Ballasts

Ballasts for HPS and CDM grow lights

A ballast is the driver that fires up an HPS or CDM bulb and keeps it running at a steady wattage — plug a bulb straight into the mains without one and it won't light. Get the ballast wrong and you either underpower the bulb, or send in too much current and burn it out early.

We stock two types. The Omega 1000W 400V Digi-Pro is a digital dimmable ballast — it runs cooler and lighter than magnetic gear, and the dial lets you step output down for veg or a smaller tent. The Omega Black 600W and Omega Pro-V are magnetic (mechanical) ballasts: simpler, heavier, and a genuinely reliable choice if you don't need dimming.

Matching wattage to bulb and reflector

The golden rule: ballast wattage must match bulb wattage. A digital ballast with a dial can run 250W to 1000W bulbs at the marked setting, but a fixed magnetic ballast is built for one wattage only — check before you buy. Pair the ballast with a compatible bulb and reflector, and if you're building HPS or CDM lighting from scratch, our HPS lights and CDM lights pages show the fixtures we've already matched up.

Free UK delivery over £50, next-day available. Not sure which ballast fits your bulb? Call 020 3488 0419 and we'll talk it through.