250w ballast powering 400w bulb

part2wanksta · 25th March 2005, 01:54 PM

i think i read somewhere on this site that i could power a 400w bulb with a 250w ballast, but not powering it the whole 400w just only 250w.

is this true

part2wanksta · 25th March 2005, 03:38 PM

dang i still cant find the post

Inkog · 25th March 2005, 03:52 PM

Take this with a grain of salt, as I'm harly an expert on this subject...

I would think that the inital high voltage discharge may be too low to start the bulb. I also think that the power supplied to the bulb may not be enough to keep the arc alive reliably, if at all. I bet it wouldn't be good for your ballast either.

But what do I know

, It may work fine. Only one way to find out.

Why not use the correct bulb?

part2wanksta · 25th March 2005, 04:01 PM

well i can get 2 400w t-15 style bulbs for only 24 dollars

pinkmouse · 25th March 2005, 04:04 PM

The ballast will likely glow brighter than the lamp...

cbm5 · 25th March 2005, 05:54 PM

Ha, nice one pinkmouse!

Dr.Du · 27th March 2005, 12:05 AM

one way it can work is if you have access to a 150 watt ballast you can wire the 150 + 250 in series and that will work..........that's my current set-up and works beautifully.

part2wanksta · 27th March 2005, 12:25 AM

alright that sounds good i think im going to do that.

how is it wired.

do u have a pic or anything

justme · 27th March 2005, 12:29 AM

Well since we seem to be talking about non-standard configurations I have a question.

Can a ballast from a pro pj that was powering a XXX Watt lamp be used to power one of the longer lasting and cheaper ones? I seem to remember Ace saying that they couldn't because one used AC and the other used CD but this site says that MH lamps are very rarely operate on DC:

http://members.misty.com/don/dschlamp.html#dlbas

"There are a few specialized metal halide lamps that are made to work on DC. These often have asymmetrical electrodes and/or short arc lengths. These lamps often also must be operated only in specific positions, and only with the type of current they were designed for in order to achieve the proper distribution of active ingredients within the arc tube and to achieve proper electrode usage."

They explain that you really need the correct voltage as well as the correct wattage to operate these lamps.

Can anyone clarify this? And can you check the voltage of these with a multimeter (after the initial pulse that starts the lamp)?

thanks

part2wanksta · 27th March 2005, 03:21 AM

im really thinking about this 150w ballast with 250w ballast. theoretically it seems as if it would work. it equalls 400w and it will put out that much. but i just dont know.

hey dr. du is it pretty effecient

25th March 2005, 01:54 PM	#1
part2wanksta diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: new mexico	250w ballast powering 400w bulb i think i read somewhere on this site that i could power a 400w bulb with a 250w ballast, but not powering it the whole 400w just only 250w. is this true

25th March 2005, 04:04 PM	#5
pinkmouse diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Chatham, England	The ballast will likely glow brighter than the lamp... __________________ Al The miracle is not to fly in the air, or to walk on the water; but to walk on the earth. Chinese Proverb

27th March 2005, 12:05 AM	#7
Dr.Du diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2004	Been There Tried that don't work...........BUT one way it can work is if you have access to a 150 watt ballast you can wire the 150 + 250 in series and that will work..........that's my current set-up and works beautifully.

27th March 2005, 12:29 AM	#9
justme diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: inconsistant	Well since we seem to be talking about non-standard configurations I have a question. Can a ballast from a pro pj that was powering a XXX Watt lamp be used to power one of the longer lasting and cheaper ones? I seem to remember Ace saying that they couldn't because one used AC and the other used CD but this site says that MH lamps are very rarely operate on DC: http://members.misty.com/don/dschlamp.html#dlbas "There are a few specialized metal halide lamps that are made to work on DC. These often have asymmetrical electrodes and/or short arc lengths. These lamps often also must be operated only in specific positions, and only with the type of current they were designed for in order to achieve the proper distribution of active ingredients within the arc tube and to achieve proper electrode usage." They explain that you really need the correct voltage as well as the correct wattage to operate these lamps. Can anyone clarify this? And can you check the voltage of these with a multimeter (after the initial pulse that starts the lamp)? thanks __________________ I thought I was a genius until I met one.

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25th March 2005, 03:38 PM	#2
part2wanksta diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: new mexico	dang i still cant find the post

25th March 2005, 03:52 PM	#3
Inkog diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY	Take this with a grain of salt, as I'm harly an expert on this subject... I would think that the inital high voltage discharge may be too low to start the bulb. I also think that the power supplied to the bulb may not be enough to keep the arc alive reliably, if at all. I bet it wouldn't be good for your ballast either. But what do I know , It may work fine. Only one way to find out. Why not use the correct bulb?

25th March 2005, 04:01 PM	#4
part2wanksta diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: new mexico	well i can get 2 400w t-15 style bulbs for only 24 dollars

25th March 2005, 05:54 PM	#6
cbm5 diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Arkansas	Ha, nice one pinkmouse!

27th March 2005, 12:25 AM	#8
part2wanksta diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: new mexico	alright that sounds good i think im going to do that. how is it wired. do u have a pic or anything

27th March 2005, 03:21 AM	#10
part2wanksta diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: new mexico	im really thinking about this 150w ballast with 250w ballast. theoretically it seems as if it would work. it equalls 400w and it will put out that much. but i just dont know. hey dr. du is it pretty effecient

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