Can you run a 175w on a 250w ballast?

[chevytrks]

I asked that question before, and I cannot remember why, but I was told it was not a good idea.

 

[nobody]

From an electrical point of view, you are overriding the bulb. The ballast is designed to supply the bulb with constant current, at the wattage it was spec'd for. So, if you are willing to shorten (significantly) the life of your 175W bulb, it's worth a shot. Compared to a normal 175W MH, 175W with a 250W ballast will be much brighter and hotter.

I would recommend against this.

My 2 cents.

 

[Soji John]

The life of the 175 will be shortened but it will work and burn brighter than the 175watt ballast (advice from Hamilton tech for the magnetic ballast). A friend did this for a week or two before new bulbs came in. It was with an icecap ballast.