Lighting: [matching] bulb and ballast wattage

[m.060.mm]

I've heard a number of sides. I've heard..

- you can 'overclock' a bulb and it only shortens it's life.

- you can use a higher wattage bulb and a lower wattage ballast, extending the life of the bulb.

- an 'overclocked' bulb will explode eventually. Or at least run the risk of fire.

- a higher wattage bulb will pull more than the ballast can safely give, creating a hazard in the form of an overworked ballast.

--

I'm looking for solid answers based on theory, please. No 'it doesn't sound like a good idea' or 'I've done it for a year with no problems.' Facts!

[zombo.com]

You're in luck, there was an article about this in this months high times.
Short answer is digital ballasts are fucked. there is a fundamental incompatibility between the way they operate, and the way bulbs are manufactured, that currently cannot be fixed.

Your bulbs WILL burn out significantly faster.

im kicking myself for the two that i have right now.

For now, go magnetic. there's a couple companies working on ways to solve the problem, but at the moment it kinda seems like it's a fundamental incompatibility.

(i'll see if i still have that issue of hgih times laying around and dig up the technicalese on it for you)


(just reread your original post...don't do any of that shit, use a bulb meant for the ballast your using for fucks sake. HID lights are not a goddamned joke.

[Spence_tron]

(just reread your original post...don't do any of that shit, use a bulb meant for the ballast your using for fucks sake. HID lights are not a goddamned joke.

QFT! ...And it reminded me about those deaths/fires from exploding ceramic metal halide bulbs in improper HPS ballasts :eek:.

[Dose Me]

I read that article too....I've always been a "manual" type of person so I would never have purchased a digital ballast. Glad I got to read this article before I invested in a set of expensive lights.

Regardless I would do what Zos said...otherwise you'll just be eating up a little more cost that you could be.