I got a 4 bulb 4 footer going now. the ballast came in today finally. eventho only 3 bulbs are firing. I fking wish i would of just bought a new light before I spent 30 on bulbs and 40 on a ballast 3 days later. i could of put another 70 with that and had a 8 bulb 4 footer that would of c0vered them...
But here is what I am prob gonna do. I am gonna purchase a new hid ballast. I only have 1 ballast and its being used in flower, but I have 2 hoods... This new ballast will run 400, 600, 1000 bulbs, AND its dimmable from 400 too 1050 or 1150, ... I could run my 600 mh bulb at 400 watts to start veg, and then when my flower is half way in(30 days), I switch out ballast, so my 600 is in veg, and my new ballast is in flower and running 1k... This is just the best I can come up with. Plus then I will have back up ballast for flower if any thing should ever happen. A new t5 light and this ballast cost roughly the same.. Just figure the ballast would be the better purchasing decision at this point.