and if your using hid i'm sure you decrease the life of your ballast and bulb, i'm pretty sure the ballasts are designed top be on or off a certain amount of time before you can turn them on or off again. cfls life would be dramatically reduced. even led's, i don't know about diodes but i do know that you would fuck up the little transformers driving them. depending on what timers you use, them too... i use high power plug ins rated for 600w ballasts but i don't think the components inside could stand the amperage from the ballast starting every 30 minutes.
i guess you should ask yourself what matters more.... the experiment with a plant that i think most people will tell you nope! or
the amount of money and time its took for you too build up your equipment.