What's new
By:
GrowWeedEasy.com
You're browsing as a guest. Sign up to join the conversation, share your grows, and get help from thousands of fellow growers — it's free and takes less than a minute.

Adjustable Digital Ballast Question

Paracelsus

Paracelsus

New member
Thanks to all the growers out there who have contributed to GWE with their time and energy answering questions and sharing their Knowledge. My latest brain storm.

If you already have an adjustable 1000W digital ballast can you use a 600 watt bulb and still only be using 600 watts max at any one time or will I still be using 1000 watts and stepping down to 600Ws but using 1000W?
 
Last edited:
I have a adjustable ballast 600 watt digital I’ve never tried a 400 or a 200 watt bulb. I am curious tho hope somebody will chime in with the answer lol
 
seems 600W is the magic number for efficiency as far as MH/HID bulbs go KW to Lumen production, maybe you could check with your Ballasts manufacturer
 
If i understand the question right u alrdy have the 1000 watt with dimmable ballast and u want to use a 600 watt bulb that's all good as long as u dim to 600 but a 600 watt bulb is not made to use 1000 watts of electricity
 
this is all from Solis-Tek sebsite:

Yes, you can use different wattage lamps in the SolisTek 1000w digital ballast, however it is not recommended and you may experience shorter lamp life. A 1000 watt ballast outputs 200-250V to the lamp, while 400 &600 watt lamps operate on 100-150V to the lamp.

Can I run a 400 watt lamp in the SolisTek 600 watt dimmable ballast?

Yes, you can run a 400 watt lamp in the 600 watt ballast dimmed to the 400 watt setting. Since the voltage output for the 600w ballast is the same as the 400 watt lamp this combination has no issues.

https://solis-tek.com/support/faqs.html
 

Attachments

  • photo36515.png
    photo36515.png
    137.4 KB · Views: 0
Last edited:
I know you are looking at hard evidence, I will tinker around with my multimeter today and see what's actually going on.

It would seem that if it's pulling fewer amps, that there would be a reduction in electrical consumption as you dial down.
 
yeah I wish I could see my meter wheel like in the old days, the particular ballasts available to me are a 600 and a 1000 Lumatek's. I haven't done the deal yet but its hard to say no.
 
Some ballast manufacturers say it's ok to dial your ballast down from say 600 to 400 and use a 400W lamp (globe) in it. Others say you can dim it down but if its a 600W ballast it must still have a 600W lamp in it just dimmed down.
Lamps are the same, some are designed to be able to be dimmed, others must be operated at their rated wattage or it can shorten life and alter the spectrum output.
 
So are you saying its manufacturer dependent? Aside from bulb life the one question I'd like to be sure of is Watts and Amps being drawn from the wall when a 1000W Lumatek is dialed down and has a 600W Bulb.
 
I use a digital lumatek Pro 600W 400Volt (yes volt, I live in Aus where 230V is the norm and the ballast works its magic and steps it up to 400V). Works great.

This comes from the Lumatek website: [h=4]Lamp Replacement[/h]
Be sure to disconnect the power source before changing lamps. Always use the specified wattage of lamp. The Super Lumen range of E-Ballasts are specific to one particular wattage i.e. only a 400W lamp should be used in a 400W ballast. However, the Dimmable Multi-Watt range of Lumatek E-Ballasts can drive lamps corresponding to the particular E-Ballast output settings i.e. the 400W Dimmable E-Ballast will drive both 400W and 250W lamps.. Lumatek recommends lamp replacement every 6-12 months.
 
Lumateks come with or without the Super Lumen, If it has the super lumen option on it then it must be used with the same wattage lamp as the ballast.
 
Thanks OZ I still don't know exactly which thousand watt model it is, the 600 will be used at full power so that's good to go no matter which model. These bulbs will be fine for 2 grows at least switching from MH to HID after veg. I really appreciate the definitive answer OzBud.
 
Thanks DNK I appreciate that. I am going to have a few options for low power, some T'5's are part of the deal. Blower fan, light mover, extra hood. Craig's list has almost everything (except tropical islands)
 
I can't say for certain but to me it would be crazy if it draws 1000W to run at the 600 Setting. If that was the case everyone would just buy two ballasts and the savings would pay for the second one in a few years. If possible call Lumatek or your local store that sells them, they should be more than happy to answer any questions
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top