New Grower Dimmable ballast

[Sourdough]

So my 600 watt nextgen died on me. I have a 1000w dimmable ballast. If i turn to to 600 watts, will it draw 600 watt? Also can i run a 600 watt bulb?
Thanks

 

[Son of Hobbes]

So my 600 watt nextgen died on me. I have a 1000w dimmable ballast. If i turn to to 600 watts, will it draw 600 watt? Also can i run a 600 watt bulb?
Thanks

Sourdough; from my own experience and from what I've read; it seems to be somewhat ballast specific. I have two 400W digital ballasts dialed down to 75% right now (heavy load on the circuit with some other things, moving some things around,) and I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt they are drawing less power, even without plugging in my Kill-a-watt. Full blast on the current load and I'm tripping a breaker. Dialed down to 75% and she's gouda to go. Tested this twice. Well, found this OUT twice.

However, if you do a Google search on it, you'll find some guys stating their digital ballasts were still pulling the full amp amount even when dialed down. Not sure what brands specifically they are, but may be worth checking into it. A kill-a-watt meter would dispel any concerns.

As for running the 600W light in the 1000W fixture, please don't do that; it's actually pretty dangerous. You'll find plenty of guys that will tell you otherwise, but here's the science behind it, taken from the American Electric Lighting HPS Servicing Guide:

HID lamps will operate at their rated wattages only ifthe lamp and line voltages are nominal. Variations inlamp and line voltages can cause a lamp wattagevariation of up to 20%.

HID lamps should not be operated at higher-than-ratedwattages. This can be caused by using a capacitor witha rating too high for the fixture, or by installing a lampwith a lower wattage rating than the fixture. Althoughlight output may increase, the excess wattagedramatically increases operating temperatures ofelectrodes, arc tubes and bulb walls. The arc tube maybulge and possibly shatter. Lumen maintenance andlamp life also are significantly decreased.

Will it work? Most definitely. Is it dangerous? Yes. Last year I was moving some things around and I accidentally hooked up my 400W ballast to my 1000W light. It fired up, actually. Quickly realized what I did and shut it down.

Stick with a bulb rated for your ballast!

 

[Sourdough]

Thanks for responding. The ballast in ? Is a lumatec dimmable ballast. In case anyone has any experience.

 

[GoeRilla]

I am not sure if it´s ok but i run a 250W Mh bulb at 200 Watts with my 400/300/200W Chinese ballast.
It seems to work fine, lots of lights and it draws 200W from the net.

Rilla.

 

[Son of Hobbes]

I am not sure if it´s ok but i run a 250W Mh bulb at 200 Watts with my 400/300/200W Chinese ballast.
It seems to work fine, lots of lights and it draws 200W from the net.

Rilla.

Rilla, that's potentially creating a fire hazard.

HID lamps should not be operated at higher-than-rated wattages. This can be caused by using a capacitor with a rating too high for the fixture, or by installing a lamp with a lower wattage rating than the fixture. Although light output may increase, the excess wattage dramatically increases operating temperatures of electrodes, arc tubes and bulb walls. The arc tube may bulge and possibly shatter. Lumen maintenance and lamp life also are significantly decreased.

 

[GoeRilla]

Remember that it´s dimmed down to 200 watts.
Your quote refers to a normal ballast that has higher wattage than the bulb.

Rilla.

 

[Son of Hobbes]

Upon some further investigating, it does look like CERTAIN dimmable ballast manufacturers state that their ballasts can safely start lamps matching the dimmed settings (in fact, Sourdough, the reference was to a lumatek ballast in regards to that.) I've noticed disclaimers on a few that specifically state NOT to do that. So I think your mileage may vary depending on who the manufacturer is. General safe rule of thumb (if you're not sure about your ballast) would be to use the maximum rated bulb and dim it down that way (which seems to be the main supported method by ALL.)

Do you have a model number on your lumatek ballast, Sourdough?

Remember that it´s dimmed down to 200 watts.
Your quote refers to a normal ballast that has higher wattage than the bulb.

Rilla.

250W Mh bulb at 200 Watts with my 400/300/200W Chinese ballast.
It seems to work fine, lots of lights and it draws 200W from the net.

Rilla, you're running a bulb already not rated for your ballast and running it on a dimmed setting that assumes you're using the correct corresponding lamp (which you're not,) and even that is based on the assumption that your Chinese ballast is the type that even allows that. Even if you were using a lower wattage bulb, you're still not using the correct lamp to match the power settings on your ballast.

:dunno:

I'm not going to try to convince you on how to interpret the quote; just want you to be safe and not potentially start a fire! Thanks bud!

 

[The Elvis]

Guys always use the correct bulbs.. HID can be dangerous if not use correctly.. Plus you can get bulbs cheap. Lets not have fires..

 

[wwwillie]

I have a Solis-Tek 1000 watt ballast. It is remote controlled and has timer and power settings. They say it will fire at the wattage of the bulb it is set too. Even with them say that I opted for the Solis-Tek 1000 watt HPS to go with it. I cannot run at 1000 because of the heat, so I usually run it at 630, the 600 watt + boost setting.
My philosophy is that I should use the bulb rated for use with my ballast. That way I can be sure it's putting out optimally and won't cause a problem. Like someone else said they are cheap, and what price is your safety!! Besides the price difference between 1000 and 600 is not that great!

 

[The Elvis]

Just by using HID bulbs 600 and and 400 correctly i have fire safety gear in my room fire alarms FYI my bulbs burn at 700F I fear even now when I leave my home ill come back to a blaze!! Its always been a rule to never leave anything burning in your home thats 700 degree F but I trust my system and took no short cuts.. think about it .. oh my 400 hits about 500F after 2 hours of the 18 its burns..