What will happen if I put an ordinary house bulb into my 400w HPS ballast?

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dude, don't even try it.

i'm pretty sure it will blow up. why risk a good ballast? just find a used metal halide bulb on ebay or go to hardware store.

lot's of reef tank aquarists will have metal halide bulbs that still work but burned out of their spectrum which is critical for reef tanks. (still good amount of hours in bulb but it's burning more and more yellow)


find a reef tank person and they'll give you an old one that works for free.
 
LOL, go ahead and do it, Im curious .... remember to take some pics .....

Seriously, dont do it ... dangerous, you increase the voltage accross the bulb, being as its a magnetic ballast, and thus you will increase the wattage consumption of the bulb, the result will be a bulb that can possibly rupture, or just may burn out the second you turn it on...
 
Can you say "KABOOM!"

A normal light bulb runs at 120V. A metal Halide bulb runs at 600V. At the very least, it will melt the filament, instantly. But, due to the extra electromotive force, it will likely explode.

Like other have already said, don't do it.
 
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