430watt hps bulbs on a 400 watt ballast....

[joedirte]

Im currently running a 400watt lumatek digital ballast with the stock bulb it comes with and it seems pretty weak. kinda looking to upgrade.

I was told by the lady at the hydro store that you can run a 430 watt bulb on a 400 watt ballast with no negative/adverse side effects. Is this true??
:hippy:

joedirte Reviewed by joedirte on 04-05-2009. 430watt hps bulbs on a 400 watt ballast.... Im currently running a 400watt lumatek digital ballast with the stock bulb it comes with and it seems pretty weak. kinda looking to upgrade. I was told by the lady at the hydro store that you can run a 430 watt bulb on a 400 watt ballast with no negative/adverse side effects. Is this true?? :hippy: Rating: 5

[Dutch Pimp]

If your ballast is not driving a 400 watt bulb to it's full potential?...it won't drive a 430 watt bulb any better.

A normal 400 watt bulb is putting out 45,000+ lumens. I don't understand what you mean by..."seems pretty weak"???

There are constant problems with the older model Lumatek digtial ballasts when combined with certain bulbs. Have you ever seen a normal 400 watt HPS? MH? light before?...for comparsion?

[tinytoon]

Might also be just a cheap crap bulb. I know the ones they sell at Home dePOT dont have the Lumens that you find on other bulbs.

[joedirte]

Dutch Pimp If your ballast is not driving a 400 watt bulb to it's full potential?...it won't drive a 430 watt bulb any better.

A normal 400 watt bulb is putting out 45,000+ lumens. I don't understand what you mean by..."seems pretty weak"???

There are constant problems with the older model Lumatek digtial ballasts when combined with certain bulbs. Have you ever seen a normal 400 watt HPS? MH? light before?...for comparsion?

By "weak" I do mean weak compared against the Xtrasun ballast running its stock 400watt bulb. its kinda hard to see the difference with your eyes, (the lumatek produces a slightly whiter, almost seems brighter light) but when harvest comes, the Xtrasun deffinetly pulls heavier harvests .thats why im thinking of upgrading to a 430 watt hortilux eye or something. maybe its not running its current bulb to its full potential because the current bulb (teh one it came with) sucks. maybe a new 430watt hortilux eye will kick f-n arse. and maybe it will kill my brand new lumatek ballast... THATs what im trying to find out.

so, has anyone ever ran a 430 on a 400 before?? if you have, how are the results? is it bad for your ballast? lemme know if you know.

I dont think its an older model lumatek because i bought it late last year.:rastasmoke:

[joedirte]

maybe ill just go with a normal 400 watt hortilux... anyone know about running 430watt bulbs on 400 watt ballasts???

bump:hippy:

[killerweed420]

I'm sure it would work. But like the other poster said, its not going to have enough amps to drive a 430w bulb to its full potential. I know a guy that runs 400w bulbs in his 1000w ballast.lol Swears by them.

[gypski]

I like sun systems 430 HPS systems! :thumbsup: But, next time I'm going double ballast for both types HD & HPS.

[iGrow27]

I've read a 430 Watt bulb in a 400 watt ballast will only give you the equivalent of running a 400 watt bulb. Save your money. I should note they also say it won't adversely affect the life of the 430 Watt bulb. e.g. a 600 watt ballast with a 400 watt bulb will have shortened bulb life.

[Shovelhandle]

I know a guy that runs 400w bulbs in his 1000w ballast.lol Swears by them.

Yes? And I know a place that called me after they kept blowing 400 watt lamps in their yard lights. Come to find out that they were 1000 watt fixtures. I'd say that it isn't worth trying a 400 in a 1000. Check on the 430 watt lamp manufacturer about specs for running that lump in a 400W fixture.

[Shovelhandle]

Phillips Son Agro 430 Watt HPS will work in a 400 Watt HPS System