running a ballast with no bulb?
- Thread starter BadAndy
- Start date
dvs1038
Well-Known Member
I don't think it would do anything same as any other light socket without a bulb in it just don't lick ur finger and c what happens if u stick it in the socket. That and I don't know anyone that would do this just to c if it would ruin their ballast, so I think u might be at a bit of a loss tryin to find someone with exp doin this.
bluntmassa1
Well-Known Member
its a waste of power for sure and pointless
bluntmassa1
Well-Known Member
why don't you do it for a week and let us know
TruenoAE86coupe
Moderator
I will try if you want, i have a 400 and 1000 sitting in the basement, i would imagine a magnetic would, digital, i wonder
racerboy71
bud bootlegger
i'm not sure about the no affect as a ballast doesn't work the same way as a house light .... a ballast fires high rates of current to a bulb, and when the bulb fires, the current drops.. idk watt would happen if there would be no bulb for the current to drop...
interesting question, one i don't know the answer to, but i don't think it's as simple as saying it's the same as not having a bulb in a normal house hold socket, that's for sure..
interesting question, one i don't know the answer to, but i don't think it's as simple as saying it's the same as not having a bulb in a normal house hold socket, that's for sure..
Dirty Harry
Well-Known Member
I agree. I just replaced three commercial grocery store florescent ballasts. I replaced each hot because that is how I roll. With no bulbs in the fixture, there was still a small spark when I connected the power leads. It drains power just like your cell phone charger even if the cell phone is not attached. If ballasts work like stereo amps, not having speakers connected causes them to heat up and burn out since there is no load and the power has to be dissipated by the amp...or in this case the ballast.
racerboy71
bud bootlegger
good info dirty.. i didn't think it would be the same thing as say a light fixture not having a bulb in it as ballasts work much differently then say a light..
disposition84
Well-Known Member
To help shed some light on his/our situation, were running 2x 10 ballast flip boxes between two flower
rooms and are trying to fight the heat by not turning on lights were not utilizing. So in room 1 we have
16 lights firing, but in room 2 we only need 12 lights to fire for now as were not at full capacity. But during
the flip to room 1 we need that ballast on to ensure that during the flip all the necessary lights will be on.
So we can either unplug the light cable coming from the flip box to that light or take the bulb out. I figured
there would be some kind of vampire electrical usage but according to the powerbox amperage readout it really
doesn't look like much at all, but we were curious to get some opinions on this as none of us are really electrically
savvy.
Thanks
rooms and are trying to fight the heat by not turning on lights were not utilizing. So in room 1 we have
16 lights firing, but in room 2 we only need 12 lights to fire for now as were not at full capacity. But during
the flip to room 1 we need that ballast on to ensure that during the flip all the necessary lights will be on.
So we can either unplug the light cable coming from the flip box to that light or take the bulb out. I figured
there would be some kind of vampire electrical usage but according to the powerbox amperage readout it really
doesn't look like much at all, but we were curious to get some opinions on this as none of us are really electrically
savvy.
Thanks
BadAndy
Well-Known Member
I was actually waiting for you to weigh in on this. I knew if anyone would understand the question you would pick up on it
Dirty Harry
Well-Known Member
You are not alone there buddy!
BadAndy
Well-Known Member
I googled your name Dr. Olove and this is the pic that I found
I know he doesnt look very russian but I still thought it was funny.
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