??? mmm i have a small cupboard "the kind you buy from a furniture shop with the door on top that opens up the way and two doors below" which i have turned into a ahem "growroom" .The height is just over a metre and a half and is about half a metre deep and wide .i am in need of a HPS or MH lighting unit (new to this so a full unit incorperating light bulb ,ballast (whatever that is?) ,reflector and mains cable would be better than messing with wires) and have worked out about 150 watts would do me fine .i am based in the uk and I have noticed if you go to a hardware store you save money and i dont want to spend to much on equipment(personal grower) How would i go about getting a full HID (High Intensity Discharge) unit (HPS or MH)as said above in the price range of about £60? (100bucks)

High matey
I know nothing of growlights from a hardware store....so I'm afraid I can't advise you there other than..a 250W HPS would be better than a 150W....it's better to give too much rather than too little.
As for the bulb, ballast ting...you will get a ballast to plug into your plug socket, a reflector and bulb plugged into that....its that simple....1 plug is all it is. Plug the ballast directly into a timer and your off

??? i checked my local hardware store for lights and ,yeeha they have all the lights i need (HPS , MH) and in lots of different watts ,but the bigger the watt the bigger the price . a 70 watt lamp is £40(small enough to fit my growrooom), a 150 watt light is huge (a bit to big) and the price is big also (£90) i dread to think of what the 250 watt lamp would be like ,any ideas where i could get a relatively cheap 250watt HPS lamp ?(and relatively small)  :yinyang:

How wide is your "wardrobe" then..?
A dutch barn reflector is about 14 inches wide and this is the widest point of the lighting. I know of a place that will do you a ballast, 250W bulb, reflector for £125....less than an ounce of your favourite medicine

lightin problem sussed ,i had a friend that works in an eletrical shop ,i got a 400 watt HPS with ballast and reflector and bulb( including chain and flex and plug) for £59 ,i think i got it trade price .What a bargain , now its all fitted and ready to go (i will get a photo asap and post it so i can get your comments and help on improving it) now i goto go and post some messages in the growing bit cause i need to know how to germinate my recently aquired female seeds   (for attention of law and authorities. All details in my posts are completely fictional and i would in no way contradict the law) :tounge2:

Good on ya buddy....look forward to seeing the pics. :colgate:

i think about 10,000 watts should do it ,itll be a little tight!andthe heats is going to heat your hole house so youll have to shut off your frence! youll need a few plum trees a lawn chair and some 151! but i realy think youll like how they fit to gather well!sorry i am stoned and on heavy mids!

:0 10,00 watts tazz...blimey...the whole of the U.k. could grow under that

very similar to the light i got (think mine was a TAMLITE)
and works very well ,
but i have had a few comments from others regarding the reliability of the ballasts on security lighting ,i heard they are not very dependable and would have been better going for a grow light cause it will short quicker than a horticulture aimed light
but i am not sure if this is just a hydro shop owner trying to sell an expensive light
or an actual decent piece of advice
you decide

£60 is quite cheap for a HID lighting system to be honest mate, you might find one on ebay but it will more than likely be a fixed ballast (not what u want, the ballast has to stay very close to the reflector causing high temperatures..)

If you try here however there are some good budget systems at the UK420Store, 250w is their lowest i think, you could always ask Joolz if he could obtain a lower wattage system for you though

You could have bought a 600 watt HPS set-up from me for 55 quid, but then again thats gunna kick out wayyyy too much heat in a grow cupboard.

Good luck with your grow anyway!

P.S - You will defo need to get some good fans whacked in there for air in / out cos it will get really hot.

Mick.

...and the prize for the oldest ressurected thread goes to .....

oh right..