120v VS. 240v lighting ?

[Tactical Farmer]

Getting some new lights, Gavita 600e, Greenbeam 315 cmh and im wondering what ones I should get ?

Will need to run new lines for the 240v model, im wondering if its worth it and why ?

 

[SocalNugz]

Yup, they draw fewer amps 240 is more efficient and better for the equipment.

 

[HidingInTheHaze]

1000w is a 1000w it doesn't really matter matter if those watts are produced by 120v or 240v.

The only more efficient thing about running on 240v is you can cram more lights onto a circuit, 6 amps of 240 is 12 amps on 120, so when using 12awg wire can supply more lights on a 240v circuit then you could do using the same 12awg wire to supply lights using 120v. If you are just running 1 light there is no advantage. In fact one thing I dont like about 240v is its rarely if ever GFCI protected,where as it is very cheap and easy to GFCI protect a 120v circuit.

 

[amanda88]

Bleed baby bleed ...you got the cash for the lamps

you will grinning ear to ear this time next year

I promise..?

 

[rykus]

It's not that it actually uses much less power, it's that it draws half the power evenly from both lines(3 wires running from pole to house) so it's impossible accidentally over load one side. If you want to run on 120v and draw lots of power you need to harmonically balance the load, basically laying out the panel to draw even amps from both sides. Technically a 200amp panel can run 3o-35 1000 watts on 240 @ 5 amps each =150-175amps on 240 so from both sides. but if you balance it you could also run 15 ballasts on 120 because they would 150amps from one side leaving the other side open for 15 more....if that makes sense.

Anyways 240 balances itself so perfect for all large load applications to prevent burning a wire. 120's good for a single light tent because no need for any high $ stuff , just plug n play.conveniant. But cheap parts burn under steady 10 amp draw(thinking timers)so better buying or learning to build dedicated circuits for safety and proper running.