Can you use a 400 watt bulb in a 600 watt dimmable ballast?

Mcoocoo · Sep 29, 2019

I am am currently running a 600 watt HPS in a3x3 tent. The plants seem to be getting a bit of light stress. Can I use a 400 watt bulb in a 600 watt dimmable digital ballast or is it best to just dim it down to 400? The reason I ask is that I have heard that dimming a higher wattage bulb makes the light less efficient than just using a smaller bulb.

growingforfun · Sep 29, 2019

Mcoocoo said:
I am am currently running a 600 watt HPS in a3x3 tent. The plants seem to be getting a bit of light stress. Can I use a 400 watt bulb in a 600 watt digital ballast or is it best to just dim it down to 400? The reason I ask is that I have heard that dimming a bulb makes the light less efficient than just using a smaller bulb.

Better to dim a 600 watt bulb than to risk exploding a 400 watt bulb...

Mcoocoo · Sep 29, 2019

is it true that the light is less efficient when dimmed down?

growingforfun · Sep 29, 2019

Mcoocoo said:
is it true that the light is less efficient when dimmed down?

Perhaps by a amount a lab could pick up, but you wont notice. At least I never have.

The Gram Reaper · Sep 29, 2019

I have turned a 1000w adjustable down to 50% and put a 600w in it. It was for a short period of time, not sure how it effected yield or bulb life. It was better than having no light from the burnt out bulb.

Mcoocoo · Sep 29, 2019

growingforfun said:
Perhaps by a amount a lab could pick up, but you wont notice. At least I never have.

The problem is not so much heat, but light stress. I think it is from the hot spots that my cheap econo-wing are creating. As much as I don't want to, I will most likely have to dim it down

Mcoocoo · Sep 29, 2019

That was basically my question, can I turn it down to 400 and use a 400 watt bulb in it?

Mcoocoo · Sep 29, 2019

Just frustrated, I should have gotten the 400 setup

growingforfun · Sep 29, 2019

Mcoocoo said:
That was basically my question, can I turn it down to 400 and use a 400 watt bulb in it?

Its incredibly unlikely anyone here is going to recommend doing that as a solution.

Mcoocoo · Sep 29, 2019

I here ya, I wouldn't recommend it either, I am going to dim it, thanks though

Mcoocoo · Sep 29, 2019

I think that a decent reflector that doesn't create hot spots will solve the problem, but I will dim it for now

Mcoocoo · Sep 29, 2019

under the reflector the temps and growth are incredible, it is the corners where the ambient heat collects that is causing the stress

Mcoocoo · Sep 29, 2019

maybe the question should be, bigger tent or new reflector?

growingforfun · Sep 29, 2019

Mcoocoo said:
maybe the question should be, bigger tent or new reflector?

My solution is always bigger and more.

But I'm also a true addict of the hobby.

I've litterally told my wife I'm going to take a break for a few months and scale back only to plant 100 seeds the next day. A few times. So my advice is a bit... umm.. biased.

Mcoocoo · Sep 29, 2019

I can definitely understand that, I was hooked on this hobby from day one, I would love to have the room to experiment a lot more. For now, until I do get more space I will have to just fine tune things a bit. Thanks for replying

PJ Diaz · Sep 29, 2019

Mcoocoo said:
That was basically my question, can I turn it down to 400 and use a 400 watt bulb in it?

That's totally fine. There's no issue with that, not sure why anyone would say otherwise. Use a 400w lamp when running 400 watts from the ballast = yes.

PJ Diaz · Sep 29, 2019

growingforfun said:
Its incredibly unlikely anyone here is going to recommend doing that as a solution.

Why? No one knows the correct answer here? Eye Hortilux recommends to use the correct lamp for the ballast output: https://eyehortilux.com/grow-lights-grow/to-dim-or-not-to-dim-your-grow-lights-that-is-the-question/

growingforfun · Sep 29, 2019

PJ Diaz said:
Why? No one knows the correct answer here? Eye Hortilux recommends to use the correct lamp for the ballast output: https://eyehortilux.com/grow-lights-grow/to-dim-or-not-to-dim-your-grow-lights-that-is-the-question/

Nowhere in that link does it say to put a 400 watt bulb in a 600 watt ballast but good try I guess..

PJ Diaz · Sep 29, 2019

growingforfun said:
Nowhere in that link does it say to put a 400 watt bulb in a 600 watt ballast but good try I guess..

You're right it talks of 1k's and 600's, but the concept is the same. Here's what they say specifically:

"Ultimately, it’s better to use a 600 watt grow lamp running at full power than to dim a 1000 watt bulb."

growingforfun · Sep 29, 2019

PJ Diaz said:
You're right it talks of 1k's and 600's, but the concept is the same. Here's what they say specifically:

"Ultimately, it’s better to use a 600 watt grow lamp running at full power than to dim a 1000 watt bulb."

Yes I agree but that isnt his question.
His question is "is it better to put a 400 watt bulb in a 600 watt ballast and dim the ballast or is it better to dim a 600 watt bulb in a 600 watt ballast."

Theres always a risk of the bulb exploding when you put a under powered bulb in a ballast.

Can you use a 400 watt bulb in a 600 watt dimmable ballast?

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