opinions on running a ballast at 50 or 75%

ISK

ISK

Well-Known Member
I have heard some say running a ballast at a reduced rate is hard on the bulb (reduces lifespan) and others claim it's hard on the actual ballast....comments?
 
I don't understand why some people do this . If you buy a say 600W light , why not rum it at full power ? Why would someone buy a certain light and run it weaker than you can ? My light is a 600W dimmable but I have never turned it down .
 
dadio161 said:
I don't understand why some people do this . If you buy a say 600W light , why not rum it at full power ? Why would someone buy a certain light and run it weaker than you can ? My light is a 600W dimmable but I have never turned it down .
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I'm thinking it may be less stressful on the plants for the first few days while transitioning from CFL to a 600 watt HPS.
 
Lots of good reasons to dim lights. I have a 4x8 tent with 3 1000 watt hps as close to the top as I could get them (about 1 inch) and I dim the lights some weeks and turn them up other times. If my plants are stressed then dimming is the first step. If my plants are thriving, I'll turn them up.
 
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dannyboy602 said:
U can reduce stress by raising the lights.
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agree, but I'm thinking like a cheapskate... why consume 600 watts at raised height when 300 watts could be plenty of light for my young seedlings

......but I wouldn't want to jeopardize the bulb or ballast for the sake of saving a dollar worth of electricity
 
Yea the point of a dimmable ballast is clear and simple imo I have a few dimmable ballast that all have a job 50% when the young ones first see the light at a lower hight then 75% after a short while then up to 100% when they r in full flow and finally 110% when your plant's are near the end.I have 8plants that r near finishing and have boosted the ballasts to maximum 660 watts and can clearly see a difference in my plants with the extra power being applied so isint it simple enuff if you have it use it to full effect otherwise just buy a cheaper standard ballast........and no I have never heard of a ballast that diminishes in use when running on a lower setting same applies with the bulb.....
 
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free clone.jpg My clones have lots of roots when I take out of cloner and put into the vegg cabinet. I clone and vegg under a T-5 light and then right into a 600W HPS going into flower.
 
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SnapsProvolone said:
Dimming doesn't cause significant damage to the equipment.

It doesn't significantly effect spectrum.
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thanks Snaps.....I appreciate your feedback

my last grow, I ran at 50% then add a few CFL (6500k) for the extra spectrum...was thinking of doing the same.

I would go with CFL for another week but I really need the HPS for the heat as my room is too cool
 
Greenhouse;save said:
Yea the point of a dimmable ballast is clear and simple imo I have a few dimmable ballast that all have a job 50% when the young ones first see the light at a lower hight then 75% after a short while then up to 100% when they r in full flow and finally 110% when your plant's are near the end.I have 8plants that r near finishing and have boosted the ballasts to maximum 660 watts and can clearly see a difference in my plants with the extra power being applied so isint it simple enuff if you have it use it to full effect otherwise just buy a cheaper standard ballast........and no I have never heard of a ballast that diminishes in use when running on a lower setting same applies with the bulb.....
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thanks Greenhouse.....that's what I thought, just another RIU myth :)
 
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