Yeah I second that... Its messed up that the companies that make ballast charge you extra for "Switchable Ballast " when they are really capable of both bulbs..
i think i would, cway, have a better understanding of it all, if someone laid it out, in stoner terms, what 'exactly' happens when a bulb (MH and HPS) sparks and ignites.
because if its as simple as only applying the correct voltage to the bulb...than any bulb will work with any matched wattage ballasts. in theory, of course.
where i get fuzzy, is what exactly happens when the ballast discharges those fat capacitors and the charge is sent "down the line" if you will.
"what exactly happens in the bulb that requires a 'special ballast?" i guess would be a better question?
just a note on 600w bulbs- I have heard of 600w MH bulbs but never seen them. There must be some scientific reason, but only MH bulbs that are available for 600w ballast are conversion bulbs...
I'm not 100% sure but I believe that the only difference is that an hps bulb needs a starter cap and a mh doesn't. I have a friend that converter an old hps ballast to mh and it works pretty well.
just a note on 600w bulbs- I have heard of 600w MH bulbs but never seen them. There must be some scientific reason, but only MH bulbs that are available for 600w ballast are conversion bulbs...
sun master make 600 m.h .... and there good.. and all other wattages are available to.
i grow with the white light ,and bloom with a mix,[ E.G .. running 4x600wt sodium .. i run 1 x600 m.h in the middle to give you a nice mix.].+ and bit more wattage
but you can also use sodium light all the way throo..
Yep RG you are right. The only difference between the two ballast systems is the HPS ballast requires an Ignitor or starter and the MH doesn't. I have converted many ballasts and that's all that's needed to convert the two.