Mcoocoo
Well-Known Member
I may end up just emailing the maufacturer and ask them if it is in fact an interchangeable ballast, it worries me, to put a smaller caliber bulb in there
Can you use a 400 watt bulb in a 600 watt dimmable ballast?
- Thread starter Mcoocoo
- Start date
PJ Diaz
Well-Known Member
The lamp isn't under powered if the ballast is dimmed to 400w, it's matched. Either way will work, but ideally you want to match your lamp wattage to the ballast output. Truth is you can run a 400w lamp in a non dimmable 600w ballast, thought I don't suggest it, but I've run a full flower cycle that way (accidentally, oops) with no issues.
growingforfun
Well-Known Member
I'm assuming the power settings are 50%,75%,100%,110%
75% of 600 is 450. That's going to overpower a 400 watt bulb.
It's just not recommendable to mismatch bulbs and ballasts.
75% of 600 is 450. That's going to overpower a 400 watt bulb.
It's just not recommendable to mismatch bulbs and ballasts.
PJ Diaz
Well-Known Member
600 in a 3x3 should be fine is you have the headroom and can manage the heat.
Mcoocoo
Well-Known Member
the settings are 600, 400, and I think it goes down to 250.
growingforfun
Well-Known Member
What brand is the ballast?
PJ Diaz
Well-Known Member
That's an assumption, but not necessarily factual. Plenty of quality ballasts are made to dim to typical hps lamp wattages. Running a 400w lamp at 450 is really a non issue anyway.
Mcoocoo
Well-Known Member
well, the problem is the filter is taking up some of the headroom, If I do move it up to the top, it won't be centered because the filter is in the way
Mcoocoo
Well-Known Member
it is a generic Hydro Crunch brand
PJ Diaz
Well-Known Member
Place the fan and filter on the outside of the tent?
growingforfun
Well-Known Member
I looked it up and it says it's a 50,75,100 super lumens (110)
I know what I would and wouldnt do. I'm not going to continue debating with PJ about it. It's your call to do what you feel is safe. Just know if you care at all about the spectrum changing from mismatched output to bulb that it's unlikely putting a 400 watt in it is going to match its output.
PJ Diaz
Well-Known Member
The only real problem with using a 600w lamp and dimming the ballast is that when you do that, everytime you strike the lamp you're support to set to 100%, let the lamp fully ignite and then dim the lamp. How's that supposed to work if you aren't there every time the lights come on?
Mcoocoo
Well-Known Member
I may try that, putting the filter outside
PJ Diaz
Well-Known Member
Yeah, I'm not just making this up based on my feelings.
growingforfun
Well-Known Member
In nearly 10 years I've dimmed my ballasts every summer and never once noticed a problem. Bulbs dont wear out faster, quality doesnt suffer. Yield is proportional. I think your worrying about none issues. It's not like we run bulbs for 6 years before replacing them... I run mine for a year each an most change em out every 4 months or so
Similar threads
