240V MH Bulb??

Synergy · 04/01/2010, 04:22 PM

I ordered a cheap 70W MH bulb and thought I was getting a great deal. However, I just got the bulb and it says it is 240V? Will this work since I am on 110V or am I out of luck? My fixture is the 70W Viper.

Thanks

Synergy · 04/01/2010, 07:28 PM

Do 240V MH bulbs even exist? I have been trying to search for some and haven't had any luck?

Mike31154 · 04/01/2010, 08:58 PM

If I'm not mistaken, the bulb itself should not really have a voltage rating, only a wattage rating, that being 70 watts. The ballast is designed to fire the bulb at the rated wattage & voltage. As long as your ballast runs on 110 volts, the bulb should work fine. Typical MH ballasts will increase the voltage to the bulb to a much higher level, particularly for igniting it.

Synergy · 04/01/2010, 09:03 PM

Thanks Mike,

This is the conclusion I was coming to after searching for an hour and not finding 240V bulbs. I assume the bulb was just made overseas and thus designated 240V. I got a similar response from a third party bulb seller also.

Can anyone else confirm this? I would hate to break my ballast or blow something up. lol

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike31154

If I'm not mistaken, the bulb itself should not really have a voltage rating, only a wattage rating, that being 70 watts. The ballast is designed to fire the bulb at the rated wattage & voltage. As long as your ballast runs on 110 volts, the bulb should work fine. Typical MH ballasts will increase the voltage to the bulb to a much higher level, particularly for igniting it.

Nexenn · 04/01/2010, 10:07 PM

All HQI bulbs run 240Vs, that is one of the things that makes them HQI. If the bulb is double ended then thats totally normal.

04/01/2010, 04:22 PM	#1
Synergy Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 108	240V MH Bulb?? I ordered a cheap 70W MH bulb and thought I was getting a great deal. However, I just got the bulb and it says it is 240V? Will this work since I am on 110V or am I out of luck? My fixture is the 70W Viper. Thanks

04/01/2010, 08:58 PM	#3
Mike31154 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 1,555	If I'm not mistaken, the bulb itself should not really have a voltage rating, only a wattage rating, that being 70 watts. The ballast is designed to fire the bulb at the rated wattage & voltage. As long as your ballast runs on 110 volts, the bulb should work fine. Typical MH ballasts will increase the voltage to the bulb to a much higher level, particularly for igniting it. __________________ Mike Current Tank Info: 77g sumpless sw with rock, sand, a few critters, fishes & polyps. Lights, pumps.....

04/01/2010, 07:28 PM	#2
Synergy Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 108	Do 240V MH bulbs even exist? I have been trying to search for some and haven't had any luck?

04/01/2010, 10:07 PM	#5
Nexenn Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 575	All HQI bulbs run 240Vs, that is one of the things that makes them HQI. If the bulb is double ended then thats totally normal.