running higher watt bulbs than the ballast

Is it okay to run a 1000 watt hps bulb on a 600 watt magnetic hps ballast?

I've heard cities do this a lot for street lights so they don't have to change them as often. only reason I ask is because amazon has eye hortilux for $70 but only the 1000 watt version at that price

i dont think it will even fire it

cant say ive ever tried that but seems to me it wont give it enough wattage to even fire the bulb like bloody said

It's no different than a dimmable ballast, it will fire it for sure. I'd say go for it.

The Growery said:

Is it okay to run a 1000 watt hps bulb on a 600 watt magnetic hps ballast?

I've heard cities do this a lot for street lights so they don't have to change them as often. only reason I ask is because amazon has eye hortilux for $70 but only the 1000 watt version at that price

Click to expand...

I just boght a 600w Super HPS off ebay for $75, just get the right bulb. it will work but why not spend the extra 5-$10 to have the correct bulb?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Eye-Hortilux-Super-HPS-600-Watt-Bulb-FREE-3-DAY-SHIPPING-Bulb-Grow-Lamp-/221174969758?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item337f0e359e

yes-

it works. same as dimmable ballast.
something aboutthe bulb not coming all the way up seems like altered spectrum. the color of my bulbs changed, in increments until they are warmed up. seems like under power bulbs would get stuck at one of those increments.

fuck, i don't know.

i think it would make more sense to get the proper bulb for the ballast.i would hate to see you get half the life from your bulbs

reason for considering 1000w hps bulbs is b/c amazon sells EYE hortilux 1000w hps bulbs for $69.99! but the 600W EYE goes for around $129 on the same website, go figure. I've done quite a bit of reading on it and it is in fact something that the city of detroit does with it's street lights (using 1000 watt hps lamps with 600-400 watt ballasts), the gas inside the 1000 w tube of the hps bulb burns slower at 600 watts and thus lasts longer. It's the same concept as digital dimmable ballast.

Didn't realize that ebay has the 600W eyes for $80, pretty good price. and murfy brings up a good point that there are different light spectrums emitted during the ignition process going to full power. between the two latter points I will probably forgo using 1000 watts all around and just get the right bulbs for the right wattage, but it is still very tempting to try.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&ved=0CGoQFjAD&url=http://www.hydroponics.net/c/302&ei=rFPsUL7dLsXNrQHmloHoCg&usg=AFQjCNGyFTTSOhE4YKkxA77UZX4b21OcSA&sig2=M9gJrDdUmD6TmqQUXBqFlA 600 watt 75 bucks not hard to find if ya search around

thanks for the link bloody.

turns out the ones I found on amazon were 5+ years old, customer complaints of used bulbs, not in original packaging... no wonder they were selling 1000w hortilux eyes for $69.

hey the CHEAP ones on ebay, have always been top nocth , no complats. perfect condtion. I was iffy on buying a $125 bulb for $75 but it is perfect, the box was still shinny. Right now they got 400 Mh BLUE spectum EYE Hortilux bulbs for $55 (retail is $129)

bloodytrichomes said:

i think it would make more sense to get the proper bulb for the ballast.i would hate to see you get half the life from your bulbs

Click to expand...

or even worst and start a fire and burn down your spot, so i assume.

yeah you guys are absolutely right, such a rediculous notion considering the reward is very minimal versus the possible consequences. I ended up getting some cheap bulbs at the local hydro store at the correct wattage.

next time-

go to the electric house. way cheaper, same manufacturer.