Can you safely change a 600 watt to a 400 watt?

**SpooKy** · 07-31-2006, 02:28 PM

I have a 600 watt setup with a kickass reflector. However, I'm having heat issues and want to downgrade the system and buy a 400 watt bulb. Since my system is designed for 600 watts, could I put a smaller wattage bulb in there safely?

Or would I have to buy a 400 watt ballast instead?

Any help would be appreciated,

-- Spooks

**OtakuJo** · 08-01-2006, 05:21 AM

400 watt bulbs might recieve too much power if the ballast is 600 watt specific. This could potentially decrease the life of the bulbs. I heard once on overgrow.com that someone used the wrong wattage and it ruined the ballast.

**Garden Knowm** · 08-01-2006, 08:31 AM

Hi Spooky,

You will need a new ballast if you switch wattage.

A 400 watt bulb gives off a lot of HEAT too and you may still have the same problem! Is there any way you can exhaust your reflector or get some fans and blow the heat UP and away from your plants?

: )

picture?

cheers!

**SpooKy** · 08-02-2006, 12:48 AM

I have the blower sucking air from within the closet through the light and out the closest from the top. The light itself is about two and a half feet from the top of the plant. The closet size is 33 inches deep, by 33 inches wide, by 72 inches high.

600 watt hps hortilux -- air cooled hood with a glass shield and a dayton 265 blower.

Any suggestions my friends?

**Garden Knowm** · 08-02-2006, 02:10 AM

Spooky...

Very nice...

1. I have no idea why you would be having a heat problem.. if you are pulling air away from you light and blowing it out of the box.. you shuld be fine...

2. as a matter of fact... your light should be about 12 inches from your plants... 2.5 feet is way to far... you are loosing more than 50% of your lumens at that distance.. and probably a lot of "weight/yield"

3. can you shorten the length of the hose from your hood to your fan?

4. from the looks of the picture, you are pulling the air away from your light but I dont see the tube that is pushing the air out of your box.. am I missing something..

cheers

LOVE

thanks for the picture!! : )

i choose to accept everything and be LOVE

**SpooKy** · 08-02-2006, 11:49 AM

The hose to the right of the picture is pushing the air out of the top of the closet. And, yes, I could shorten the hose, but then I won't be able to lower the light. And speaking of the light, I raised the light because the temperature is in the high 90's. I don't know, maybe my digital thermometer is messed up. It's kinda cheap, that's for sure.

But speaking of temperatures, how many degrees lower will a 400 watt light be than a 600 watt. Roughly speaking, I guess.

And thanks for the replies!

-- Spooks

**Garden Knowm** · 08-02-2006, 11:12 PM

Hey Spooky,

Put your hand at the tops of your plants (the canopy). AND hold your hand there.. if your hand can handle the heat, so can your plants!

DO you have a fan blowing over the tops of your plants at a slight angle upward?

: )
ILOVEYOU

**SpooKy** · 08-03-2006, 12:18 AM

Yes, I do have a fan blowing upward, barely touching the top of the plants. I'm going to lower the light tomorrow and see what happens.

**Garden Knowm** · 08-06-2006, 02:19 PM

How is it going?

**biggun** · 12-21-2009, 07:13 PM

I am running a 600w hps and I have no heat problems at all.. You are blowing are threw the light and not the reverse right? Check out the pics of my little room with my 600w My train wreck grow.....