If you're looking for a 600 watt HPS and MH Ballast, you are in the right place. HID technology might be falling in terms of popularity to more efficient tech like LED or CMH, but high powered HID lighting will always have a place in commercial growing.

What is a 600 watt HPS and MH Ballast?

Your ballast is responsible for actually powering your HPS/MH light. It's the actual power source. Ballasts ignite the gas in your bulb, and work to maintain the charge at a safe frequency. Some people try and cut corners by just plugging a light straight into an outlet without a ballast. This is a terrible idea, and depending on your cord, won't work anyway. Without a ballast, your light won't ignite, or if it does, it will pop the bulb quickly from running too hot.

If you are here though, you already know 600-watt HPS and MH ballasts are essential, but which one should you use? Some are better than others, so here is what you need to know.

Which 600w HPS and MH ballast should I use?

There are two types of 600w HPS and MH ballasts: magnetic and digital. Magnetic ballasts are becoming a thing of the past, because they're inefficient and produce a lot of heat. They can also be loud, and create RFI interference.

Digital ballasts, on the other hand, have really improved HID grow lighting. They don't create nearly as much heat, or take up as much space. They also run 30% more efficiently, saving you money on electricity. You can also dim these ballasts to run at a lower wattage. This is huge for early stages of growth, when lighting intensity isn't as high. Digital ballasts also have RFI shielding, so they run super quiet and block RFI interference associated with older magnetic ballasts.

Obviously the ballast needs to be compatible with your grow light in terms of wattage and SE/DE. If you have a single-ended (SE) light, you need an SE ballast and vice versa for DE ballasts.

If you are shopping for 600 watt HPS and MH ballasts, you need a 600 watt HPS or MH grow light to accompany it.

Still need help selecting a ballast?

Here at Hydrobuilder, we carry top brands for ballasts including Galaxy, Phantom, Eye Hortilux, Sun System, Solis Tek, Xtrasun, and more. We have the best selection at the best prices, which can get overwhelming. So if you need help choosing the right ballast, reach out to our experts and we'll make sure you get what you need. Are you a commercial grower? We can help you get special pricing on bulk orders, so you can achieve the highest profit possible.