400w Bulb in a 600w Ballast ?

[Closet Grower]

Can a 400 watt HPS bulb be used in a 600w HPS ballast ? A mate is having big heat problems and wants to know if it is possible .

 

Cheers

CG

[flatcat_auz]

No

[Innocent criminal]

400w bulb + 600w ballast = BLIIIIIIIING... POP Edited September 4, 2009 by TheHeadCing

[Closet Grower]

OK , thanks fellas , I'll let him know

[MongyMan]

I've run 175w mh globes in 400w ballasts before. They burnt brighter than if they were in a 175w ballast and didn't have as long a life in the 400w ballasts but apart from that I found no problems. I'm pretty sure it's not a big issue running smaller globes in a larger ballast but the over way round is. BUT I"M NOT AN ELECTRICIAN EITHER. (could be what I was doing was 'madness' but it worked )

 

Peace MongyMan

[Cyclone]

I would say, that's plausible in digital ballast.

but when it comes to magnetic ballast + HPS I doubt it.

 

If you are having heat problems with 1 600/400w bulb, in winter time,

I would strongly suggest investing in a Cool Tube and a centrifugal fan

for solid air flow.

If you have more than one light, simply buy more cool tubes and duct em together.

Should cost about $80 each (150mm) and I would say, they will drop your temp buy at lest 5 degree's

and will allow you and extra 20/30 cm grow space (depending on the light)

 

Good luck

 

Cyclone -

[Innocent criminal]

I have a feeling that a 400w globe run off a 600w ballast would produce almost as much heat as a 600w globe would?

By running the globe outside its efficiency curve you are pretty much wasting power anyway as the lumens per watt will be lower.

If your mate wants to drop temps by dropping wattage then tell him to spend the $120 and get a 400w ballast to go with the globe

Edited September 4, 2009 by TheHeadCing

[Closet Grower]

I have a feeling that a 400w globe run off a 600w ballast would produce almost as much heat as a 600w globe would?

By running the globe outside its efficiency curve you are pretty much wasting power anyway as the lumens per watt will be lower.

If your mate wants to drop temps by dropping wattage then tell him to spend the $120 and get a 400w ballast to go with the globe

No need for the rolling eyes mate ,, my mate just wanted to know so he could buy a bulb for $60 instead of buying a complete ballast for $120 . He was misinformed by his brother about the wattage he should buy and bought a 600watt ballast , as well as a 600watt globe

 

Thanks for the advice everyone

Edited September 5, 2009 by Closet Grower

[Livo]

well i have the same problem, i had a 400w globe and a 600w ballast laying around now would it be worth while using it until i can buy a 400w ballast or not? i've had it running for about a week now with temps at 32C at max and 24-26 C at minimum. i have a 600W bulb there but im afraid that the temps will rocket if i use it..

 

oh, and any idea on the temperature difference between 400 and 600hps?

 

thanks guys

Edited March 13, 2010 by Livo

[wilderbud]

You just waste electricity by doing using a smaller bulb with a bigger ballast.

 

Adjust your air flow if temps go up.