Lighting

[haowin]

Hey all,
Just wondering if you have a 2x55w ballast and have 45w bulbs. is it ok?

 

[OldMan47]

There are people who have successfully overdriven their fluorescent tubes. It is a strategy used intentionally by some people. I don't try it because with anything other than the design matched bulb and ballast, the outcome is a bit unpredictable. I would rather operate my equipment safely and within the heat loads used to design the fixtures.

 

[haowin]

nice one
What are the outcomes of overdriving the lamps? do they safely burn out or do they explode? cause its not a lightbulb and uses gas i dont have any experiance. The light system in my tank is naked so if they do explode, shatter, the glass is gonna go into the tank.
Will the outcome be instantaneous or will can it occur over the time?
The closest i can find for my lights is 2x49w (mine being 2x45w). will the extra 4 watts really be that much more stress on the lamps?

 

[OldMan47]

You need to examine the ratings on the ballast. I have seen ballasts with a single rating, which I try hard to match and others with multiple ratings that are quite flexible 8in the load you put on them. The 6 watt mismatch doesn't sound like much until you remember it is about a 10% mismatch.

 

[JenCliBee]

You need to examine the ratings on the ballast. I have seen ballasts with a single rating, which I try hard to match and others with multiple ratings that are quite flexible 8in the load you put on them. The 6 watt mismatch doesn't sound like much until you remember it is about a 10% mismatch.

I was given this info earlier for basically the OP's question.....

The ballasts will run cooler and not use as much energy!
The ballasts are rated "up to" a certain wattage, so gearing them down a bit will have no adverse effects at all, other than saving you some dosh and running cooler!
I have reflectors on my lights but havent tried them without, might see if i can nick a lux meter from work and see if they actually make a diffference!!

Surely you could use a smaller bulb within the unit, i would imagine as above info also thinks that the ballast would only emit the power needed for the bulbs fitted. Surely if the bulbs were smaller than recommended it would mean the ballast wouldn't have to work so hard in lighting the tubes to the bulb wattage?. This i would imagine as above mentioned the ballast would stay cooler, not have to work so hard and probably last generally longer than it would at full power.