MH Lamps

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jcb730

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Are there any MH Fixtures that are capable of using different wattage lamps? It is my understanding that you cannot use a different wattage lamp in a metal halide fixture without changing the ballast. Is this correct?
 

Lightall66

Member
Location
Las Vegas, NV
Yes there are. But I have only used and/or seen them in the lower dual wattage range (up to 150w) using electronic ballast. They have switches that you must set to the proper wattage. You can find them by several manufactures. Mostly used on interior can lights.

If you are talking about standard core and coil ballast, I haven't seen any that are dual wattage. If you put a higher wattage lamp on a lower wattage ballast it will possibly fire (depending on the wattage of each) but you will never recieve the proper lumens and it will shorten the life of both. If you put a lower wattage lamp on a higher wattage ballast it can give you a tremendous amount of lumens but for a very short period as it will burn out or even blow the lamp quickly.
 
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