remote ballast to work . When building your own plant grow light, it’s important to match the ballast with the wattage of the bulb you will be using. ... A Metal Halide bulb must be used with MH ballasts (or convertible ballasts) of the same wattage.
What are ballasts used for?
In a fluorescent lighting system, the ballast regulates the current to the lamps and provides sufficient voltage to start the lamps . Without a ballast to limit its current, a fluorescent lamp connected directly to a high voltage power source would rapidly and uncontrollably increase its current draw.
How long does a ballast last?
According to the Certified Ballast Manufacturers Association, the average magnetic ballast lasts about 75,000 hours, or 12 to 15 years with normal use .
How do you test an HPS ballast?
- Step 1 – Remove the Lamp. ...
- Step 2 – Visually Inspect the Lamp. ...
- Step 3 – Check Accessories. ...
- Step 4 – Test the Voltage. ...
- Step 5 – Check the Ballast. ...
- Step 6 – Check the Short-circuit Current.
Why is my HPS light not working?
If the MH lamp starts and a new HPS lamp does not start, the ignitor probably needs to be replaced . If a new bulb, ignitor, and/or capacitor do not make the fixture work, then the ballast is probably defective.
