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MH lighting question

Discussion in 'Saltwater Fish Forum' started by Anonymous, Dec 31, 2008.

  1. Anonymous

    Anonymous Thread Starter Guest

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    i have a dual 250watt ballast and was wondering if i can use 4x175watt bulb in stead of just 2x250watt? lmk asap.........
     
    Anonymous, Dec 31, 2008
    #1
  2. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    You're wanting to use 700 watts in a 500 watt ballast ?
     
    Anthony, Dec 31, 2008
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  3. Anonymous

    Anonymous Thread Starter Guest

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    yea.
     
    Anonymous, Dec 31, 2008
    #3
  4. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    Fire hazard...
     
    Anthony, Dec 31, 2008
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  5. Anonymous

    Anonymous Thread Starter Guest

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    ok nvm.
     
    Anonymous, Dec 31, 2008
    #5
  6. showjyr

    showjyr New Member

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    Wouldn't that just underdrive the bulbs? MH relies on an initial arc to fire the bulb and trying to fire bulbs in excess of the wattage that the ballast is capable of may not even fire the bulbs.
     
    showjyr, Jan 4, 2009
    #6
  7. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    Yeah, that is true. IF they did though, the fire risk is pretty high.
     
    Anthony, Jan 4, 2009
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  8. showjyr

    showjyr New Member

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    If 2 or more bulbs failed to fire the rest would be overdriven and could be a fire risk.
     
    showjyr, Jan 4, 2009
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  9. js1218

    js1218 New Member

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    that a go way to check your fire departments responds time
     
    js1218, Jan 5, 2009
    #9