How hard is it to setup 240V ballasts?

[phattybudz]

I am starting a 4k medical grow for myself and my roommate. Right now we have three 600W 120v, one 1K 120v, and one 1K switchable ballast, and are running 2200W. We're doing tents right now flip flopped to keep from blowing our breakers right now and I'm not sure what the electrical is going to be like in the new place. We want to switch to 4 Lumatek 1K 240V ballasts. How hard is it to setup 240V ballasts? Anybody got a link? I looked around a bit but didn't find it...I know a guy who can take care of it, but want to save $ if I can.

Thanks!

 

[joluvs2gro]

I think a 240 v ballast can be wired for 120, I'm sure somebody else will be by that knows more though. It's 277 that isn't really interchangeable, the 240 usually are though, I think. If not then it is just like one of those dryer terminal plugs. I think 240 use 2 hots and a ground where 120 use 1 hot, one common, and one ground.

 

[FreezerBoy]

Depends on the coil. Some have single taps which means you're stuck. Others have Quad or Multi taps which accommodate, well 4 or more different voltages.

Get a 240 cord, 14 gauge or larger (the smaller the number the bigger the wire). Open the ballast and note the White wires connection (aka Com or Neutral) Use this as the White connection with the new cord . Note the additional wires where the Black wire (aka Hot or Live) connects? Attach new cord's Black wire to the wire that reads 240.

 

[jarff]

you can,t change the wattage of Lumateks...but what you are looking for is a light controller that runs off say a dryer plug or stove plug......with 600,s at 240 you have basically 3/3.5 amps and with 1000 @240V you have approx.4.5/4.8 amps each so total this up and you have your amperage draw and you shouldn,t push it beyond 80% of the amperage you have coming from your source (panel)
If you run four Lum 1K/240 Volt you will basically ahve a draw of approx. 18amps..a thirty amp double breaker in your panel you will have power to spare.Hope this has helped..If not....someone else may explain it to you better...In the end it is quite simple but you do have to have it Right........or burn down house???
good luck
Jarff

 

[Philosophelon]

It's not hard at all to set up 240V Lumateks -- they are already wired for 240V. All you need is a 240V outlet to plug them into. I don't know how comfortable you are with wiring, but I usually just tap into a Range and/or Dryer circuit (generally 50A and 30A, respectively).

The easiest method is to purchase a power-expander or timer box that simply plugs into a dryer/range outlet and has several 240V outlets on it for lights, and either a 120V trigger cord that plugs into a timer or a timer hardwired to the box to control the light cycle.

You could also just tap into or reroute the circuit, and hardwire a heavy-duty mechanical timer to some 240V outlets, which is MUCH cheaper but requires some electrical knowledge. I taught myself everything I know about electrical work with books from the library, and I've never started a fire, so it's totally doable if you want to spend a little time and effort to teach yourself -- with an afternoon or two you can gain a basic understanding of pretty much everything you need to know. I'd recommend getting like 10 books because only a couple will be really good. That being said, study carefully and don't do anything until you are 100% certain that you aren't going to fuck it up, and have your books handy to refer to as questions arise while you're working.

 

[phattybudz]

"I usually just tap into a Range and/or Dryer circuit (generally 50A and 30A, respectively). "

Wouldn't I have to run a cord across my house then? That might be kind of sketchy...

Thanks!

 

[Philosophelon]

If you are growing in your basement you can usually just cable staple the cables to the ceiling rafters.

If you are growing upstairs, you run the cable in the basement horizontally to where you need it, then you snake it straight up vertically through the walls to your grow room.

Usually, there is a relatively convenient spot to tap into a given circuit down in the basement. Take the front off your breaker box and follow the individual hot wire(s) you need from the breaker out the top of the box, note which cable it is, and then follow that cable to a suitable place to mount a junction box and connect the new wire.

 

[sparkjumper]

If I understand the original question and its a multi-tap Lumatek,its a matter of switching one wire in the housing.Replace the wire marked 120V with the one marked 240V and thats it.A matter of unscrewing and screwing a wirenut