can we talk aout dimming feature of ballasts?

[habeeb]

hi guys,

trying to sort out my new room has led me on a chase of "new" ballasts being from lumatek to JD lighting, to hydrofarm phantom...

ones thing they have in common, is there dimming feature, but when I think about it, what are these bulbs put through when they are dimmed. I sent a question off to sunpulse as they make the bulbs, not the ballasts. so I wanted to see what they said about the dimming feature:

"Any time you step up or step down the voltage to a lamp with an
operating voltage, its not the best thing for the lamp. Dimming was largely misunderstood by e-ballast makers. If you do dim, let it run in 100% mode first for 15 minutes, then dim. It saves a little wear and tear. Note: if you dim down, the frequency goes up, and the color of the lamp will shift to the blue. If you overdrive, the lamp shifts to the red. I'd stick with 100% mode - my recommendation anyway."

my question is from people who use the dim feature, and anyone who has sent an email to ballast companies or has info on these new dim features..

- I am wondering if usable lifespan goes down when using the dim feature

- Does it ruin a bulb if you use the dim feature, and don't allow 10 minute warm up. as I see the new phantoms are suppose to run auto 10 minutes full, then auto turn it down to your desired setting? I am not sure, but it's what the advertisement looks like

- has anyone noticed color shifting as from the response above when dimming or overdriving


lets talk about dim feature, and anything about it

 

[greenhaus]

ive dimmed 1000w lumateks down to 600w with hps bulbs and noticed a slight dim.
ran it for a month no problem. but could just be me.

 

[LittleAmsterdam]

I was recommended to use 600watt bulbs if dimmed down to 600watt. That way you take full advantage of that 600watt bulb versus not getting the full potential from a 1000watt bulb when dimmed down to 600watts.

 

[whazzup]

the color shift is correct and so is the effect on your lamp though for the time we use a lamp I don't think it will be noticeable as degradation. The problem of overpowering is not true. Yes, the color shifts just a bit to red but most magnetic ballasts output more than 600W anyway when they get the correct voltage. Most lamps even operate more efficient at >100%. So it is within specs of the lamp. It is recommended to not abruptly switch from one setting to another, that is why a few ballasts are equipped with soft dim which gradually changes output power to preserve the lamp.

At lower wattage the efficacy of the lamp goes down, so you get less light than if you would have changed the bulb to a 600W.

Some ballasts have problems igniting lamps at lower output settings.

 

[vta]

I was recommended to use 600watt bulbs if dimmed down to 600watt. That way you take full advantage of that 600watt bulb versus not getting the full potential from a 1000watt bulb when dimmed down to 600watts.

My Phamtoms start up @ 1000w...so you DO NOT want to use anything other than a bulb rated to the ballasts max wattage.


On that note...I never dim mine.