Steve Sells
November 16th 03, 02:45 AM
If you use a lower rated bulb it will light. Then it will shut off when it
overheats, then it will re light again, and restart the cycle... after a
while it will burn out the ballast and the bulb more than likely, I never
let one run that way for long enough to see first hand.
Once had an apprentice replace a burned out 175w MH in the warehouse with a
150 watt bulb, it was funny to watch him try to figure out what was wrong.
I don't know where the 150w came from, as I had only 175 and 250 fixtures
in there.
Steve Sells
IBEW 305 Electrician, and fish nut
"john private smith" > wrote in message
om...
> hi folks, i have a fixture thats rated for a 175 watt metal halide
> bulb, but i am wondering if i may place a metal halide bulb of less
> wattage in it, it seems that that would be ok, as long as i didnot go
> in the other direction, say installing a higher wattage bulb. it uses
> a mogul base, and i have seen 70 watt and 100 and 150 watt bulbs, i
> wonder if they will not harm the ballast or themselves,
>
> thanks
> jack
overheats, then it will re light again, and restart the cycle... after a
while it will burn out the ballast and the bulb more than likely, I never
let one run that way for long enough to see first hand.
Once had an apprentice replace a burned out 175w MH in the warehouse with a
150 watt bulb, it was funny to watch him try to figure out what was wrong.
I don't know where the 150w came from, as I had only 175 and 250 fixtures
in there.
Steve Sells
IBEW 305 Electrician, and fish nut
"john private smith" > wrote in message
om...
> hi folks, i have a fixture thats rated for a 175 watt metal halide
> bulb, but i am wondering if i may place a metal halide bulb of less
> wattage in it, it seems that that would be ok, as long as i didnot go
> in the other direction, say installing a higher wattage bulb. it uses
> a mogul base, and i have seen 70 watt and 100 and 150 watt bulbs, i
> wonder if they will not harm the ballast or themselves,
>
> thanks
> jack