Running two metal halide lamps from one ballast

[truebeliever71]

I thinking switching from my PC fixtures to metal halide and would like to know if I can run two 75 watt lamps from one 150 watt ballast.

Can it be done?

 

[nwrogers]

I doubt it. Why not just run one 150? A 150 isn't really that much light anyway. If you get a good reflector you could get decent coverage...

 

[reefscape15]

I believe if you wired the lamps in series (into one lamp-out of that lamp-into the other lamp-and back out of the second lamp) that it may work, but i've never done this with a metal halide bulb. I'd have to assume that 2 75watt MH bulbs would have a higher current draw on startup than 1 150watt, so it may not want to start, and could put lots of wear and tear on your ballast. I'd have to recommend that you just stick with one bulb per ballast, unless the ballast says it can run 2.

 

[truebeliever71]

Thanks for the replies. I think I'v decided on getting a 250W metal halide, T5/PC combo... does anyone have one laying around that they would part with?