switching ballast on pendant

Joe Damone · #1 07/12/2007, 04:51 PM

Hi All,
I just swithched a ballast and bulb from a 175 tar ballast to a 250 w electronic ballast. I have been told there is no issue with this. I noticed the wire above the pendant and the pendant itself much hotter than the 175 s. Normal???

Thanks

Joe

MeuserReef · #2 07/12/2007, 04:54 PM

I think that you are overdriving your bulb. Just because the 250 ballast is electronic doesnt mean that you can run a 175W bulb on it.

Check the ANSI codes of both the ballast and the bulb. They must match in order to insure safe operation (no fire!)

Joe Damone · #3 07/12/2007, 04:54 PM

PS in other words the ballast and the bulb are new 250 w the wire and the fixture are old

Thanks

MeuserReef · #4 07/12/2007, 04:58 PM

Ok... I misunderstood. The heat is likely the result of the increase in wattage.

Could it be possible that the heat you are feeling on the wire is coming off of the bulb, not out of the wire?

Joe Damone · #5 07/12/2007, 04:58 PM

sorry I was not clear .the new bulb and the new ballast are both 250 w. The ballast is ARO electronic metal halide ballast and the bulb is a 250 w XM 10k bulb

Joe Damone · #6 07/12/2007, 05:01 PM

yes you are right it is coming off the bulb as the fan is on now over the tank and it has cooled the wire and pendant fixture down significantly.Any issue with that?

Thanks