CAn you put a 150 watt MH bulb in a 150 watt HPS socket?

Are the 2 interchangeable as long as the wattage is the same?

I have 2 150 watt HPS fixtures I just started using to flower 2 beauties in a cabinet. WOndered if I could just swap bulbs with the new seedlings?

i have done that and it worked fine but i wouldnt reccomend it.........

Why wouldn't you recommend it? If it worked? What was the issue?

carl.burnette said:

Are the 2 interchangeable as long as the wattage is the same?

I have 2 150 watt HPS fixtures I just started using to flower 2 beauties in a cabinet. WOndered if I could just swap bulbs with the new seedlings?

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Yes you can put either an HPS or MH lamp in the fixing (ballast reqd) if you have a ballast suitable for the voltage. So if you have a 1000W HPS ballast you can run any bulb in there (mh/hps) or any wattage as long as the bulb's wattage does not exceed the ballasts output.

I wouldnt recommend it either, thats why they make certain ballasts that are interchangable, but if it doesnt say it is interchangable or doesnt have a switch on it where u can switch it to MH or HPS than dont do it unless u wana run a fire hazard.

If u got a HPS lighting system than just buy a MH conversion bulb wich is a MH bulb but is made to convert HPS light into MH light, cost a little more than a normal lamp but its alot cheaper than having to go buy a new lighting system.

its ur grow so do watever works for you but just thought id let u no wat i did and it works great.
let me no how it goes, peace out

to clarify, the socket is the same but the electronics are different, sometimes you can fire the wrong bulb type & it could work for a few hours, days or even months but when it fails, it will start a fire.

my ballast doesnt say if its interchangeable or have a switch from MH to HPS.. I bought mine used and called the manufacture gave them the model number and told me it was switchable.. so if there's a number you can call I suggest you do.. better safe than sorry.

Screw it. I'll leave the 12 t-12 shop lights for veg & keep the 2 150 HPS for flowering for now.

There is no problem whatever. HPS bulbs need an ignitor, MH bulbs don´t. So an MH bulb will work with a HPS ballast.

Switchable ballasts just switch out the ignitor for MH use, but it isn´t really necessary. HPS will not fire up unless the ignitor is connected.

Spanishfly said:

There is no problem whatever. HPS bulbs need an ignitor, MH bulbs don´t. So an MH bulb will work with a HPS ballast.

Switchable ballasts just switch out the ignitor for MH use, but it isn´t really necessary. HPS will not fire up unless the ignitor is connected.

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I was told the same thing by many people, you can run both HPS and MH in an hps ballast, but you cannot run an HPS in a MH ballast

Spanishfly said:

There is no problem whatever. HPS bulbs need an ignitor, MH bulbs don´t. So an MH bulb will work with a HPS ballast.

Switchable ballasts just switch out the ignitor for MH use, but it isn´t really necessary. HPS will not fire up unless the ignitor is connected.

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Does this apply to HQI (rx7s) bulbs as well?

i have a 150 watt hps florolux system and i have been going thru so much bs to try get a mh bulb to work in it. i have a 150 watt mh bulb now i just got today, and it just barely glows. i got it from 1000bulbs.com and they just so happen to be about 1hour away fom my house. im not sure if they even have one that would work with my ballast. my ballast says its a S55 type medium base. im bout ready to go back there with my ballast and have them try all what they got. actually i dont think ill do that, idk what to do O.O

ahhh never mind! i just tried a different plug in the wall and its working now! woot =)