[GaryBriggs]

I saw his thread now. Very helpful! So lets say someone wants to start from nothing and run 4-400w. One could spend like $200/each like Ungaschick is making plus 2-2000w gennies like honda, champion, yamaha, etc...?

4 Lights @$200= $800
2 Invertor gennies @ $700-900

Total being $2200-2600??

That wouldn't be realistic for a guy like me LOL

Ideal... but not realistic

now that econolight has started phasing out HPS there are not that many low cost options available.

I fish off 2 boats, one with 1200 watts of hps and another with 400 watts of led's. The barrel gets filled on both boats. Just go with a good LED and be done with it.

 

[Realtree555]

call John at ShowMe Bowfishing Customs. He will hook you up. You can buy just the housings or the whole plug and shoot system. To each their own, but I had 12 Seelights on my boat and switched over to 4 400 HPS. Best move I ever did. Way more light output and alot less weight.

 

[eshaw]

The hardest part is to pony up the moola for one or two generators and get some electronic ballasts. A good ballast will cost you about 70.00 per light. If you want go to 1000 bulbs.com for your light pricing. Some ballast are adjustable 100/75/50 % and can also run MH bulbs too. You can make your own housings if you can weld. Add some wire, enclosures and the mogul bases and get to work!

 

[CarpCowboy]

I just bought some 150w HPS lights (6x9) from e-conolight about a week ago for $30 a light, added a 55cap for about $15 each. I have an 8 light setup for around $400. The 150w should be putting out 15,000 lumens each.

 

[Realtree555]

Go with a digital ballast over an electronic ballast.

 

[SoDakSlayer]

The hardest part is to pony up the moola for one or two generators and get some electronic ballasts. A good ballast will cost you about 70.00 per light. If you want go to 1000 bulbs.com for your light pricing. Some ballast are adjustable 100/75/50 % and can also run MH bulbs too. You can make your own housings if you can weld. Add some wire, enclosures and the mogul bases and get to work!

Right there! That is my whole driving point. If someone doesnt already have a generator it is very hard to justify buying one just for bowfishing. Especially when they might have a boat that is worth <5k-7k...

 

[Phillips_211]

You will need housings
Mogul Base, and I prefer the bases that already have plug and play connections
http://www.hydroshack.com/lighting-...om/lighting-accessories/power-and-lamp-cord-w-mogul-base-socket-15ft-903064.htm
Digital ballasts
http://www.ebay.com/itm/38078681623...6816236?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&var=650180011566&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
Bulbs
ands that's it

 

[ccpark17]

SoDak.. will you be at the muzzy? I can bring you some mogul bases.

 

[tpxwarrior]

SoDak... See if there is any electrical contractors near you. A lot of cities are switching out their lights to LED so these contractors are just scraping the HPS. I got 4-250 watt HPS for $80 from one contractor and 6-250 watt HPS for free from another contractor so I sold the ones I bought to break even. I found cake pans for $4/each at a unclaimed freight store for the housings. Bought a plastic water resistant ?tool box, some conduit, wire, and some metal for bracing. I have about $100 into mine then you just need a genny.

 

[morley]

Dimmable digital ballast 600/400/250 4 x $71 = $284 https://www.amazon.com/HydroplanetTM-Hydroponic-Digital-Dimmable-Electronic/dp/B019J423YI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492700668&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=hps%2Bdigital%2Bballast%2B600w%2Bdimmable&th=1

HPS mogul socket w/15ft cord 4 x $18.95 = $75.80 https://www.amazon.com/Mogul-Socket-Reflector-Hanger-Hydroponic/dp/B01MSWY7V9/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492700807&sr=8-1&keywords=hps+socket

HPS 400w bulbs 6 x $10 = $60

Mud pan housings 4 x $15 = $60

Champion 3100 inverter $641 https://www.amazon.com/Champion-Power-Equipment-75531i-Generator/dp/B00BBDCE1S/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1492701180&sr=8-3&keywords=champion+3100+generator

For a grand total of $1120.80

 

[amsugg]

Hell i spent 17k .... Just for bowfishing .... don't hunt don't fish(rod and reel) .... so whats a couple G's on lights and genny :laugh:

 

[nick81]

call John at ShowMe Bowfishing Customs. He will hook you up. You can buy just the housings or the whole plug and shoot system. To each their own, but I had 12 Seelights on my boat and switched over to 4 400 HPS. Best move I ever did. Way more light output and alot less weight.

