[wayne g]

at the moment i have two 36 wtt power compacts in the hood of my d+d nano that are fitted as standard.
in the garage i have another 36 watt interpet starter unit for power compacts...

i want to add this but will only be able to fit the 24 watt tube in due to the space avaiable in the pre-moulded appature in the hood.
i know that if you try to run a higher wattage tube from a lower wattage starter it wont have enough power to run it.
the thing im not aware of is whether or not the starter will only supply the wattage that the bulb 'asks it for' or does it automatically throw out 36 watss regardless?????

can you run a 24 power compact of a 36 starter without tears before bedtime or do i have to ditch this and buy a 24 watt starter for it?



i knew where i was with halides and standard t5's but not sure with this dilema???

[ben]

as far as im aware wayne you can run a lower wattage bulb on a higher wattage balast, but not the other way round. it might, however , burn the bulb out quicker.
but since i closed down my labratory i have no scientific proof

[wayne g]

ben, on Feb 17 2008, 06:55 PM, said:

as far as im aware wayne you can run a lower wattage bulb on a higher wattage balast, but not the other way round. it might, however , burn the bulb out quicker.
but since i closed down my labratory i have no scientific proof

why thank you beaker!!!


i think it is the way you descibe ben as im sure i have read much the same some where before?
didn't fancy torching the tank and house finding out though!

[ben]

nah mabye play safe and get a new 24w ballast

[wayne g]

i've been scratching my chin also?
i even put a post 'elsewhere' about it but no-one has even responded...
any one else care to step in with any thoughts on it?

[chriss]

Hi Wayne,

It should run fine, but the lamp will draw more current then it is rated for so will burn brighter and burn out quicker, although how much quicker I couldn't say.

If it was the other way around and you were to run a higher wattage lamp than the starter is rated for, then the starter would probably burn out since the lamp would try to draw more current than the ballast is rated for.

Exactly the same rules apply to T5's and Halides. The ballast on all these types of lamps act as a 'brake' to control the amount of current drawn by the lamp, without a 'brake', once ignited they would draw more and more and more current till they pop.

Your initial assumption is correct in that the lamp will try to draw an infinite amount of current, but the ballast limits it.

Hope that helps

Chris

[wayne g]

now thats what im talkin about!



what a well written explanation of a subject that has baffled me for ages!
thanks chris...great advise!