Power Consumption Question

djxtreme

djxtreme

Member
the question was not can you stick a 400w bulb in a 600w ballast....it was does a 600w ballast draw 600w...... yes it does ,im not even talking about bulbs ....but even with a 400w bulb it will still draw 600w just the output would be only 400w.
 
skunkd0c

skunkd0c

Well-Known Member
djxtreme said:
it will still draw 600w just the output would be only 400w.
Click to expand...

you have still not understood
the ballast is the supply it is not the load, this important for you to grasp

The bulb is drawing the power from the ballast, the ballast in turn is drawing the power from your mains supply
the amount of power is dependent on the load (bulb)
you do not understand these basic principles, because of this, you are getting in a muddle

the ballast can only SUPPLY 600w if a bulb with low enough resistance (600w bulb) is connected

the ballast is an OPEN CIRCUIT
the ballast requires a load (bulb) to be connected to the end of it to COMPLETE THE CIRCUIT to allow current to FLOW
the amount of power is dependent on the load, not the supply
the power the ballast is rated at is the maximum amount of power it can supply before it would burn out

you could look at ohms law perhaps maybe that would help you understand,

come to think of it, they explain this stuff to kids, using the analogy of a water pump a pipe and the flow of water

look that up, that might help

peace
 
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