Light Question....

avalover0113

Active Member

• Aug 9, 2008

• #1

I went to Lowe's a little while ago and they have 70 and 100 watt HPS and metal halide light bulbs for like 15 bucks. Some of the packageing on the higher wattage ones says you must use a ballast but the 70 watt Metal Halide didnt have that warning on it.

Can i screw a 70 watt metal halide into a reg lamp socket? or even the 70 watt HPS?

 

N

NoDrama

Well-Known Member

• Aug 9, 2008

• #2

NO!!! You need a ballast!!

 

avalover0113

Active Member

• Aug 9, 2008

• #3

So any Metal halide or HPS needs a ballast no matter what the wattage is?

 

N

NoDrama

Well-Known Member

• Aug 9, 2008

• #4

Yep, it takes a whole bunch of voltage ( 10,000+) to get the lamp to start, no way household ac is going to work. A ballast is nothing more than a transformer and capacitor that steps up the voltage to run the light. You can run florescent, or Compact Florescent bulbs in a regular socket, but thats about it.

 

avalover0113

Active Member

• Aug 9, 2008

• #5

Thanks man