Using 1000 watt ballasts dimmed to 600 watt question

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computergroove

Active Member
I have 8 1000 watt lumitek dimmable ballasts. They dim to 1000, 750 and 600. I was on ebay pricing 600 watt ballasts and I noticed on one of the 1000 watt ballasts that the dimmable amounts were in percentages. 100% 75% and 50%. I am sure that a 1000 watt dimmed to 500 watts (50%) will fire a 600 watt bulb. Does it actually dim it to 60% or 50%? I want my 600 watts out of these things or I'm going to buy all new 600 watt ballasts.
 
past times

past times

Well-Known Member
i am confused...are you trying to use a 600 watt bulb on a 1000 watt ballast that has been dimmed? Don't do that. Get 1000 watt bulbs and use the dimmer...also, it is probably 50% or 75% (doubt it dims 60%)
 
LivingCanvas

LivingCanvas

Well-Known Member
DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT use a 600w bulb in a 1000w ballast dimmed to 60%!!! It is meant to dim a 1000w bulb. You risk fire or bulb explosion.
Also, most if not all dimmable digital ballasts I've seen/sold customers, are 100%/75%/60%. Just a thought - 1000w bulbs are often cheaper because they're
more mainstream than 600w. So even if you want to run @ 600w, a 1000w dimmable ballast could be a better way to go, in case you ever need more light for a bigger setup.
 
ThorGanjason

ThorGanjason

Well-Known Member
LivingCanvas said:
DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT use a 600w bulb in a 1000w ballast dimmed to 60%!!! It is meant to dim a 1000w bulb. You risk fire or bulb explosion.
Also, most if not all dimmable digital ballasts I've seen/sold customers, are 100%/75%/60%. Just a thought - 1000w bulbs are often cheaper because they're
more mainstream than 600w. So even if you want to run @ 600w, a 1000w dimmable ballast could be a better way to go, in case you ever need more light for a bigger setup.
Click to expand...
That is, of course, unless you buy one of these:
IMG_20130803_230104.jpg

This particular ballast is called the sun select system. Not only can it dim a 1000w hps or mh, but I can also take either size bulb from 400 and up. It even runs a 1000 watt bulb at 110%, which is 1100 watts.

To the OP-- if it is running at 75, 50% or whatever, then its a direct ratio to the full wattage. So if it is running 50% you are definitely only getting 500 watts.
 
justugh

justugh

Well-Known Member
computergroove said:
I have 8 1000 watt lumitek dimmable ballasts. They dim to 1000, 750 and 600. I was on ebay pricing 600 watt ballasts and I noticed on one of the 1000 watt ballasts that the dimmable amounts were in percentages. 100% 75% and 50%. I am sure that a 1000 watt dimmed to 500 watts (50%) will fire a 600 watt bulb. Does it actually dim it to 60% or 50%? I want my 600 watts out of these things or I'm going to buy all new 600 watt ballasts.
Click to expand...

sir

this is a horrible idea u are doing damage to your ballast and the bulbs life span .....................never miss match watts u are begging for a something to pop or something to fail

just blow the 150 bucks and get the 600 watt ballast ...............or it could be lower 167 bucks gets u a ballast cooltube timmer mh and hps plus hooks
 
CoreyATX420

CoreyATX420

Well-Known Member
justugh said:
sir

this is a horrible idea u are doing damage to your ballast and the bulbs life span .....................never miss match watts u are begging for a something to pop or something to fail

just blow the 150 bucks and get the 600 watt ballast ...............or it could be lower 167 bucks gets u a ballast cooltube timmer mh and hps plus hooks
Click to expand...
well dimmable ballasts aren't all bad but youre right. I guess for someone who doesn't know , and doesnthave thecash flow , theyre ok for versatile watting . but a 400 watt bulb dimmed to the 250 w setting is not equal to a 250 w hps. and youre right it does strain the bulb. like I always tell people , just because it dims don't fuck with it too much . just leave it at one setting or youre asking for problems. I use lumatek or galaxy always though , so I personally haven't had any problems as I use good ballasts + hortilux bulbs
 
4

420ms3

Well-Known Member
is it more efficient to run a 1000 watt bulb dimmed to 600 watts or to run a 600 watt bulb in a 600 watt ballast?
 
jondamon

jondamon

Well-Known Member
420ms3 said:
is it more efficient to run a 1000 watt bulb dimmed to 600 watts or to run a 600 watt bulb in a 600 watt ballast?
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It's more efficient to run a 600w bulb at 600w. Regardless of ballast wattage.

For example
Lumatek ballasts have the dim feature. My 600w ballast had 250w, 400w, 600w and 600w SL.
MY 400w lumatek has 250w, 250w SL, 400w and 400w SL.

In the information provided by lumatek they recommend using the correct wattage lamp for the dim feature being used.

If you dim a 1000w bulb down to 600w you're loosing spectral output in PAR.

Ultimately it depends on the brand of ballast but IMO you should never dim any bulb beyond 50%.



J
 
slowbus

slowbus

New Member
past times said:
i am confused...are you trying to use a 600 watt bulb on a 1000 watt ballast that has been dimmed? Don't do that. Get 1000 watt bulbs and use the dimmer...also, it is probably 50% or 75% (doubt it dims 60%)
Click to expand...

I run a 600 in my 1000 ballast every day running at 620.Its under warranty to run that way for 5 years also
 
7

780Sweetleaf

Member
Ok. So the lamp is rated for the load of the ballast. Here is my wattage of a 1000w hps in a 600w ballast on superlumens. It’s exactly like the speaker example. The speaker is rated for the output of the amplifier. So a 1000w hps in a 600w ballast runs at 600w. A 600w hps in a 1000w ballast will probably burn up. Dialed to 50% though should have an output wattage of 500w
 

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Renfro

Renfro

Well-Known Member
780Sweetleaf said:
Ok. So the lamp is rated for the load of the ballast. Here is my wattage of a 1000w hps in a 600w ballast on superlumens. It’s exactly like the speaker example. The speaker is rated for the output of the amplifier. So a 1000w hps in a 600w ballast runs at 600w. A 600w hps in a 1000w ballast will probably burn up. Dialed to 50% though should have an output wattage of 500w
Click to expand...
7 year old thread.
 
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