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Mismatched Bulb and ballast, what happens?

stihgnobevoli

Active member
Veteran
If i use a 50w bulb with a 70w ballast, or a 50w ballast with a 70w bulb. whats gonna happen? catastrophic failure? ballast short out and die? nothing? business as usual just not as efficient?
 

WormSlayer

New member
I'm pretty sure that a 50w bulb will run on a 70w ballast, but it would be rather inefficient.

A 70w bulb on a 50w ballast would be a bad thing(tm)!
 

DIGITALHIPPY

Active member
Veteran
WormSlayer said:
I'm pretty sure that a 50w bulb will run on a 70w ballast, but it would be rather inefficient.

A 70w bulb on a 50w ballast would be a bad thing(tm)!

oh man u must be high! smaller bulb on bigger ballast = EXPLOSION!!!
(try it wormy!) try a 70w on a 50w bal. it might not ignite though.
 
G

Guest 16149

There is a reason why the ballasts and bulbs are marked with their ratings :)

Do yourself a favor and follow them
 

DIGITALHIPPY

Active member
Veteran
Blaner123Doobie said:
There is a reason why the ballasts and bulbs are marked with their ratings :)

Do yourself a favor and follow them

your so right. but a big bulb on a smal ballast odds are they wont ignite/start

a small bulb on a big ballast is an explosion waiting to happen.
 
G

Guest

Bad things would happen. I would just say I don't advise you doing so.
 

stihgnobevoli

Active member
Veteran
does anyone know for sure? theres somethign wrong with the 70w bulb, brand new, only fired it up once for 1 minutes, doesnt light up anymore. i stuck the 50w bulb in during my troubleshooting, and it lit up. while i wait on a new bulb. i was wondering if i could just use the 50 . it didnt explode, but it might in the future, or nothing might happen. or it might blow out the ballast. i dont know, google was no help, and it doesnt seem like any of you know either. oh well ill just wait for the new bulb.
 
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