Metal Halide Wattage Question (1 Viewer)

[Trey]

A quick question for all you experts out there. I have a dual 250W MH set-up and am wondering if I can simply buy and run lower wattage bulbs for the same set-up safely. This requires that it won't stress either the ballast or the new bulbs and that the bulb bases are the same size. I appreciate any help I can get on this subject.

Thanks,
Trey

 

[Wildfire]

I *THINK* that a MH balalst is rated to run a certain power of bulb, end of story.... For example, I don't think you can buy a 400W ballast and drive a 175W bulb to give yourself "upgrade room" later...

If you should find that you can, then PLEASE tell me, as I am going through a 250W / 400W issue with my new tank right now....

 

[Trey]

I have e-mailed PFO about this subject. I expect that I will receive feedback to not make the change. I am just trying to confirm that before I mess something up or spend money unnecessarily. I'll let you know what they have to say.

Thanks,
Trey

 

[AggieBrandon]

I am pretty positive that if you have a 250 watt ballast then you can only run 250 watt bulbs same goes for 175 ballast and 400 ballast...

Brandon

 

[Guest]

I'm pretty positive(don't quote me on this) that higher wattage ballasts will run bulbs of lower wattage(assuming the bulbs fit correctly). However, (I'm semi-positive on this) the bulb will run at an incorrect spectrum and low efficiency.

 

[bigbird123]

MH wattage

The ballast will run the lower bulbs but it will stress the ballast and half-life the bulbs. This also could present a fire hazard by mixing wattages. Is it worth it?

 

[Trey]

The feedback I got from PFO is:

GOOD MORNING,

IF YOU HAVE A MOGUL BASE LIGHT SYSTEM YOU WOULD ONLY HAVE TO CHANGE THE BALLAST TO A 175WATT. THE 250W BALLAST WOULD OVERDRIVE YOUR LAMPS.

As BigBird stated so well, it's definately not worth the chance. I'll use the 250 watt for now and see how it goes.

Thanks,
Trey