really need some help/confirmation here. I've been bow fishing for years and have been on a lot of different rigs but now it's time to build my own on my boat. I have a 18ft. Polar Kraft and I am ONLY PUTTING HPS LIGHTS!!!! I'm planning on running 6 150w HPS lights from econolight to start along with a converter for my trolling motor. The trolling motor on there now is ran off a 24v system and i really don't want to have to place it somewhere new so i am planning on mounting another trolling motor i have on top of the deck for bow fishing. With this plan i was just going to run the trolling motor to a separate battery, with the converter, then the converter to the generator.

My Questions:

1. Can i just put a battery in the boat with the trolling motor connected to it, then plug the converter into the generator and everything be fine?
2. Can i just plug all of the HPS lights straight to the generator? I hear some people talking about caps for each light?
3. Is a ballast needed? If so what does this do?
3 from what I'm reading if i get a PM3-55 Power Max converter it could pull up to 750w if my battery (for the trolling motor) is dead, then my 6 lights @ 150w each, totaling 1650w? I know the start up on the HPS lights is pretty high so i know i might have to let some warm up completely before plugging them all in at once but, i have also read that the HPS light once on are actually pulling more than 150w more like 250-300w each? Basically what i need to know is will a 3500w Generator be enough for this setup? and if i add 2 more 150w lights will it still be enough?

PLEASE HELP!!!
thanks a lot, all ideas are welcome just no other light suggestions i know i want HPS!

1. yes

2a. you may want to split them into smaller groups just in case you want to power up separately.

2b. I think that was cleared up on the other thread

3a. Yes ballast is needed, it will come with the lights you are looking and so will the caps if you buy the 9x9's

3b. HPS lights bulbs won't run on straight standard wall power. Ballasts corrects the power difference....think voltage regulator even though it's more complicated than that.

4a. The converter basically powers the trolling motor. The battery acts as a buffer. You're going to use it like you use an alternator in your car. It's draw from the generator is directly proportionate to the load you put on it with the troller. 55lb troller will draw around 55a @ 12v at WOT. When the converter is pushed to it's limits, it will continue to try to power the load and will draw more power from the genny. The harder it's pushed, the less efficient it will be. At 1/2 throttle or 3/4, the converter will be pretty efficient, wide open you'll be pushing it.

4b. 110v (X) 1.7a = 187 watts (x) 8 lights = 1496 watts Startup will be considerably more. Def let the lights warm up a bit before running the troller with the converter, may need to plug them in a few at a time....you'll just have to try it.

4c. I think it will be fine as long as it's a decent genny and has a constant power rating in the 3kish range. If it's a 3.5k constant power, I don't see any problems for you.

sounds good! as far as the lights go (question 2a) i plan on hooking them up left, right, and center so that shouldn't be a problem.

Can you tell me a little more about the ballast? what do i need to do with this? what is it? how do i hook it/ them up ?

It will be inside the light housing man. It won't be that complicated. The ballast and capacitor will already be installed, you just hook up your wiring. There will be a pigtail sticking out of the housing for you to work with.

ok so nothing i have to worry about then i just run my wiring and everything will be good