Interesting...

 

I was thinking that this would give me the most light output possible for EU2000 since I could adjust the load of the lights using the digital ballasts. Seems like 1600 watt rating for the genny divided by the 400 watts per bulb would work out just exactly. And yes, I realize that normally the bulbs would draw more than 400 watts if they weren't dimmed slightly by the digital ballast. Any thoughts? Has anyone ever done this? Makes sense to me on paper at least!

Actually a 400 watt bulb uses 400 watts +or- when run to spec. It's the ballast that uses more than 400 watts.

 

I bet the honda will run them just fine...

 

So, OBG, does that mean that you think that this would work? What I trying to avoid is having to upgrade the lights later. I don't want to start with (2) 400's and (2) 250's. I am looking for a different boat and I will probably end up with another Honda at some point, but then I could just turn the power up on the ballast...and add more lights or possibly iota's.

 

I hate to say since I've never had a meter on a digital when it was dimmed. You would think it would but I would call the ballast manufacurer and request the input specs through the range.

 

what would be the amp draw for 4 - 400's? your genny can handle 13.3 amps right?

 

I have never had my hands on the Lk400 ballast but isn't it selectable on either the 250w or 400w setting? I don't think there is a "dimmable" feature for an in between setting. I think if you "dim" it down, it will be on the 250w setting which will require a 250w bulb. Your eu2k won't run (4)400's but it will run (4)250's with ease.

 

The Lk400 has 4 settings...250,250 super lumens,400,400 super lumens...don't know what super lumens are,but it sounds cool!

 

Super lumens means driving the bulb at a slightly higher voltage than it was designed for.

 

Lumatek does make a ballast that allows your 400w lights to be dimmed. I read up on them and found where it said the light output is dimmed but the ballast will still draw full amperage regardless of light output.

 

Try reading it again.

"Now Dimmable: Dimming your lamps can be a great way to deal with heat issues in your garden and to help control your electricity bill. All Lumatek™ ballasts can be dimmed down to 50%. Please note that both the input and output power is changed when the ballast is dimmed."

Wonder if the potgrowers use these?

"Very Discrete Packaging for complete Customer Privacy"

 

????

 

I guess I should believe even less of what I read on the internet, that is definitely not the quote that I read. Sorry for the bad info.

 

Gonna find out next week...

 

Definitive answer directly from Lumatek:

The input draw changes with output power selected. It isn't exactly what I would call "dimmable". It's more like having four power settings. i.e. you can't vary your output to an exact amperage of your choosing. At the 400w setting the ballast and bulb combination will draw 3.62 amps. Four of these together will be 14.48 amps which is probably too much for the Honda EU2000.

Gargod - Do you have access to four lumatek ballasts and a Honda EU2000 to test this out?

 

That is good but I guess that blows their 98% efficiency claims from their advertising plumb out of the water. About 93% which is good though.

 

i have this excact same setup as far as ballast and genny. we plan on running 2-250 and 2-400 with ours, with maybe 3=400 so i will have more light on my side LOL