Probably a dumb question, but can MH bulbs be underdriven?

[cody6766]

I assume the answer is NO, but I had to ask rather than wonder. Can a 250w Radium be driven off of a 175w magnetic PFO ballast? I have a 250w m58 ballast that won't fire the bulb, but if the 175 will, SAFELY, I'd like to use it for the time it takes to track down an m80 ballast.

Oh, if anybody want's to trade my 175w ballast for a 250w that will fire a Radium I'd be up for that too:fun2: I'm sure that won't happen though.

 

[falconut]

I don't believe you can. That's what I've told. The bulb must match the ballast.

 

[ati70cutlass]

actually they can be. galaxy and lumatek have options were you can under drive (dim) a 250 bubl to 175 watts or over drive, TURBO it to 300.... i called about it thinking you had to run different bulbs but apparently not. most ballast do under drive the bulbs , not by much though. unless you get a good electronic or older magnetic most will.

check this out for more info

http://www.botanical.com/hydro/lightsys/ballast/lumatek.html

 

[cody6766]

That's an electronic ballast though. The 175w I'd use is a PFO magnetic ballast (the one in the big silver case). I wonder if there's something special about the lumatek ballast vs a regular mag ballast.

 

[AcroporAddict]

That's an electronic ballast though. The 175w I'd use is a PFO magnetic ballast (the one in the big silver case). I wonder if there's something special about the lumatek ballast vs a regular mag ballast.

You cannot underdrive a magnetic ballast. E-ballasts use less electricity, and most run both probe, pulse, and hqi halide bulbs. Coralvue ballasts can be purchased dimmable with 50% 75%, 100% or 110% dim/overdrive option. These newer CV ballasts are clickable between these percentages. Older types had a manual knob that you could use to dim anywhere from -35% to 100% and click to overdrive +10%.

 

[cody6766]

I didn't mean underdrive the ballast, I mean the bulb. I know the 175w ballast puts out what it's going to put out no matter the bulb on the end. I am wondering if the ballast will light the bulb and keep it in good health. It is more of an academic question as I do not plan on doing this long term if it works, if at all.

 

[ati70cutlass]

to under drive the bulb you must under drive the ballast. no other way around that one. you can not stick a 250 watt bulb on a 175 ballast and call it under driven. just doesnt work that way. however sticking a hqi ballast on a mogul bulb can slightly over drive it, it does not work the back door way tho.

 

[N+D frags]

I wouldnt recomend it i read the bulb could explode.

 

[MattAndKim]

Ballast output is dependent on the electrical properties of the bulb. This is why ballasts will power-cycle on bad or old bulbs, it's over-current protection.
I don't see how under-driving the bulb could cause it to explode. I could see it not maintaining the plasma and the bulb going out, or some kind of dynamic phenomena occurring which could cause damage to the bulb.