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

Mcoocoo · Sep 29, 2019

PJ Diaz said:
Yeah, I'm not just making this up based on my feelings.

I appreciate the input

PJ Diaz · Sep 29, 2019

growingforfun said:
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

I'm not worried about anything, simply trying to provide an accurate fact based answer to a question.

Just because you didn't have or notice problems doesn't necessarily mean your choices have been ideal.

Like I already said, either way will work.

Mcoocoo · Sep 29, 2019

growingforfun said:
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

I am happy to hear that,I am probably overthinking the entire thing, I will either dim the bulb, like it is designed to do or move it higher up

PJ Diaz · Sep 29, 2019

HPS lamps are rated for around 25k hours. I only run mine for less than 5k hours a year. I see no need to replace them any sooner than that.

Mcoocoo · Sep 29, 2019

PJ Diaz said:
I'm not worried about anything, simply trying to provide an accurate fact based answer to a question.

Just because you didn't have or notice problems doesn't necessarily mean your choices have been ideal.

Like I already said, either way will work.

Thanks again, I feel better about the entire thing now

growingforfun · Sep 29, 2019

PJ Diaz said:
I'm not worried about anything, simply trying to provide an accurate fact based answer to a question.

Just because you didn't have or notice problems doesn't necessarily mean your choices have been ideal.

Like I already said, either way will work.

I never said it was ideal... ideally I'd swap out ballasts every summer.

We are talking about if it's better put underpowered bulbs in ballasts or to dim a bulb in the ballast.

We disagree on the right option. That's fine. You do you.

I've never had a problem using features built into my ballast. Guess I'm crazy or taking risks. Whatever.

Mcoocoo · Sep 29, 2019

growingforfun said:
I never said it was ideal... ideally I'd swap out ballasts every summer.

We are talking about if it's better put underpowered bulbs in ballasts or to dim a bulb in the ballast.

We disagree on the right option. That's fine. You do you.

I've never had a problem using features built into my ballast. Guess I'm crazy or taking risks. Whatever.

I will be upgrading soon, probably start with a quality reflector that distributes the light more evenly.

growingforfun · Sep 29, 2019

Mcoocoo said:
I will be upgrading soon, probably start with a quality reflector that distributes the light more evenly.

Depending on the costs it may be a good idea to go another way entirely.

https://m.alibaba.com/product/62234...w-version-sz-bava-240w-full.jpg_140x140xz.jpg

This is a pretty good light, I have one myself I bought to test out and I'm pretty damg happy with it.

Or here's a link to em on amazon if that feels safer to you

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Bava+quantum+board&ref=nb_sb_noss

Sometimes if you find yourself spending money to make something work it's just as effective to move to a better solution.
Getting the board on Alibaba is nearly the same proce as a quality reflector an new bulb.

I just finished my first run under mine and it produced much better than I ever got under hps in my whole career growing from both a yield per sq ft and a grams per watt standpoint.

Mcoocoo · Sep 29, 2019

thanks for the link, I have been considering cobs or quantum boards rather than a ordinary LED's I am just wondering why the plants can't handle the light if the temps are in check?

PJ Diaz · Sep 29, 2019

growingforfun said:
Depending on the costs it may be a good idea to go another way entirely.

https://m.alibaba.com/product/62234239738/2019-new-version-sz-bava-240w.html?spm=a2706.wap_new_search.1998817009.6.7b1b284fv9K7r6&__detailProductImg=//sc01.alicdn.com/kf/Hc649d667507d4271b9df0f073a45a93bL/2019-new-version-sz-bava-240w-full.jpg_140x140xz.jpg

This is a pretty good light, I have one myself I bought to test out and I'm pretty damg happy with it.

Or here's a link to em on amazon if that feels safer to you

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Bava+quantum+board&ref=nb_sb_noss

Sometimes if you find yourself spending money to make something work it's just as effective to move to a better solution.
Getting the board on Alibaba is nearly the same proce as a quality reflector an new bulb.

I just finished my first run under mine and it produced much better than I ever got under hps in my whole career growing from both a yield per sq ft and a grams per watt standpoint.

What size footprint does the light fill? I feel like I'd need two of those to replace a 600w hps.

growingforfun · Sep 29, 2019

Mcoocoo said:
thanks for the link, I have been considering cobs or quantum boards rather than a ordinary LED's I am just wondering why the plants can't handle the light if the temps are in check?

Theres more factors at play than just heat. Just like plants can burn if they are in direct sun for more hours during the day than they want when temps are in the 70's.

