How shitty is running a 1000w ballast at 50%

[ODanksta]

Just being curious. I know it fucks the bulb life up, but not worried about it.. But limited to a small closet at the moment for fun.. I have a 14 1k dimmable ballast so not trying to buy new shit. Just wondering how shitty it is, like light spectrum and shit...lol

 

[SnaFuu]

HArd to get a straight answer on this.. the way I see it, if i'm dimming it's for a reason. I'm sure the heat you're avoiding is more damaging to the plant than the degradation of the bulb. Just make sure to use it as a quick fix and get back to 100% eventually!

 

[MrStickyScissors]

I heard the ballast still draws the same amount of amps. so your paying for 1k but gettting 500?

 

[ODanksta]

HArd to get a straight answer on this.. the way I see it, if i'm dimming it's for a reason. I'm sure the heat you're avoiding is more damaging to the plant than the degradation of the bulb. Just make sure to use it as a quick fix and get back to 100% eventually!

Your on point with heat, but worried about a crappy spectrum.. But thank you for input

 

[209 Cali closet grower]

True. My bill was the same. Running 50%

 

[SnaFuu]

no that's a myth. 50% means 50% power usage.

 

[ODanksta]

I heard the ballast still draws the same amount of amps. so your paying for 1k but gettting 500?

I dunno about that, but heat is the issue not cash..

And while we are on the subject of amps. I just noticed my Co2 controller is 5amps, but there is no way in hell that a controller can use that much, so I am a little confused

 

[SnaFuu]

True. My bill was the same. Running 50%

where did the other 50% power go then?

 

[ODanksta]

no that's a myth. 50% means 50% power usage.

Lol, common sense... that would only make sense, right?

 

[ODanksta]

I dunno about that, but heat is the issue not cash..

And while we are on the subject of amps. I just noticed my Co2 controller is 5amps, but there is no way in hell that a controller can use that much, so I am a little confused

Ok maybe a co2 controller needs 5 amps to pass through it, to allow the burner to spark the propane, so maybe that makes perfect sense.. But it's not constantly running like a ballast would..

 

[Aeroknow]

I dunno about that, but heat is the issue not cash..

And while we are on the subject of amps. I just noticed my Co2 controller is 5amps, but there is no way in hell that a controller can use that much, so I am a little confused

Most likely, the co2 controller has a maximum output of 5amps. Probably has a 5amp fuse in it.
Solenoids hardly require any power.

 

[Darth Vapour]

One would think that bulb does not get to actual operating range temp there fore it would suck

 

[GrowUrOwnDank]

where did the other 50% power go then?

We are gonna need a ballast expert up in here. So, if the ballast is drawing 1000 watts. And only delivering 1/2, 500 watts to the lamp. Where did those other 500 watts go? Used up and heat is the biproduct?

 

[SPLFreak808]

If your ballast uses the same amount of current at 50% as it does at 100%, then theoretically the 50% setting would give off more heat then the 100% setting. So no it does not use the same amount of electricity at 50%. More then likely the startup of the bulb (start-up current spike) will draw the same amount of current regardless of what setting the dimmer is at but the ballast will always settle at the desired dimmer setting. 50% will be near 50% +/- less energy used, the +/- will depend on ballast efficiency while dimmed, running a 1000w bulb at 50% will also not run to its desired kelvin spectrum from being out of internal operating range

 

[Darth Vapour]

the ballast is clocked or flip flopped so the other power does not even go through the ballast like having a dimmer on your wall it may have the power on one end but as you turn dial it only allows so much to the trigger

 

[whitebb2727]

Can you not dim it to 40 or 60% and use a 400 or 600 watt bulb?

 

[Darth Vapour]

If your ballast uses the same amount of current at 50% as it does at 100%, then theoretically the 50% setting would give off more heat then the 100% setting. So no it does not use the same amount of electricity at 50%. More then likely the startup of the bulb (start-up current spike) will draw the same amount of current regardless of what setting the dimmer is at but the ballast will always settle at the desired dimmer setting. 50% will be near 50% +/- less energy used, the +/- will depend on ballast efficiency while dimmed, running a 1000w bulb at 50% will also not run to its desired kelvin spectrum from being out of internal operating range

i think you got it back wards like saying if a car is idling at 2000 rpm and same car idling at 4000 rpm which engine would get hotter

 

[GrowUrOwnDank]

i think you got it back wards like saying if a car is idling at 2000 rpm and same car idling at 4000 rpm which engine would get hotter

Dude. Ever hear of water cooling and a thermostat.

THAT FICKING RESPONSE DOESNT HAVE A DAMN THING TO DO WITH WATTS AND AMPS OR ELECTRICITY AT ALL!

STFUESAD

 

[SPLFreak808]

i think you got it back wards like saying if a car is idling at 2000 rpm and same car idling at 4000 rpm which engine would get hotter

Except in his case, the car thats idling at 2000rpm used the same amount of gas as the car that was idling at 4000rpm? Where did thr extra fuel used go?

 

[GrowUrOwnDank]

Can you not dim it to 40 or 60% and use a 400 or 600 watt bulb?

Thanks White for bringing a little bit of common sense to the board.

I implore @ODanksta to try that. And while your at it. Hook up different wattage CFLs to the ballast and see what happens. Perhaps wear eye protection. And video it.