X2!! You can get everything plug and play. Wired cords, everything but genny. And they are nice.

 

[Trash man]

I just bought some 150w HPS lights (6x9) from e-conolight about a week ago for $30 a light, added a 55cap for about $15 each. I have an 8 light setup for around $400. The 150w should be putting out 15,000 lumens each.

Do this and buy a champion genny from tractor supply for like 299 it's not a Honda but it's not too loud for the money and it's a decent set up for the money yeah it don't look as good or as nice as some of these high dollar rigs but still good enough to kill fish and put out a lot of light I'd rather fish over 150s or 250s than I would 400s any day

 

[Alinder]

Do this and buy a champion genny from tractor supply for like 299 it's not a Honda but it's not too loud for the money and it's a decent set up for the money yeah it don't look as good or as nice as some of these high dollar rigs but still good enough to kill fish and put out a lot of light I'd rather fish over 150s or 250s than I would 400s any day

Tough part about MN is that technically even the Hondas are barely legal because we have 65 decibel max law

 

[CarpCowboy]

I believe the Predator 2000's run at 59 decibels. You can pick one up for $500 at Harbor Freight.

 

[Night-prowler]

If you shoot cleaner water, the new customfitz 100w leds would be the cheaper simpler way to go. If stained dirty water, nothing beats the 400hps. Im pushing 5-400w and 2- 250w hps on my 1652. + converters. Got a 6500w generac with inclosed box. My new boat im building i thought about leds, but just cannot give up the power of the HPS!

 

[SoDakSlayer]

First off, I want to thank everyone for their insight and knowledge. This is all making more sense to me now!

As for me, I am in no position to be buying lights at this time due to a financial chitstorm snowball that devoured me in the last month or so. Thats not what this thread was intended for. I was just trying to understand what a HPS set up would cost. Like its easy to see what an LED setup would cost cuz I could run them off batteries I already have but HPS is something completely foreign to me. I have fished over HPS before but that was one time on a guys boat that I found on facebook cuz I was traveling for work.

Thanks to all of you I now understand the terminology and parts and requirements for an HPS setup. This is why BFC forum will always be where I go to get answers like this. If this was posted on facebook it would have 100 comments of questionable credibility.! You guys rock!! :hb:

 

[SoDakSlayer]

SoDak.. will you be at the muzzy? I can bring you some mogul bases.

Ha no. I am in MN. I have never traveled that far. Thanks for the offer tho!!

 

[GaryBriggs]

First off, I want to thank everyone for their insight and knowledge. This is all making more sense to me now!

As for me, I am in no position to be buying lights at this time due to a financial chitstorm snowball that devoured me in the last month or so. Thats not what this thread was intended for. I was just trying to understand what a HPS set up would cost. Like its easy to see what an LED setup would cost cuz I could run them off batteries I already have but HPS is something completely foreign to me. I have fished over HPS before but that was one time on a guys boat that I found on facebook cuz I was traveling for work.

Thanks to all of you I now understand the terminology and parts and requirements for an HPS setup. This is why BFC forum will always be where I go to get answers like this. If this was posted on facebook it would have 100 comments of questionable credibility.! You guys rock!! :hb:

gotta weed through the BS on facebook, a lot of guys from here comment there as well.

BTW econolighy no longer sells 6x9 150w hps. They phased them out. The era of inexpensive hps lighting is now a memory.

 

[chance]

It seems like some (or a bunch if you're looking into paying for hps) of ledmo or LE leds that Gary tested and one inverter genny would be a good option for you I plan on getting 6 or 8 of those leds and a generator this summer.