I actually have a 400w hps ballast and I can also use my 400w metal halide bulb in it with no problem.
So what your saying is they do, but they dont? the answer is, they dont. You can get universal bulbs hps to plug into a mh ballast they have a miniturized igniter inside the bulb.
As I understand it, a 400W metal halide bulb can be used with a 400W hps ballast, but not the converse. A MH bulb has the igniter in the bulb, and the HPS has it in the ballast--which pretty much goes along with your comment above. Apparently the double presence of the igniter in the HPS setup is OK.you can run metal halide in same wattage's but not hps in metal halide systems.you can run such as (same wattage's)250 watt metal halide-400 watt halide ect in hps systems but not hps bulbs in halide systems. they make conversion bulbs to run halide in hps as well and vice versa.
Interesting question. I've dealt with all types of HID (high intensity discharge) lighting fixtures, including low pressure sodium lamp fixtures, which are uncommon. Although I can't say for sure, I doubt the voltage level supplied by the low pressure sodium fixtures ballast, or transformer and capacitor, will be correct for "firing" the metal halide lamp, the voltage will likely be too low. Try it and see if it works, but I doubt it. No, the output voltage is too low for the lamp to start.
No. HID ballasts are designed for use only with the type of lamp it's made for. It must match the type and wattage exactly. There are a few exeptions to this rule, though.
Exception 1 - Metal halide ballasts will run a Mercury vapor lamp.
Exception 2 - There are metal halide lamps made for use with HPS ballasts for retro fitting lamps to the cleaner look of metal halide, without costly ballast and/or fixture replacements.
Those are the only 2 I know of off hand.
No, metal halide lamps require the electrical operating characteristics that the associated metal halide ballast produces. A high-pressure sodium ballast also is equipped with an igniter, used to "strike the arc" in the mating HPS lamp. Such a starting igniter is not required for firing a metal halide lamp, therefore, an HPS ballast will not produce the correct electrical circuit to start and maintain a metal halide lamp.
No. You must stick with proper lamp style and wattage for that fixture
No they both use different style ballast.
No.
Yes
You need the appropriate ballast for either of these bulbs to make them light.
No. The bulb has to match the ballast wattage exactly. And you can't interchange different lamps (like metal halide) either. The ballast is specific to that wattage and lamp type. The bulb will either burn out quickly or just not work properly at all
No. A mercury vapor lamp will work on a metal halide ballast, but not the other way around.
Yes assuming the ballast is also for a metal halide lamp.
It depends if its AC or DC, you have to match the Watts and the AC/DC.. so for example a 150watt UHP AC ballast will work with a 150watt AC metal halide bulb. dont take my word on this though, this is 2nd hand information.
No, the ballast has to be matched to the lamp. 250 watt ballast, 250 watt lamp. Also be sure to match the lamp type to the proper ballast even though the wattage is the same. HPS ballast to HPS lamp, Metal halide ballast to metal halide lamp and mercury vapour lamp to mercury vapour ballast.
You need the appropriate ballast for either of these bulbs to make them light.
No. The bulb has to match the ballast wattage exactly. And you can't interchange different lamps (like metal halide) either. The ballast is specific to that wattage and lamp type. The bulb will either burn out quickly or just not work properly at all
If you have one or more of each type working, it is easy to tell the difference, a metal halide lamp produces a wide spectrum very white light, the high pressure sodium is a narrow spectrum light that is very yellow. If you just have the light fixture, and need to know what kind of lamp it is made for, the lamp type is often mentioned on the ballast nameplate or a small sticker near the lamp socket. If that does not work, a metal halide ballast will usually be two pieces, a transformer with a heavy laminated metal core, and a capacitor in a silver can. The sodium lamp ballast will have these also, but in addition it will have a lamp striker in a second silver can, or a plastic module. In other words Metal Halide ballast: 2 pieces, HPSodium ballast: 3 components.
No. The lamp has to match the ballast. The lamp will not ignite if the wrong ballast is used.
No. A mercury vapor lamp will work on a metal halide ballast, but not the other way around.
A metal halide ballast works just by transforming the line voltage into much more useful voltage to the metal halide, and by regulating the current so that the bulb will have its useful life at the most.
Yes assuming the ballast is also for a metal halide lamp.
Yes the ballast and starter are the same you can run halide in hps, but not hps in halide.
Make sure you are using a metal halide bulb and the ballast is matched to the wattage on the bulb. These both must be correct.
The 4 types are: flourescent incandescent metal halide high pressure sodium
yes No Rafe, it will not. Remember when you tried it.