Absolutely not!

The ballast is designed to deliver a voltage and current for that wattage of
bulb. You can damage the bulb and/or the ballast.
John

"john private smith" wrote in message
om...
hi folks, i have a fixture thats rated for a 175 watt metal halide
bulb, but i am wondering if i may place a metal halide bulb of less
wattage in it, it seems that that would be ok, as long as i didnot go
in the other direction, say installing a higher wattage bulb. it uses
a mogul base, and i have seen 70 watt and 100 and 150 watt bulbs, i
wonder if they will not harm the ballast or themselves,

thanks
jack