Can a 1000watt run a 600 w efficiently enough?

[Ground Up]

Ok i have a bunch of 1000w digital/adjustable ballast, with a 1000w bulb ,and the ballast at the 600w setting , is it a true 600.? or do you need to put in a 600 watt bulb.?
i have always ran 1000w but now i changed up the room to vert and was wondering if my 1000 @ 600w setting will do.? Im asking cuz the 1000w bulbs are 3-4 inches longer, and in my head i feel the dynamics change a little!.. but not sure

 

[187020]

Good lord homie I can't even get a straight answer from lumatek! On 600 setting you should be able to run 600w hps but I'd guess it may shorten bulb life of run inefficiently...ugh!

Peace babeh

 

[RubeGoldberg]

This is an answer you will want straight from the horse's mouth.

There is one manufacturer who claims you can, I cant remember which.
But I've also heard from others who say its best not to, as it might negate the UL listing on the ballast, which inspectors in certain medical state municipalities are pretty sticky about.

try calling/emailing your manufacturer, if they don't answer you, call their distributor (your hydro store can tell you who that is) and the distributor will harrass the manufacturer for you and get the answer.

 

[FlowerFarmer]

I've ran many of 1000w Lumateks and Phantom turned down to their lowest setting using a 600w bulb.

No issues, but cant say your getting the full 600w power.


The funny thing about the Lumateks is they used to be advertised just like the Phantoms in that they are rated at 100% 75% 50% power. Now math tells me that 50% of 1000w is 500w however I have 4 Lumatek dimmables that were purchased right at the time they started calling them 1000w, 750w, 600w and the ballasts just have small stickers over the %.

So does a Lumatek at its lowest setting only put out 500w as the original Lumatek dimmables advertised? From what I can tell all they ever did was change the packaging and the end plate to now state the wattages rather then the 100%, 75%, 50%. This also seemed to occur right around when galaxy dropped with 400w-1000w ballast. Odd huh?


note - I'm not knocking Lumatek in any way. I have 12 600w 240v only units and 4 1000w dimmable Lumateks and have never once experienced any issues with any of them.

 

[RubeGoldberg]

The answer to this question would be actually quite intriguing,

1000w bulbs are generally cheaper than 600's on the north american market. BUT whenever i dial down a 1000w bulb "it don't look right" it just gets too fucking orange for my liking, but I'm not a plant.


Would be rad to see a comparison of a dialed down 1000 running at a digital 600, compared to a true 600

 

[Iron_Lion]

I think it works but never liked the idea of putting a small bulb in a bigger ballast.

 

[Phillthy]

if it is a 1000w ballast then lumatek states to run a 1000w bulb even when dialed down. i am currently running 4 1k lumateks at 750w.

 

[Mtn Dew]

is it bad to dim a digi 600w bulb down to 75% or 50% or do u have to replace bulb to use dim settings on a 600w digi ballast

 

[Ground Up]

Well I dont know either....However i do like the being able to run 1000k in vert till i flip to 600, i like the options.. and yup hortilux is 68.00 fer 1000k or 600k... i guess im wondering if the size of the bulb is the size So it can handle 1000.. but still pull off accurate lumens at 600.?

 

[Mtn Dew]

Reason I ask is im on a budget . don't wanna buy new bulb

 

[Mtn Dew]

if it is a 1000w ballast then lumatek states to run a 1000w bulb even when dialed down. i am currently running 4 1k lumateks at 750w.

theres the answer