250w with a 400w ballast

eric808 · 05/17/2006, 12:08 AM

Just wondering if i could use a 250w MH bulb with a 400w ballast. Will the ballast try to push 400w into the bulb or will it just supply what ever the bulb is rated for. I'm basing this thought on regular light bulbs and outlet.

tigerarmy40 · 05/17/2006, 12:18 AM

good question! I also would like to know...

dodgersfan25 · 05/17/2006, 01:45 AM

i was told that it would not work, i asked the same thing.

you should only match the set wattage with the set ballast

twkenny · 05/17/2006, 04:21 AM

Can't do it. Bulbs and ballast wattages need to match.

blgreef · 05/17/2006, 07:06 AM

the bulb offers a lower resistance as it get warmer so the more power you push into the bulb the hotter it gets and asks for more power and you have a loop until you reach the output limits of the ballast or the bulb fails and possibly explodes.

So its not something i would try

eric808 · 05/17/2006, 12:42 PM

So it's pretty much like speakers and amplifiers just that we have no control of the amplifiers volume level. I could run a 500w sub-woofer safely with a big amp but if I put a 50w tweeter across the terminals "poof".

scarter · 05/17/2006, 02:22 PM

uhh, yeah, what he said

05/17/2006, 12:08 AM	#1
eric808 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: San Deigo Posts: 15	250w with a 400w ballast Just wondering if i could use a 250w MH bulb with a 400w ballast. Will the ballast try to push 400w into the bulb or will it just supply what ever the bulb is rated for. I'm basing this thought on regular light bulbs and outlet.

05/17/2006, 12:18 AM	#2
tigerarmy40 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: central ca Posts: 1,831	good question! I also would like to know... __________________ The power of moonlight Current Tank Info: 90g rimless tank in the makes and a 15g nano

05/17/2006, 01:45 AM	#3
dodgersfan25 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Valencia (So Cal) Posts: 757	i was told that it would not work, i asked the same thing. you should only match the set wattage with the set ballast __________________ -rich Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon Mixed Reef

05/17/2006, 02:22 PM	#7
scarter Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Baltimore Posts: 605	uhh, yeah, what he said __________________ My name is Shane and I am a reefaholic, I have a disease and they don't know what to call it. Current Tank Info: what tank?

05/17/2006, 04:21 AM	#4
twkenny Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Sunny South Posts: 1,081	Can't do it. Bulbs and ballast wattages need to match.

05/17/2006, 07:06 AM	#5
blgreef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Belgium Europe Posts: 526	the bulb offers a lower resistance as it get warmer so the more power you push into the bulb the hotter it gets and asks for more power and you have a loop until you reach the output limits of the ballast or the bulb fails and possibly explodes. So its not something i would try

05/17/2006, 12:42 PM	#6
eric808 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: San Deigo Posts: 15	So it's pretty much like speakers and amplifiers just that we have no control of the amplifiers volume level. I could run a 500w sub-woofer safely with a big amp but if I put a 50w tweeter across the terminals "poof".