1000 watt light in a 400 watt ballast???

I am pretty sure I have read that you can use a higher wattage light into a lower wattage ballast and safely run but I can't find the thread anymore. Am I correct in this? Will it just take the light longer to turn on or what?

Can I use a 600 watt??? I am trying to conserve energy here.

I've never heard such a thing. A 1000 watt ballast setup is larger and heavier in every way when compaired to a 400 watt bllast setup.

I sure hope your ballast is in a good metal container before you try this because is sounds like a recipe for fire.

nope cant use a higher wattage bulb in a lower watt ballast.
but the 430w bu;n in a 400w ballast is an exception

NO NO NO you don't need to burn your house down don't do it the balast will try to push to much out and the bulb could blow up and catch fire

well I read that street lamps are fed with around 600 watts or so and cities use 1000 watts to preserve longevity???

I wouldnt do it. Too much to lose, too little to gain my friend.

Ok I won't do so I was just hoping somebody had some electrical experience on the boards, I had no Idea but if it is unsafe I won't do it thanks anyway.

As someone with electrical experience I can tell you that trying to run a 1000 watt bulb in a 400 watt ballast isn't going to work. If it did work they wouldn't sell the larger ballast now would they? You need the correct rated ballast for the bulb. Period.

not true, I was asking if it would only run 400 watts through a 1000 watt making the 1000 watt a 400 watt I dont think you understood what I was asking but I believe you being a electrician and you know whats best.