Light Balast

[SynoSteff]

Hey everyone,

I just put a 20w tube in a 30w fitting. Is this ok or will I come home to a hole melted through my canopy? :mad2:

Thanks

SynoSteff

 

[Jericho]

You should not have any problems with putting a lower wattage bulb in a fixture built for a higher wattage.

 

[SynoSteff]

EXcellent!

That's what I was thinking but I thought I'd just check

Thanks Jericho

 

[Shelby_Tempo_GT]

You should not have any problems with putting a lower wattage bulb in a fixture built for a higher wattage.

not necessarily true. You can shorten the life of a transformer.

Best way is to read the label on the transformer itself to see the range of acceptible wattage.

 

[dadof3]

a lower wattage bulb in a higher wattage fixture is ok for most standard fluorescent fixtures, I dont se why aquarium fixtures wouldnt be the same.

 

[Shelby_Tempo_GT]

a lower wattage bulb in a higher wattage fixture is ok for most standard fluorescent fixtures, I dont se why aquarium fixtures wouldnt be the same.

no its not.

You shorten the life of the transformer when you do that.

Read the label on the transformer/ballast. It should tell you the acceptable wattage range for that fixture.

 

[loaches r cool]

Well, I am not 100% sure but I cant think that it would cause any harm. The label might indicate the range it is designed for. But sometimes its not so easy as checking the label. Typically ballasts are rated in the type of bulb they are designed for not the wattage. For example my ballast in my canopy I built are rated for:
4 X FO32
4 X F025
4 X F017
4 X FBO32
4 X FBO24
4 X FBO31
3 X FO40
An internet search would reveal what type of bulbs these are and thier wattage rating. I dont know the wattage range but it does cover a wide spread. You might say that the ballast will sense what the bulb will draw, but that depends on the type of ballast as well.