240v Outlet Questions

[kp^]

Hey all!

I really hate to ask, but I'm not finding the info.... Ugh.. I'm in the midst of installing a new subpanel in the garage. And just need to finish the wiring for a 240v circuit... I just need to know the receptacle... Prolly wire a WH40 in there somewhere...

I've got multiple 120v outlets on 4 different circuits(20amp) and two 240v circuits each on 30amp breakers. What does everyone else do about hooking up multiple 240v ballasts? Do I buy a 240v surge protector and plug em all in, or do I get multiple 240v female outlets and install in each box? I'm not finding the right 240v outlet... that the right word?? lol

I'm planning on two lumatek's 1000's, but have also considered 4 x 600w... All 240v of course....

Here's a few images to see what I'm talking about... This was done today... I should be hot by this weekend. Any and all help is appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[yamaha_1fan]

i have never heard of anyone using a surge protector on 240. I would think they exist, just not common.

I think you just need to add 240 outlets. You can also use 120 outlets wired to 240. Not sure if you need to change the cord on the ballast for that to work properly though.

 

[sparkjumper]

What I did and suggest doing is mounting 2 120V 20A duplex receptacles in a 4inch by 4 inch metal box and wire them for 240V.Have your ballasts wired for 240 but use the original 120V plugs.I do 3 1K's this way

 

[PharmaCan]

How do you plan on timing that 240v circuit?

PC

 

[sparkjumper]

Hopefully with a WH40 "little gray box" hot water heater timer

 

[rr14]

I currently use a surge protector on my 240. they can be bought at quick220.com . I believe it's rated at 15 amps which works out okay for my 2 600's. They also sell adapters that allow you to use 120 extension cords. It's hard to find any type of 220 volt extension cords.

 

[kp^]

yamaha_1fan: Thanks for stopping by! I'm a computer geek as well, and I run my own servers.... In a server rack they have 120v and 240v rack server surge protectors.. I was thinking about getting ones of these, but its a different type of 240v plug compared to what the ballasts are using... The two flat prongs, and a ground.....

This is where my issue is.... I need to be able to plug in 2-4 ballast on 240v, but what plug? I've seen these Leviton recepticles, but not sure what one.. The NEMA rating on these are NEMA 6-15R.

Leviton Duplex Back and Side Wired, Self-Grounding NEMA 6-15R
http://www.levitonproducts.com/catalog/model_16662.htm?sid=0AC53A0153D1C3EA56B49F45438E5CAF&pid=1208

I could put 2 of these a metal box, and wire it to a WH40....

These 240v circuits have yet to be filled with a 240v receptacle. What do you suggest? I know I will want to wire it to a WH40….

Sparkjumper: Hey, thanks for the suggestion.. I will run it by my electrician and see what he thinks….I’ve already got a 30amp breaker for each 240v circuit… I have two of these… just no receptacle… gotta figure out the plug types, so I can install.

I was thinking about picking up “plug it in” type of light controller for 240v, but they are not so cheap…

Rr14: I’m trying to stay away from anything 110v on my 240v circuit… This new subpanel is up to code, and exceeds some of that as well… fatter cables all around…. I.E We put in a new ground bar in.. That’s an 8ft pole we drove into the ground…

I will keep searching for examples and what others have done... I can do just about anything I want with the power.....I just don't have the experience with this much lighting, and control.. Im use to a single light and everything on 120v.

Thanks guys for stopping by, and trying to help me with this! I was going to reply last night, but got involved in a game I was playing, and my bong.. so I passed out early!!! lolz!!!! Thanks all :growwed:

 

[sparkjumper]

One advantage to using 120V 20A receptacles for your 240V fixtures is you are omitting a splice by not having to install a 240V plug on your power cord.Any splice or mechanical connection is a weak point in any electrical system,slight though it may be if the splice is kosher.Another advantage is if you ever want to go back to a 120V power source for one reason or another,your 120V plug is there.Use the WH40 little gray box for sure it beats the other 240V intermatic mechanical timer because it has an external on-off lever for quick disconnect

 

[kp^]

sparkjumper I've got dedicated 240v, and dedicaed 120v.... The 240v is only for the lights... everything else will run from the 120v circuits.. Those are all on 20amp breakers, while the 240v is on 30amp.

I'm working on wiring up the WH40 + plugins for 4 ballasts....... Will see what happens here

3-prong 30amp dryer plug to metal box + WH40 + 4 plugs.....

Thanks again!

 

[kp^]

Eh, its not done yet, but I think I'm on the right track here!

This baby with just plug right into the 30amp 3-prong plug. The cable is 10awg.. Uhh... yyea...

Planning to mount everything on plywood, finish installing the 3-prong cable into the timer...

Peace!

 

[sparkjumper]

Looks great man the hardest part will be hitting the studs with the drywall screws when you mount your board lol.Everything looks better on plywood especially painted white if mounted on a white wall.

 

[kp^]

Just want to make sure all is correct

Just want to make sure all is correct

sparkjumper: Heh, good suggestion on painting the plywood white.. I will have to do this in the morning before I get everything mounted.. ty dude!

So, I ran back to the Home depot, and picked up some stuff to finish this project... I just have to paint/mount to plywood and I'm done! Before I wrap this up I would really like someone that knows to critique and let me know if I wired these elements right....

A description of the images:
So what I have done.... Taken a 30amp dryer cord and wired it into the WH40. The middle wire(ground, L shape) is connected to the neutral. Since the other two are hot.. I wired one into #1 slot and the other into #3 slot.

From the WH40 I have some MC cable(10awg) going to a metal box with the plugs. Each plug I have a wired

Since I'm wiring a 30amp dryer cord into the WH40, I'm not sure if I should put the middle wire, on the ground screw on the neutral spot.. It's currently on neutral.

Please let me know if something is wrong.. It feels like it, just not sure... For these outlets... Ugh... I can take more pics if needed.. TY

 

[sparkjumper]

Even though the neutral isnt used in the 240V lighting circuit,I wouldnt have it connected to my ground wire.I would take my load ground off the green ground screw on the chassis at the bottom left of the timer wheel

 

[kp^]

sparkjumper, Yeah... I looked at it again, and did just that! I put the dryer cable, and the other cable on the ground of the chasis of the WH40...

Thanks for sticking around and helping me out, much appreciated!

 

[Kush09]

This is exactly what I needed to do! I was not sure exactly how to go about wiring everything up with the outlets and all, so I bought a Green Air Products lighting controller with timer. It appears that you have it all figured out with something that does the same thing for much cheaper! Great job, thanks for sharing pics!

 

[kp^]

Kush09
Happy to be of service! I know pics really help me seeing things in the overall design of things, so I take lots of pics! Here is a completed version of it mounted on plywood.