400w hps bulb and 600w ballast?

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lurchdaddy87

Active Member
Is it ok to run that? Ballast is dimmable, does that effect the bulb wattage as far as 50% = 200w or would it run at 300w. What would 100% run the bulb at, 400w?; or would it over power the bulb and blow out? Can't afford a 600w but can get 400w for free...
 
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lurchdaddy87

Active Member
Hmmm..definatley don't want anything goin off in there. I've been running a 400w mh bulb for a few days now at 50% seems to be doin fine but maybe ill fork out the cash for a 600w..
 
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lurchdaddy87

Active Member
Yessss but in need of a bulb like today and dont wanna risk a brokbroken bulb in the mail like last year..

Is it ok to switch to 12/12 with a mh for the first few days? Or week?
 
sohighifly

sohighifly

Well-Known Member
lurchdaddy87 said:
Yessss but in need of a bulb like today and dont wanna risk a brokbroken bulb in the mail like last year..

Is it ok to switch to 12/12 with a mh for the first few days? Or week?
Click to expand...
Yup, IMO it will only help with the stretch. Won't do any harm..go for it.
 
rick19011

rick19011

Active Member
If its dimmable it will be fine, I have the ajusta a watt ballast, one of if not the best ballast out there.
 
Alexander Supertramp

Alexander Supertramp

Well-Known Member
Yes 50% of 600 is 300. So you are slightly under driving the bulb a bit. If your ballast has a 75% setting(450 watts) thats what I would be using.
And you can flower all the way through with the MH. Your buds may be a bit less dense is about all.
 
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lurchdaddy87

Active Member
Alrighty thanks everyone! Gonna run the mh till sunday and swap out to hps at 75%! Is that wattage sufficient enough for 4 then?
 
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budfever

Active Member
If I remember correctly even when you dim the ballasts it still ignites the bulb at the full wattage.
So even if you have a 400w bulb in a dimmed 600w ballasts it starts the bulb like it was a 600w, and that's where you can run into issues with it blowing the bulb.

Now this may not be true anymore I just don't know, Have not got a new ballasts in a few years.
I would email the manufcturer to be sure before doing it to make sure its not going to be a fire risk.
 
topfuel29

topfuel29

Well-Known Member
Your asking for problems.
No matter if you have it dimmed or not there's a start-up voltage needed to fire the bulb. Your firing the 400w bulb with enough voltage to fire a 600w bulb.

Be careful or they'll be planting you in the ground.
 
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