240 Volt Ballast Lampcord

[TriIron]

What is the maximum length you can get a lamp power cord for a 1000 HPS? I just found a crawlspace under my house that has a small room cinder blocked in right below my growroom, with an old set of stairs that has been boarded off through the closet floor to get to it. (btw, my electrical service box is located in the growroom, and there was a 240 Volt 30 amp breaker not being used with the service box.. Lucky me.) I was almost about to buy a portable AC when I figured it would be more effecient and easily set up to put a mini split AC in. That got me to thinking that 4 1000 watt ballasts in my room will create quite a bit of heat. If I could buy a 25-30 ft. power cord for the lights I could put all the ballasts underneath the house in an enclosed but ventilated container to reduce my AC needs even further. I am unable to air cool my hoods, so any bit helps. Are these cords sold in that length, and does anyone else see a problem with my setup?

fwiw I only am using 1K right now since I don't have the AC to cool things down yet. Also trying to dial in a stubborn strain.

 

[PharmaCan]

It would be easier and cheaper to just buy one piece of wire and put your 240v receptacles in the basement.

PC

 

[Sloppy Seconds]

I'm not sure but I think I read somewhere that the "Ignighter" can be only so many feet from the bulb for it to work right. You might want to do some research.
Good luck.

 

[TriIron]

Not referring to the power line to the ballasts, that isn't an issue. I am referring to the lampcord going from the ballast to the hood.

 

[Eminem]

I think the max length is 16 feet. If you go longer, you will have issues. I used romex and had 25-40 foot runs and kept blowing bulbs. Still use the romex

Solutions

Move ballasts closer
Swap ignitor for a long range ignitor
remove ignitor from ballast and mount on top of hood. Yes its no big deal, its wired exactly the same, just a longer run from the cap to the ignitor. But the ignitor is now close to the bulb. Has worked for me for 18 months.

 

[madpenguin]

Eminem and Sloppy are correct. Don't exceed 15' for your lamp cord.

 

[cali mike]

If you are using sun system hoods I know they sell extension cords cause I just ordered some for my Super Sun 2's. These cords are all plug and play- they already have the right plugs and receptacles on the ends to go right into the ballast and hood. They sell a 16 gauge 15' cord (SS code# 903100) and a 14 gauge 25' cord (SS code# 903105). Im pretty sure they size them like that because of voltage drop- the farther you go the bigger wire you need to avoid voltage drop.

BTW don't use Romex. Romex has solid wires, which is the reason why it won't work so well for this application. For the 600+ Volts that the wires need to carry after the current goes thru the ballast you should use fine stranded wire. You can go to home depot and get some 14/2 extension cord cable and make your own lamp cord too. Any longer than 25' and I would use 12/2 or even 10/2 to avoid problems.