What would happen if...

Kryten · #1 03-24-2007, 11:43 PM

..I put a 55 watt pc bulb into a 65 watt pc fixture,

?

findingnemo1 · #2 03-25-2007, 12:12 AM

Nope won't work. As you are then pushing to many watts through a bullb that is not designed to have that many watts. Your bulb may blow up. The underwriter labarotories only allow 5% variance in manufacturing. Which means your ballast could push more than 65watts and bulb less than 55 watts. Which if you mess with that could mean "fire hazard"

I wouldn't mess with it.

Craig

Beverly · #3 03-25-2007, 03:08 AM

Sheesh, I'm not electronics whiz, but the one Workhorse 5 ballast in our Hamilton fixture came with two 55w PCs. We use 65w PCs with that ballast with no problem. I think it might depend on your ballast. What ballast do you have?

findingnemo1 · #4 03-25-2007, 03:53 AM

It may physically work per say.Maybe this bulb or the next one but maybe the one after that explodes from being over driven. But in all reality not a great idea. You are taking a chance. I do this for a living so i have seen some not so nice things happen with people who over do electrical things. I myself just wouldn't take the chance. But hey to all there own

Just not worth a shattered bulb in my tank.

Craig

Midknight · #5 03-25-2007, 04:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beverly

Sheesh, I'm not electronics whiz, but the one Workhorse 5 ballast in our Hamilton fixture came with two 55w PCs. We use 65w PCs with that ballast with no problem. I think it might depend on your ballast. What ballast do you have?

Yes Bev, but that is under powering it. Putting a 65W in a 55W socket just means it will not get enought power and not glow as bright.
I don't think the 55W in the 65 W would explode (don"t qute me on that)
But I think it would burn a lot brighter for a much shorter time if it fired up at all.
IMO

.

findingnemo1 · #6 03-25-2007, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midknight

Yes Bev, but that is under powering it. Putting a 65W in a 55W socket just means it will not get enought power and not glow as bright.
I don't think the 55W in the 65 W would explode (don"t qute me on that)
But I think it would burn a lot brighter for a much shorter time if it fired up at all.
IMO

.

Sorry my mistake. On Bev's case it would be fine as she is doing exactly that. Under powering it. On the 55 watt bulb in a 65 watt rated fixture you are over driving the bulb which could result in a blown bulb over your tank,

Its getting a little late and i can't read real well apparently tonite...

Craig

Kryten · #7 03-25-2007, 01:00 PM

Ok, thanks for the opinions guys, I don't think I'll try it. That said, anyone know where I can get a Hamilton 65 watt 10,000K straight-pin pc bulb? Or if they even make one in this configuration?

Thanks,

Beverly · #8 03-25-2007, 05:03 PM

Check J&L. IIRC, we bought our straight pin PCs from them. AI might also have them.

Kryten · #9 03-26-2007, 06:46 PM

Yeah, I already tried both of those options. AI only had 55 watt, and J&L only lists Coralife and JBJ pc bulbs. I don't want Coralife'$ bulbs, and I also like the colour of the Hamilton's better, which makes me want to shy away from the $20 ebay-type bulbs....

Chin_Lee · #10 03-26-2007, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kryten

..I put a 55 watt pc bulb into a 65 watt pc fixture,

?

what type of ballast is it? most PCs units are using electronic ballasts nowadays and putting a 55w pc bulb into a 65 w pc fixture will be fine because the electronic ballast will adjust its output accordingly.

in addition, i've read numerous articles that the 55 and 65 watt bulbs/fixtures are basically the same. just query it on a search engine and you'll find the same articles.