Output comparison question: 600watt HPS @ 600 watts vs 1000watt HPS @ 600 watts?

I have a two light setup and with two digital ballasts. Both are switchable but I'm looking to run them at 600 watts. However I have only one 600 watt bulb and a 1000 watt bulb. I can run them both at 600 watts with the switchable (dimmable) ballasts. Wondering what the output differences will be, I would like to keep it even and I've always wondered if there was any advantages/disadvantages too running a larger rated bulb at lower wattage? Thank you for you input.

The 1000 running at 600 will degrade quicker.

Sent from Northern Colorado.

brewster81 said:

I have a two light setup and with two digital ballasts. Both are switchable but I'm looking to run them at 600 watts. However I have only one 600 watt bulb and a 1000 watt bulb. I can run them both at 600 watts with the switchable (dimmable) ballasts. Wondering what the output differences will be, I would like to keep it even and I've always wondered if there was any advantages/disadvantages too running a larger rated bulb at lower wattage? Thank you for you input.

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I also, have a dimmable and switchable (mh/hps) ballast. Running a 1000 watt bulb on 600 w will actually save it's life span a bit and yes, you can run them both at 600 watts. I do it all the time.

ripster said:

I also, have a dimmable and switchable (mh/hps) ballast. Running a 1000 watt bulb on 600 w will actually save it's life span a bit and yes, you can run them both at 600 watts. I do it all the time.

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and when you burn your house down and the fire inspector comes to find out why it burnt down, remind yourself that saving $20 was worth it....

FrozenChozen said:

and when you burn your house down and the fire inspector comes to find out why it burnt down, remind yourself that saving $20 was worth it....

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I'm not trying to be ignorant at all, but please explain where the fire hazard is and why? Definitely sounds like something everyone with lights indoors should know.

brewster81 said:

I'm not trying to be ignorant at all, but please explain where the fire hazard is and why? Definitely sounds like something everyone with lights indoors should know.

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any 600 watt ballast that is currently produced is NOT rated by UL or any other consumer safety board to run a 1000 watt bulb... Its similar to putting a 20 amp fuse in a 15 amp plug.... sure it works, but the bulb helps control current sent back to the ballast... Too much electricity back to ballast = tons of extra heat. Too much Heat= Death for ALL consumer "electronics", and maybe fire.....



On top of everything, why do it? what's the point? save a few bucks?

would you use a sledge hammer to put a nail in the wall that you're going to hang a picture from?....... but its a hammer
its the same principle at work....

can it work, and, can it work right; are 2 separate things

GET PROPER EQUIPMENT AND THE RISK OF BURNING YOUR HOUSE DOWN WITH YOUR LIGHT WILL BE ALMOST NON-EXISTANT!

That makes sense. However I was thinking about running the 1000watt dim able ballast at 600watts with the 1000watt bulb. Only reason I was considering it is I already have the ballast and bulb and would effectively be saving $140 for a 600watt bulb. Or is this another problem? Running a 600watt hps bulb in a 1000watt ballast dimmed to 600watts? Is there a safety issue there? Maybe the 1000watt bulb would be safer?

brewster81 said:

That makes sense. However I was thinking about running the 1000watt dim able ballast at 600watts with the 1000watt bulb. Only reason I was considering it is I already have the ballast and bulb and would effectively be saving $140 for a 600watt bulb. Or is this another problem? Running a 600watt hps bulb in a 1000watt ballast dimmed to 600watts? Is there a safety issue there? Maybe the 1000watt bulb would be safer?

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Theres no problems running a 600 watt bulb in a switchable and dimmable 1000 watt ballast as long as it's a digital ballast. No fire hazards at all !!!! Just make sure to turn the ballast switchable knob to 600.

FrozenChozen said:

any 600 watt ballast that is currently produced is NOT rated by UL or any other consumer safety board to run a 1000 watt bulb... Its similar to putting a 20 amp fuse in a 15 amp plug.... sure it works, but the bulb helps control current sent back to the ballast... Too much electricity back to ballast = tons of extra heat. Too much Heat= Death for ALL consumer

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Uh, not quite right...You're right about not using 1000watt bulb in a 600watt ballast, but it's not because of "current sent back to the ballast..."

The 1000watt bulb draws a much bigger load from the ballast than it can supply. The bulb is designed to draw a specific amount of current to operate at a specified output. If the ballast can't deliver the current the bulb requires, the components in the ballast, be it a transformer or high power transistor driver become choke points. Kind of like a jet engine trying to suck air through a fire hose. The velocity of the air rushing through the hose will ultimately heat up the hose until the hose goes up in flames. (Of course the hose will likely collapse and get sucked into the jet engine way before it burns up...but it's just an example.)

Of what I've read, digital ballasts generally require special bulbs designed to work with digital ballasts for this reason, and others. That's why, though not a good idea, you can use larger wattage bulbs at lower wattage settings in some digital ballasts. I've read that that changes the bulb's light characteristics, somewhat, and the bulb is not running up to it's rated efficiency in the lower settings.

But, as some congressmen say about climate change "I'm not an expert, but I believe..."

Just to make things clearer, I believe he has a 1000 watt ballast. He's just wanting to know if he can run it at 600 watts. Which he can.... As long as it's dimmable.... Which it is what he has...
Trust me, it's not a problem nor a fire hazard. Now I would completely agree with you, JoeyV, if he were trying to run a 1000 watt bulb in a 600 watt ballast. That wouldn't work.... But on a 1000 watt ballast that's switchable and dimmable, you can run the ballast at any of it's presetting. Mine can run a 1000 watt bulb, at 600 watts or at 400 watts. It will actually save on the bulbs lifespan.

ripster said:

Just to make things clearer, I believe he has a 1000 watt ballast. He's just wanting to know if he can run it at 600 watts. Which he can.... As long as it's dimmable.... Which it is what he has...
Trust me, it's not a problem nor a fire hazard. Now I would completely agree with you, JoeyV, if he were trying to run a 1000 watt bulb in a 600 watt ballast. That wouldn't work.... But on a 1000 watt ballast that's switchable and dimmable, you can run the ballast at any of it's presetting. Mine can run a 1000 watt bulb, at 600 watts or at 400 watts. It will actually save on the bulbs lifespan.

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Exactly! Thank you, I have been running my 1000watt ballast with 1000watt superhps at 600watts without any issues. In fact it the ballast is noticeably cooler than my 600 watt, they are running right beside each other. Also, to naked eye anyway there is no obvious difference in the light between the 600watt bulb at 600watts and the 1000watt bulb at 600watts. The lights are mounted beside each other so its fairly easy to compare the two. The planst growing beneath the lights are all identical in comparison also. Thank you for all the replies!