metal halide wattage question have 175 w fixture, can i use less wattage bulb?

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

On Sun, 16 Nov 2003 02:45:01 GMT, "Steve Sells"
wrote:

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.

Using a MH lamp that is rated for less power than the ballast can lead
to lamp explosion, fire and perhaps personal injury. DO NOT DO THIS.

--
Vic Roberts
http://www.RobertsResearchInc.com