New to the forum and the scrap game in general so please bear with the noob for a moment
got my hands on a number of grow light ballasts. Type of stuff used to power big high pressure sodium and / or metal halide lights.
They're roughly shoebox size but weigh 20-30 lbs each. I haven't opened one up yet, but I don't understand what weighs so much in there and whether it has any scrap value
Any info appreciated. Thanks guys
More then scrap value lol support your local grow op
yes, thank you lol I've been trying ebay / craigs and doing terrible. this stuff is outdated and really only marketed to a very small population of um.... botanistsQuote:
Originally Posted by cummins
edit: I see you're canadian. Maybe that stuff is a little easier to sell north of the border ehhh ? not so much in the states it seems
Try breaking one open. If they're like the ones I had for industrial lighting, they'll have about five pounds of copper windings around an iron core and encased in hardened "tar". The tar is easily broken.
Make sure there are no PCB'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
did they come with any of the lights? some of those are HUGE suckers and heavy too!
the ones I found that were square were aluminum casings so thats nice if you cant resell them
yeah I've got some of the lights as well. PITA to ship. hoping their is a few bucks worth of scrap in those big hoodsQuote:
Originally Posted by newattitude
Ok we had some fun this afternoon.
I removed one or two fasteners to tear it apart
http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/...ps597413a4.jpg
Took awhile but eventually I got it down to the case (aluminum ? )
http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1064b543.jpg
These 3 little guys which dont weigh very much. They say no PCB but not sure if its worth cracking these open as they don't weigh much
http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9b067a28.jpg
Then this thing. All the weight is in this brick (didn't weigh it - over 10lbs). Looks like a lot of copper to me in the inner coil. Not sure what all that casing is. I see no way of separating this any further
http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/...pscd6f03a0.jpg
http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/...pse51786d5.jpg
http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/...ps2f34049d.jpg
http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0fd3b51e.jpg
So now what? Do I have something of value here? Is it worth spending the time to dissect a few more of these?
Thanks again for the help
Doesn't Maine(Maine bein not too far from you) have a MMJ law?.. those are worth far more in the retail market than yu can get scrappin...
Maine is still pretty far from long island. And I'm telling you I've been trying to move these. You want to grow cilantro? Tomatoes? Grow them outside like a normal person. No one is dedicating space and resources inside to grow anything but weed with these things. And really, what small percentage of the population is growing MJ out there. I sold 1 and after the ebay fees, PP fees, and the hassle of boxing / shipping a 25lb brick it really wasn't worth it.Quote:
Originally Posted by grouchyolddude
So now we're ripping them apart. At least 1 for now.
The copper cores are fairly easy to remove from the iron. Use a grinder or Sawzall to cut through the copper windings on one side. Then punch or pry them from the windings. Good money there.
Punch or pry the windings from the steel core is what I meant.
Don't crack open those "silvery"/aluminum things. Take them as is to your scrap yard and see if they'll buy them.
Read through this thread and see if it somewhat matches what you have. As I noted, there was 3.25 pounds of copper in each: http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/disma...-fixtures.html
Eh those might be Chinese ballast with alum wiring, but check..Also those are worth $60 each if it is a 1,000w for a quick sale on craigslist no matter where you live if you or the customer have anway to test them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mick
The 2 on the right are oil filled capacitors, nothing of value inside.Quote:
These 3 little guys which dont weigh very much. They say no PCB but not sure if its worth cracking these open as they don't weigh much
I'd throw those in the steel shred pile.
The cover is either cast or extruded alum. and the transformer you can take a
saw and cut off the windings on one end. Take a punch or large screwdriver
and punch the windings thru to the other side.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...PLEK8hfNM#t=6s
I would just scrap stuff like that, who needs the extra attention of selling grow lightsQuote:
Originally Posted by Gurge
great info guys! thanks!
Project is currently on hold as I have a few long days in the shop scheduled. Probably will rip out the copper as described above. Will repost when I make some progress
The transformers are different from most.
Most transformers have the 'I's & the 'E's interlaced (like in the video above). That means the only way to get the Copper out is to cut the copper loops of one side & then punch the rust out thru the iron transformer core.
Microwaves have the 'I's & the 'E's stacked in their transformers.
They stack the laminations (individual iron plates). Then they run a thin weld down where they touch & that welds them together. They are easy to get the copper out of, you bust the weld, then break the iron core apart & then remove the 2 copper coils.
The transformers you have, are stacked by the look of it, but they are stacked differently. Theres joins where theres normally none. That means the transformers, after the weld is ground out, will split differently.
I'd say they split into three stacks instead. Thats easy work now.
-------
Those 'three guys' are capactors (first ones actually a 'starter'), they are not worth anything.
Between the Ali housing & the Copper coils & the iron, you have a nice little earner.
Colorado Resident says its everywhere hereQuote:
Originally Posted by Gurge
Check out our CL Ads
MMJ edibles shatter/earwax Bho edibles one stop
Tcgs beat me to it..LOL. I was going to say, target CO, WA and Cali buyers. :p
CO has a system in place if I recall right now for the grow shops to start up, so as they get closer to being set up to sell, you might find some buyers. If I remember the law right..CO and WA residents will be able to grow up to 6 plants at a time. If you can wait it out you just might find a buyer, if not..as Mick an others said..scrap the sucker an move on if you don't want to wait. :)
Yea..I read a lot..even stuff in states that is of no use to me. :p Then again..the rumor is NC is the next to go legal or at lest medicinal.
Sirscrapalot - "I think people need to be educated to the fact that marijuana is not a drug. Marijuana is an herb and a flower. God put it here. If He put it here and He wants it to grow, what gives the government the right to say that God is wrong?”" - Willie Nelson