running 55w on a 65w setup

[Guest alex wlazlak]

i just got some new bulbs and theyre 55 watts, i already have a 4 bulb 65 watt fixture, can i use the 55 watt bulbs instead of the 65 watt bulbs?

[quazi]

Um, maybe a little more information. What is the lighting setup (PCs, NO, T5, MH?? [ok, that does not seem to fit here]???) What kind of ballast?

 

My Kreskin days are over.

[Guest alex wlazlak]

theyre PC's and the whole light is they 65 watt coralife 48" system. ill get a picture for below of the system itself.

[xeon]

Alex,

I will not ask why you got brand new 55's when your setup is for 65's.

 

Without knowing what type of ballast is used in the fixture and what sort of electrical charachteristics are on the wires... 55's should work. That is providing the bulb connector type matches the hood you have and the fixture is using an electronic ballast that can run multiple types of PC's within spec.

[Guest alex wlazlak]

they arent brand new, i got them from kragon and they look better than the ones i have in now, and mine should have been changed but im putting it off for now and i was just wondering if the 55w's would work.

[Prunfarm]

I know many people including myself who have 'overdriven' pcs. I have the same hood for my prop tank (although it's only 2 bulbs) and use 55w bulbs. I have never had a problem. Hellolights actually carries a ballast in their clearance section that powers 28-55w pcs. You'll be fine.

[Guest alex wlazlak]

hah, im an idiot . the dang bulbs are square pins and the ballast are straight pins... shoulda checked that in the first place :wall: .thanks though

[Ne0eN]

Hey Alex... If you want some SERIOUS lights, I have a brand new 48" T5 fixture with 6 - 54W bulbs. 3 of them are 10,000K and 3 are Actinic - PAR values are approaching Metal Halide. Ask Howard or JM... They were both impressed by the ammount of light it produces. Unfortunaltely the fixture will not fit under my tight acrylic 47.75" hood. (major bummer) It also has 2 built-in fans, and 2 power cords so yo ucan have day-dusk effect. $250 obo.

 

-Rob