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dadib
12-22-2006, 05:53 PM
will i damage anything if i use a 400w hp sodium bulb with a 400w metal halide ballast? anyone ever try that?
fhydro
12-22-2006, 09:13 PM
i swap from mh to hps with a 250 w ballast without any trouble..
FH
harris7
12-23-2006, 02:47 AM
dont do it,

1) u really shouldn't fuck around with shit like that when a new bulb costs 20$
it's a lot of power and could burn down your house in a flash

2) the bulbs use different igniters
kindprincess
12-23-2006, 02:56 AM
do it, here's how...

http://www.onlinepot.org/grow/wiringlights.htm

it won't work if your mh ballast doesn't have a x3 line...

love, kp:p
Shovelhandle
12-24-2006, 02:04 AM
they are not directly interchangable, either way. There are new switchable ballasts that will light either a MH or HPS. You just change the lamp and the switch setting on the ballast. One other new product is the special HPS lamp that works with a MH ballast. It is down on efficiency from a standard HPS.

Shov
britishcolumbia
12-27-2006, 02:42 AM
an hps ballast will fire a MH bulb. But the the HPS has a strike voltage of 2500v and and MH bulb has a strike voltage of 600v. So the lamp life of a MH will decrease when lite with a HPS ballast
Tokudai
12-30-2006, 04:59 AM
an hps ballast will fire a MH bulb. But the the HPS has a strike voltage of 2500v and and MH bulb has a strike voltage of 600v. So the lamp life of a MH will decrease when lite with a HPS ballast

Thats why you take the igniter out of the circuit whern firing up a MH bulb - all these switchable ballasts do is isolate the igniter on a toggle ie.On=HPS Off =MH
MisterE
12-30-2006, 05:51 PM
This question is why I bought a digital ballast which ignites both types properly. Better bulb life, smoother power, runs silent and cool.. So if you wind up buying a new ballast, go with it.
BOYZNUS
02-10-2007, 05:47 AM
A HPS BULB WONT FIRE WITH A MH BALLAST. IT NEEDS AN IGNITOR.