Newgrower2020
Member
If I have 1000 watt lights with a demable ballast and I run it at 400 watts will it hurt the light to do that for a few weeks
1000 watt lights
- Thread starter Newgrower2020
- Start date
JoeBlow5823
Well-Known Member
Seriously dude, buy a 600w MH bulb. Plants prefer MH bulbs for veg cycle. Do a little research.
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Drop That Sound
Well-Known Member
I've heard that running a 1000 at 50% or less really alters the spectrum in an HPS, as it doesn't get hot enough to create the high pressures or something like that, and makes it far more inefficient than it already is.
Also, that running the bulbs dimmed can "burn them in" like that, and you'll lose output, etc. Not sure if it affects cmh, mh the same way. Or if it's all just bogus myths as I don't have a fancy expensive light meter. However I do know bulbs lose intensity fairly quickly especially hps.
I say who cares though, you should be replacing bulbs every 2-3 cycles with cheap $20-30 bulbs anyway, if you want the best output without wasting money. Go ahead and run it at 400, you'll be fine its just a bulb.
Also, that running the bulbs dimmed can "burn them in" like that, and you'll lose output, etc. Not sure if it affects cmh, mh the same way. Or if it's all just bogus myths as I don't have a fancy expensive light meter. However I do know bulbs lose intensity fairly quickly especially hps.
I say who cares though, you should be replacing bulbs every 2-3 cycles with cheap $20-30 bulbs anyway, if you want the best output without wasting money. Go ahead and run it at 400, you'll be fine its just a bulb.
JoeBlow5823
Well-Known Member
The bigger issue is that he is starting 15 seeds under this light. He needs to pick up a 600w mh to veg with then toss in the 1000w for flower.
Drop That Sound
Well-Known Member
Aren't most dimmable ballast dual purpose? Mine are, HPS or MH.
As in.. he could just buy a 1000 mh and dim that down instead, and only be out $20+. Then he wouldn't be wasting the HPS bulb, just use it at 1000 for flower. I wouldn't buy an extra 600 ballast just to veg in that case.
As in.. he could just buy a 1000 mh and dim that down instead, and only be out $20+. Then he wouldn't be wasting the HPS bulb, just use it at 1000 for flower. I wouldn't buy an extra 600 ballast just to veg in that case.
JoeBlow5823
Well-Known Member
Buy a 600mh bulb and dim the ballast to 600w. MH bulbs REALLY dont like being under powered.
Newgrower2020
Member
My bulbs I am running right now is MH not sure why everyone thinks it is HPS. I did dim them down to 400 once they pop and a week after I see growth I'm jumping up to 600 once I can turn my ac on in my house I'm going back to 1000
JoeBlow5823
Well-Known Member
Im not sure why i assumed they were HPS. It is my understanding that MH bulbs REALLY dont like to be underpowered. Just run one light at 600w man. No reason to run both when they havent even sprouted. Just put all the pots under one light. I dont know why its so hard for you to wrap your head around the fact that you dont even have sprouts growing yet, you do not need two lights on. I start my plants under a 200w led and when they are about 8'' I change to a 600w MH and when they get really big I switch to 1000w MH and when i switch to flower i run 1000W HPS.
It's not a good idea to run bulbs with a ballast that they're not rated for. For example, you shouldn't run a 600W bulb with a 1000W ballast, even if it's dimmed. Likewise, you shouldn't run a 1000W bulb with a 600W ballast.
JoeBlow5823
Well-Known Member
Ive never had an issue running a 600w bulb with a 1000w ballast dimmed to 600 and ive never really heard of anyone having an issue. Either way, Running a 1000w MH with a 1000w ballast dimmed to 400w is not good. Running a 600w bulb with a 1000w ballast dimmed to 600w is the best cheapest solution i see for this guy.
No, it won't. They're designed for such use. What it does do is slightly reduce the spectrum of light available when your bulb is dimmed, that's all. Better though if you ran it at 600W as opposed to 400W.
I'd much rather have a 1000W that I can dim down, than be stuck on a specific wattage that is under-powered if I decided to upgrade tent size, or need the heat in the winter.
Newgrower2020
Member
I have looked up alot of things the past few days and there are many many people who run it this way. There are a lot of people who also say do it your way as well it seems like it is just personal preference from what I can see.
JoeBlow5823
Well-Known Member
Either way, switch to just running one light for now. You could run one light at 600w and put out less heat than two at 400w. You do not need much light for the first couple weeks.
Newgrower2020
Member
I have already dont this I did switch to one light for now
Budzbuddha
Well-Known Member
About a pound
Newgrower2020
Member
Not really sure what you are talking about lol
Wattzzup
Well-Known Member
Can he not just raise the light?
Dabsenburg
Member
Well just run a bulb for what it's worth...quit dimming and putting bulbs in ballasts they don't need to be in... personally I just start the seeds under two nice CFLs top em once then transplant into pots and move into my veg room under 1 1000 mh and 1 1000 hps the hps during veg has seemed to promote more node growth I've experimented with only mh and only hps during veg and that's my conclusion on the lights so if ur worried about the heat and if ur buying cheaper bulbs they do burn faster since I've switched to hortilux super hps bulbs they definitely make it though 3 flower cycles
Dabsenburg
Member
I wouldn't put seeds in a room with that many watts they're gunna wilt
Under how many watts, 400? My seedlings and freshly planted clones go directly under a 400W MH with no problems.