600w bulb in a 1000w dimmable ballast...

Murphio

Murphio

Well-Known Member
Curious question... I have a 1000w dimmable ballast with a 600w setting, can I use a 600w bulb on such ballast? Reason I ask is because I have a 600w MH bulb that would work nicely at the end of veg rather than a dimmed 1000w HPS.
 
B.B.V.C.

B.B.V.C.

Well-Known Member
I bought a lumatek dimmable ballast that can run 600w 400w and 300w bulbs. I started with the 600 but was having heat problems so i bought a 400w bulb and set the ballast at 400w. No problems so far
 
Murphio

Murphio

Well-Known Member
Nice, cause I just got a lumatek 1000w dimmable and dont want to waste a good 600w bulb.
 
PJ Diaz

PJ Diaz

Well-Known Member
Murphio said:
I have heard that dimming a bulb shortens its life... not sure if this is true or not, haven't done such experiment
Click to expand...
Depends on the type of lamp and the way it is dimmed. In the case of standard incandescent, dimming them increases their life. In the case of HID the lamp life is shortened. The other thing to consider when dimming lamps is, how is the light spectrum affected by the change in power?
 
B.B.V.C.

B.B.V.C.

Well-Known Member
the new lumateks claim to be a true dimmable, meaning that when you set it to 600w or 400w mode it actually becomes a 600 or 400w ballast and even uses that amount of electricity.
 
Murphio

Murphio

Well-Known Member
PJ Diaz said:
Depends on the type of lamp and the way it is dimmed. In the case of standard incandescent, dimming them increases their life. In the case of HID the lamp life is shortened. The other thing to consider when dimming lamps is, how is the light spectrum affected by the change in power?
Click to expand...
I would benefit by getting longer life from my bulb (the 1000w HPS that I won't be dimming) and the 600w MH bulb would maintain its original spectrum vs. a dimmed 1000w bulb... I like the sound of that. I was just hesitant to put a 600w bulb in a 1000w dimmable.
 
Murphio

Murphio

Well-Known Member
B.B.V.C. said:
the new lumateks claim to be a true dimmable, meaning that when you set it to 600w or 400w mode it actually becomes a 600 or 400w ballast and even uses that amount of electricity.
Click to expand...
Well since you had no fireworks then I guess ill give it a shot. Thanks
 
J

Jonreitz

New Member
Lamps draw what they draw. Ballast don't push a certain amount of power, the lamp draws what it needs. This is why you can put any wattage lamp, as long as the ballast is rated at or above that wattage.
 
PJ Diaz

PJ Diaz

Well-Known Member
Put a 400watt lamp in a 600watt ballast, and check your draw at the wall. It will be over 600watts, which are all pushed through the 400w lamp, resulting in overheating, shorter life, and a modified spectrum.
 
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