1000w bulb on 600W ballest?

O

orgaincgreen

Active Member
Can I run a 1000W bulb on a 600W ballest? I picked up a few free-bee items and was wondering if i could just hook that up instead of buying a $100 600W bulb. I now not to exspect the 1000W power but just want to make sure this wont burn out the ballest or start a fire. thanks for the feed backbongsmilie
 
la9

la9

Well-Known Member
orgaincgreen said:
Can I run a 1000W bulb on a 600W ballest? I picked up a few free-bee items and was wondering if i could just hook that up instead of buying a $100 600W bulb. I now not to exspect the 1000W power but just want to make sure this wont burn out the ballest or start a fire. thanks for the feed backbongsmilie
Click to expand...
Bigger Light Smaller ballast


Here is the deal, the answer is based only on research and has not been proven, the information was researched enough that I would consider it reliable but until someone wishes to prove it the answer will remain unknown.

First off, You should be able to burn a higher wattage H.I.D. bulb in a smaller ballast, 1000 watt bulb in a 600 watt ballast. The reason is that the 600 watt ballast will only allow 600 watts to go thru the ballast and it won’t let the 1000 watt bulb pull more than 600 watts. The 1000 watt bulb will burn like a 600 watt bulb. Since it is meant to burn 1000 watts, it is over rated for 600 watts and is supposed to last longer and retain it’s color temperature a lot longer than a normal 600 watt bulb. There are reports of street depts. doing this to allow extended intervals between bulb changes or burned out bulbs.

On the other hand using a bigger ballast to run a smaller bulb will cause almost immediate failure because the ballast will force the amount it is rated for thru the bulb. If you have a 1000 watt ballast and connect a 600 watt bulb to it, the ballast will push 1000 watts thru the 600 watt bulb causing failure or explosion of the bulb. You don’t want to do this.

You may want to think this is all backwards and it seems to be from normal theory, but bulbs act different in a circuit than most other devices and this is why.

Also you can write any company and try to get an answer, they will always tell you to use the correct bulb with the correct ballast, the reason is because they don’t wish to be sued when you do something stupid and try to blame it on their advice.
 
la9

la9

Well-Known Member
If you picked up Free Bees Items then I think we could all get together and give you plus Rep to finally know the answer.


Please do it, I would personally love to know the answer since the question comes up about once a week I can post the real answer instead of the research answer you read above.

PLEASE LET US KNOW THE ANSWER, PLEASE DO IT.

If you are scared of a fire or whatever you can ship the stuff to me and I'll do the sctual research at my place.

PM me if you want, I really do want to know the answer !!!!
 
7th1der

7th1der

Well-Known Member
seeing as though they are freebies.... I assume they are NOT in the original wrapping? Because if they are, you could always check to see if a store in the area sells the exact same product and exchange it for what you need without a receipt. Just a suggestion.
 
la9

la9

Well-Known Member
7th1der said:
seeing as though they are freebies.... I assume they are NOT in the original wrapping? Because if they are, you could always check to see if a store in the area sells the exact same product and exchange it for what you need without a receipt. Just a suggestion.
Click to expand...

It would be more beneficial to the group if he tried to hook them up, he would be a CULT HERO on this board and possibly all the others.

Would you Rather be a CULT HERO or known as the guy that exchanged something without a receipt ????
 
M

MrJDGaF

Well-Known Member
Unless you have an automated fire fighting system I wouldn't try that if I were you, unless your ballast says 1-600 Watts then you can only safely use 600W bulbs no higher, no lower.:peace:
 
la9

la9

Well-Known Member
MrJDGaF said:
Unless you have an automated fire fighting system I wouldn't try that if I were you, unless your ballast says 1-600 Watts then you can only safely use 600W bulbs no higher, no lower.:peace:
Click to expand...
Did you read 5 posts above, it should work.

If someone gets the stuff to me I will try it out if it is a matter of being afraid. According to all I've read nothing should happen except the light will burn at 600 watts instead of 1000.
 
7th1der

7th1der

Well-Known Member
la9 said:
It would be more beneficial to the group if he tried to hook them up, he would be a CULT HERO on this board and possibly all the others.

Would you Rather be a CULT HERO or known as the guy that exchanged something without a receipt ????
Click to expand...
You got a point! I'm putting together a cabinet now and I'm trynna get my cooling down pack for my cool tube
 
F

forseti

Well-Known Member
There's a reason the bulbs aren't interchangeable. Otherwise they'd just make a universal bulb and sell it for the highest wattage available, would make production easier and could even reduce costs.

I would imagine it won't work, or work well. The bulbs are designed to run at their spec wattage, within a certain tolerance, under powering them seems like it it's not just going to produce a dimmer light.
 
timmmy2021

timmmy2021

Well-Known Member
i did this with a 65w"500we" cfl socket with a 105w "1000we" cfl bulb. it burnt my bulb. im guessing it would do the same with a hps bulb but maybe a fire at the end.... thats just my guess. i wouldnt do it.
 
MuaySmoke

MuaySmoke

Well-Known Member
At my local hydro shop they have these new compact 1000w MH bulbs that look like 400w MH. They put one of these in a display that is wired up for a 400w and it works fine, just not as bright. So I suppose that it should be fine when you do it.
 
O

orgaincgreen

Active Member
I hooked it up but the ballast didn't seem to work. fucking freebies- never can trust them! The ballast is 600W hydro farm lumitrek, dose anyone have any ideas about what could be wrong with it, or had problem before? there is no on switch so im guessing when I plug it in it should come on but no noise or vibration or anything
 
johndoe2216751

johndoe2216751

Well-Known Member
MuaySmoke said:
At my local hydro shop they have these new compact 1000w MH bulbs that look like 400w MH. They put one of these in a display that is wired up for a 400w and it works fine, just not as bright. So I suppose that it should be fine when you do it.
Click to expand...

"yea we have these new bulbs, they are 1000w but look just like a 400w and work on a 400w ballast!! $350 please..."

seems like a scam :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top