Digital ballast

[Weepyandy]

Hi guys probs been asked before .I have a 600w lumi black digital dimerble ballast..small grow area so I'm using a 400w hps bulb set to 400 on ballast Is this safe or should I be using a 600w and dimming down to 400w . Thanks help appreciated

 

[Schwagg#12]

Should be a 600w bulb dimmed down to a 400w setting.

 

[3eyes]

Should be a 600w bulb dimmed down to a 400w setting.

Yes 600 down to 400 and a 400 down to 250.

 

[Renfro]

You can do either but running a 400 watt bulb at 400 watts likely produces a better spectrum than a 600 watt bulb turned down to 400.

 

[Weepyandy]

You can do either but running a 400 watt bulb at 400 watts likely produces a better spectrum than a 600 watt bulb turned down to 400.

Thanks mate

 

[Lucky Luke]

But running a 600W lamp at full power is better than running a 400w lamp. Its much more efficient. I know that's not your Q though.

 

[Weepyandy]

But running a 600W lamp at full power is better than running a 400w lamp. Its much more efficient. I know that's not your Q though.

My tent is only 75/75/160 mate. 600 will be impossible to keep heat down and light high enough not to burn on a 600.. Pushing my luck wity height allready. I know what u mean though mate

 

[3eyes]

My tent is only 75/75/160 mate. 600 will be impossible to keep heat down and light high enough not to burn on a 600.. Pushing my luck wity height allready. I know what u mean though mate

Try fruit machine it'll stop the stretch

 

[coreywebster]

If running a ballast 600w on 400w you should always run a 400w bulb.
If you read the instructions on a dimmable ballast you are supposed to run the correct wattage bulb to the power your running.
You are not supposed to run 600w bulbs at 400w it changes the spectrum and shortens the life of the bulb..
For what its worth your not supposed to fire up a 600w bulb on boost or super lumens either, you are supposed to fire it up at 600 and manually turn it up after 15min. That is the manufacturers recommendation although im sure there are manufacturers that do not tell you this just like there are 90% of sellers who don't tell you this either!

 

[3eyes]

If running a ballast 600w on 400w you should always run a 400w bulb.
If you read the instructions on a dimmable ballast you are supposed to run the correct wattage bulb to the power your running.
You are not supposed to run 600w bulbs at 400w it changes the spectrum and shortens the life of the bulb..
For what its worth your not supposed to fire up a 600w bulb on boost or super lumens either, you are supposed to fire it up at 600 and manually turn it up after 15min. That is the manufacturers recommendation although im sure there are manufacturers that do not tell you this just like there are 90% of sellers who don't tell you this either!

I had a leaflet with my Hacienda saying it was safe to run a 6 at 4 and 4 at 250 but don't run a 6 at 250 seems to work ok so far

 

[coreywebster]

I had a leaflet with my Hacienda saying it was safe to run a 6 at 4 and 4 at 250 but don't run a 6 at 250 seems to work ok so far

You can do it, but it does change spectrum and can reduce the bulb life. Most of the well known brand ballasts when dimmables came out had it written in the manual, saying bulbs should be swapped out for the appropriate wattage your ballast is running.
However things do change, I mean your lucky to get a manual of any sort these days. But it does seem that its easier to just not bring this point up since its better for the manufacturer, the product sounds better without the info and they all have their hands in the cheap bulb market too.

 

[Kingrow1]

You can do it, but it does change spectrum and can reduce the bulb life. Most of the well known brand ballasts when dimmables came out had it written in the manual, saying bulbs should be swapped out for the appropriate wattage your ballast is running.
However things do change, I mean your lucky to get a manual of any sort these days. But it does seem that its easier to just not bring this point up since its better for the manufacturer, the product sounds better without the info and they all have their hands in the cheap bulb market too.

I do it zero problems, what were the old debates conclusion on the spectrum change, i feel like you can shift hps spectrum some and it wont matter due to its fullness.

I actually need to replace my bulb soon too