i am an experienced grower but not to sure about this I just bought a used sunsystem 2 light from a college student very very cheap it has a 400w hps bulb in it and he says he has always used it this way and burns the 400w just fine well i got it home and plugged it in and it lights up and seems to work just fine.I didnt know you could do this can anyone put forth some pros and cons of using this like this thanks in advance all
using 400w hps bulb in a 250w switchable light??????
- Thread starter wmstanton
- Start date
watchhowIdoit
New Member
Shortened bulb life and less than desirable light output. A 250 bulb would be much better......
Gastanker
Well-Known Member
It will work. I have a 600w dimmable ballast and am able to run a 1kW bulb at 660w and 600w with no problem, 600w bulbs at 660w, 600w, 450w and 300w. I can also run 400w bulbs at 450w and 300w.
All of these configurations work but like watchhowIdoit said you will have less than ideal lumen output and it can lower bulb life. A 1kW bulb running at 600w puts out less lumen than a 600w bulb at 600w. As a rule of thumb it is safer to run a larger bulb at less wattage than it is rated at versus a smaller bulb at a higher wattage than it is rated at.
250w bulbs are cheap - I'de recommend you buy one.
All of these configurations work but like watchhowIdoit said you will have less than ideal lumen output and it can lower bulb life. A 1kW bulb running at 600w puts out less lumen than a 600w bulb at 600w. As a rule of thumb it is safer to run a larger bulb at less wattage than it is rated at versus a smaller bulb at a higher wattage than it is rated at.
250w bulbs are cheap - I'de recommend you buy one.
sure appreciate the info only bought for seedlings any way will go ahead and order a 250w