Lighting question: MH ballast and sockets

[meathead]

I have been wondering if this was possible but could not find any information to tell me if it would work or not, can anyone help me out. I have a 250 Watt MH ballast kit consisting of a transformer, capacitor, and mogul socket.

I have used thes kits before and the work perfect, my question is could I buy a double ended socket kit and a 250 Watt HQI bulb and just swap it out with the mogul socket? Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks.

 

[sw-addict]

I know that it works in reverse, you know had a 250watt hqi system bulb holder broke switched with mogul socket (thats all that was available localy) and it worked fine. of course I switched back as soon as I ordered the new part. but I dont see why it wouldn't work the other way around.

 

[ccCapt]

I don't think you can fire a HQI DE bulb with a magnetic ballast. Any reason in particular you want to use DE instead of SE bulbs?

 

[meathead]

I was thinking about doing away with my canopy and going with two 250 watt DE pendants.

Since the canopy I have now was a DIY, I have a custom made ballast box with both transformers, capacitors, and cooling fans already made, i was wondering if i could just purchase the two pendants and wire them up to the existing ballast box.

Again any and all help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Ziggy953]

You could always do single ended pendants instead of the DE. As far as I know you have to have an HQI ballast to fire DE bulbs. HQI ballast will fire both single ended and DE, but I don't think it works the other way around.

I would check with the manufacturer of your ballast and see if it will fire HQI DE bulbs. What kind of ballast is it?