The lamps emits a amount of photons that hit the plant, heat comes with it but the heat is easier to control. The type of reflector will focus or make the spread of the photons more diffuse.

Hope that helps some

growingforfun · Sep 29, 2019

PJ Diaz said:
What size footprint does the light fill? I feel like I'd need two of those to replace a 600w hps.

They cover 2x4. I'm sure it would also do just fine in the 3x3, I'd hang it diagonally in there. I dont think it would really require 2 of them to pretty much replace the 600. I'd say it will replace about 500 watts worth of the hps based on my results.

Mcoocoo · Sep 29, 2019

growingforfun said:
Theres more factors at play than just heat. Just like plants can burn if they are in direct sun for more hours during the day than they want when temps are in the 70's.

The lamps emits a amount of photons that hit the plant, heat comes with it but the heat is easier to control. The type of reflector will focus or make the spread of the photons more diffuse.

Hope that helps some

Yes, that does make sense to me. I think the root of the problem is the reflector, it is just a bare bulb, no glass to shield anything. Hopefully once I raise it they will "harden off" and get use to it. They are in week 3 of flower right now and I just don't need this light stress at this point in time

PJ Diaz · Sep 29, 2019

growingforfun said:
They cover 2x4. I'm sure it would also do just fine in the 3x3, I'd hang it diagonally in there. I dont think it would really require 2 of them to pretty much replace the 600. I'd say it will replace about 500 watts worth of the hps based on my results.

Thanks. I want to switch over to LED at spme point too, but think I might wait until next summer. HPS heat over winter does kind of help.

Mcoocoo · Sep 29, 2019

I just raised mine up to the top bar and temps are down 2 degrees and the light spread is larger, but everything is pulled forward due to the filter. I hope it doesn't deprive them of useful light though. Speaking of diagonal, I may give that a shot,

Mcoocoo · Sep 29, 2019

Mcoocoo said:
I just raised mine up to the top bar and temps are down 2 degrees and the light spread is larger, but everything is pulled forward due to the filter. I hope it doesn't deprive them of useful light though. Speaking of diagonal, I may give that a shot,

If I was to put the filter outside of the tent, will the fan still be as effective pushing intstead of pulling?

growingforfun · Sep 29, 2019

Mcoocoo said:
If I was to put the filter outside of the tent, will the fan still be as effective pushing intstead of pulling?

It isnt the ideal choice but it can work.

The prefilter is there for a good reason and pushing threw the filter completely bypasses it.

Depending on your exact situation it may not be a advisable solution to try.

If minor smell is acceptable then it's totally acceptable because it still does a fair job of filtering but you'll notice most every post here where people say their carbon filter isnt working right they are running it that way and the problem clears up when the put the filter back in the tent

Mcoocoo · Sep 29, 2019

growingforfun said:
It isnt the ideal choice but it can work.

The prefilter is there for a good reason and pushing threw the filter completely bypasses it.

Depending on your exact situation it may not be a advisable solution to try.

If minor smell is acceptable then it's totally acceptable because it still does a fair job of filtering but you'll notice most every post here where people say their carbon filter isnt working right they are running it that way and the problem clears up when the put the filter back in the tent

thanks for replying back, I think it is best if I leave the ventilation as is, it is doing a really good job of pulling air through the tent and covering the smell. they seem a little better now with the temperature drop from raising the light and by raising it up that high, the hot spots on the corners were also raised so now the light footprint is wider. It will have to do until I get the new reflector. Thanks again

growingforfun · Sep 29, 2019

Mcoocoo said:
thanks for replying back, I think it is best if I leave the ventilation as is, it is doing a really good job of pulling air through the tent and covering the smell. they seem a little better now with the temperature drop from raising the light and by raising it up that high, the hot spots on the corners were also raised so now the light footprint is wider. It will have to do until I get the new reflector. Thanks again

Since it's a econo wing could you just bend it more flat? I'd concider removing the bulb and going to work on it reshaping it. I've had to do that before myself an many others here do the same. Some people here even take tinsnips to the box reflectors and open them up a bit.

Ya it will never be as pretty as the proper reflector, but sometimes it best to just take action.

Mcoocoo · Sep 30, 2019

growingforfun said:
Since it's a econo wing could you just bend it more flat? I'd concider removing the bulb and going to work on it reshaping it. I've had to do that before myself an many others here do the same. Some people here even take tinsnips to the box reflectors and open them up a bit.

Ya it will never be as pretty as the proper reflector, but sometimes it best to just take action.

I was considering that, but I would hate to make it worse. If I flatten it out will it get rid of the hotspots? Thanks

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

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Similar threads