36 watt bulb in 55 watt fixture?

**KDahlin** · 10-28-2007, 02:25 AM

Is there any reason why I can't put a 36 watt bulb in my 55 watt AH Supply fixture? I want to reduce my lighting.

tropicalfish · 10-28-2007, 03:18 AM

Ehh won't work. Your BALLAST controls the wattage. Stick a 36 watt bulb in your fixture, expect a major fry out.

Don't do it. That is essentially overdriving your 36 watt bulb to 55 watts. DANGEROUS!

**KDahlin** · 10-28-2007, 04:20 AM

Good to know. Thanks!

**jinx©** · 10-28-2007, 06:44 AM

I don't have an answer, but more of a question brought on by tropicalfish' response.

Why then does my fixture say to replace with a F40T12Res bulb of 25, 34 or 40 watt only? As do many of my shop lights in the garage.

p.s...I'm not challenging your comment, I'm just now curious now.

Moe · 10-28-2007, 03:33 PM

Call AH supply, I say it will work.

tropicalfish · 10-28-2007, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jinx©

I don't have an answer, but more of a question brought on by tropicalfish' response.

Why then does my fixture say to replace with a F40T12Res bulb of 25, 34 or 40 watt only? As do many of my shop lights in the garage.

p.s...I'm not challenging your comment, I'm just now curious now.

Yours is likely a ballast that automatically adjusts to the bulbs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moe

Call AH supply, I say it will work.

I do not have AHSupply, nor have I seen one/used one before.

I do not know if the ballasts are automatic adjusting, but I would not do it, because it is VERY dangerous. It is overdriving a power compact fluorescent, which originally is very bright and very hot, into something that is more watts, making it much hotter and brighter till you destroy something.

However, 55W/65W are safe to choose between, because they are kind of the same size and stuff, just labeled different watts.

**eyebeatbadgers** · 10-28-2007, 07:51 PM

I would be inclined to agree. Check the ballast to see if it is rated for 36 watt bulbs.

If you do stick it in the 55 watt fixture, be sure to take pictures !!!

bwahahahahaha

crazy loaches · 10-29-2007, 06:04 AM

I'd be curious to know also since I overdrive various bulbs. 36W to 55W isnt any more extreme that what I am doing really (55W to 85W). You just have to provide extra cooling. But I am doubting it will fully drive it to 55W anyhow, if it works that is.

**KDahlin** · 11-07-2007, 02:12 AM

Well, I bought the 36 watt fixture and the ballast is exactly the same. The only thing that's different is the end cap, so I switched that out.

**Wö£fëñxXx** · 11-07-2007, 02:38 AM

An AHsupply 36/55 watt kit has the same ballast, you can most definitely use a 36w bulb in it.
The only difference between the 36w kit and the 55w kit is the reflector length, 55w bulbs are longer, who'd a thunk it.

10-28-2007, 02:25 AM	#1 (permalink)
KDahlin Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (17) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 444	36 watt bulb in 55 watt fixture? Is there any reason why I can't put a 36 watt bulb in my 55 watt AH Supply fixture? I want to reduce my lighting. __________________ "We are living on this planet as if we have another one to go to". T. Swearingen

10-28-2007, 03:18 AM	#2 (permalink)
tropicalfish Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Plano, Texas Posts: 913	Ehh won't work. Your BALLAST controls the wattage. Stick a 36 watt bulb in your fixture, expect a major fry out. Don't do it. That is essentially overdriving your 36 watt bulb to 55 watts. DANGEROUS! __________________ Rena Filtstar #137!

10-28-2007, 04:20 AM	#3 (permalink)
KDahlin Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (17) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 444	Good to know. Thanks! __________________ "We are living on this planet as if we have another one to go to". T. Swearingen

10-28-2007, 06:44 AM	#4 (permalink)
jinx© Bucket Lugger (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5) Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 909	I don't have an answer, but more of a question brought on by tropicalfish' response. Why then does my fixture say to replace with a F40T12Res bulb of 25, 34 or 40 watt only? As do many of my shop lights in the garage. p.s...I'm not challenging your comment, I'm just now curious now. __________________

10-28-2007, 07:51 PM	#7 (permalink)
eyebeatbadgers Moderately Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (34) Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Madison, TN Posts: 1,696	I would be inclined to agree. Check the ballast to see if it is rated for 36 watt bulbs. If you do stick it in the 55 watt fixture, be sure to take pictures !!! bwahahahahaha __________________ 10 29 NAAGC

10-28-2007, 03:33 PM	#5 (permalink)
Moe Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5) Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Nolanville, TX Posts: 99	Call AH supply, I say it will work.

10-29-2007, 06:04 AM	#8 (permalink)
crazy loaches Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5) Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Gahanna, OH Posts: 1,316	I'd be curious to know also since I overdrive various bulbs. 36W to 55W isnt any more extreme that what I am doing really (55W to 85W). You just have to provide extra cooling. But I am doubting it will fully drive it to 55W anyhow, if it works that is. __________________ My 240G tank build journal http://tristan.homelinux.net/ ~Tristan

11-07-2007, 02:12 AM	#9 (permalink)
KDahlin Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (17) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 444	Well, I bought the 36 watt fixture and the ballast is exactly the same. The only thing that's different is the end cap, so I switched that out. __________________ "We are living on this planet as if we have another one to go to". T. Swearingen

11-07-2007, 02:38 AM	#10 (permalink)
Wö£fëñxXx Planted Tank Gooroo (View User Tanks) PTrader: (113) Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: N AL. Posts: 2,608	An AHsupply 36/55 watt kit has the same ballast, you can most definitely use a 36w bulb in it. The only difference between the 36w kit and the 55w kit is the reflector length, 55w bulbs are longer, who'd a thunk it. __________________ *Craig*

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Advertisements
Get Rid of Advertisements