can you use HPS ballasts with all hps lamps?

[Thorn]

Howdy do, just had a thought. I have a 150W HPS with a 150W Ballast. Can you use that ballast with a lower wattage bulb, like say a 100W or 70W? Or do you need the exact matching ballst for bulb?

 

[trillions of atoms]

u can use a smaller bulb but it will decrease the life of the system and the bulb. its better to match the bulb then to take the chance in flowering when you need the system working the most.