Lumatek 240v 600w wiring ?

[mybeans420]

hey all
well, i got 2 lumatek 240v 600watt digital ballasts but i'm a little confused about something here. the lamp cord has four conductors.
1 black,
1 white,
and 2??? green.
why are there 2 greens??? anyone??

should they both be grounded to the socket assembly

i've run 240v lights before but I've never seen a lamp cord with 4 conductors.

 

[HappyHemphog]

Normally, green is universally used as ground. By the little tag I can see on the one green wire, that's exactly what it's for. Since I cannot see the whole tag on the other green, I can only assume it's the same little ground symbol and is also used for ground.

Did the ballast come with a manual by chance? Yeah, yeah, I know, your a guy, we don't neen no stinkin' manuals!

I have the Lumatek 600w 120v ballast and I've been very happy with it.

Cheers!

 

[mybeans420]

Hey hempy
the symbols are the same on both green wires.
did your 120v version come with a lamp cord attached? i know alot of dealers are selling them without it. i assume that if it did the 120v version only had 3 conductors, right?

Unfortunately mine didnt come with a manual. did yours?

i just dont understand why it would need 2 grounds

peace
beans

 

[HappyHemphog]

No manual of course, I was kinda jokin there.

Mine was attached so I did not have to worry.

As far as to why two grounds.. Why not? it may have something to do with how the digital circuitry is setup or they were to lazy to combine within the unit. Maybe they go a deal on dual grounded cable? LOL

I think your fine wiring them to ground and be done with it.

Cheers!
Hempy

 

[mybeans420]

ok, so yours came already wired to the socket assembly then. i bought my reflector seperately so i gotta do it myself.

i got to thinking that it mave something to do with the interference issues that i've read about concerning digital ballasts. any thoughts on that possibility?

peace
beans

 

[HappyHemphog]

I have a ton of electronic equipment within 20 feet of my digital ballast and I hear no difference in any of my audio gear when it's running vs when it's not. I've not noticed anything in any other gear like my PCs, etc.

Ours came with socket attached. One thing I don't like about the Lumatek is the power cord is not detachable. Apparently Lumatek has changed their name as well as have added a detachable cord if you look up the digi ballasts at BG Hydro. The descriptions for the two company/products are identical save the names. They even both seem to have developed some exclusive tech at the same time that is used in the lights.

I'd ground the two green wires and not think twice

 

[shiftfoot]

I've been thinking about going digital also.Have you noticed a difference in your electric usage?I'd b going w/ the 120 v 600 so I don't have to run a 220 line,Are these really as cool running and quiet as they're advertized?Happy how much does yours weigh?Thanks Guys

 

[HappyHemphog]

The thing still weighs a shitload but it's WAY smaller. It runs as warm, not nearly as warm as old coil style and has much less surface area radiating heat.

As far as electrical useage goes, I can't say. The one I have was an addon rather than an upgrade, so it's hard to tell.

I'm happy enough with it that I plan to replace the other ballast as soon as I can.

Cheers!
Hempy

 

[shiftfoot]

cool thanks

 

[Guest]

I've been an electrician a lot of years and thats a first for me,two grounds in the same muti-wire cable make zero sense to me,I'd just ground em both

 

[omega7]

My first HID ballast/light had 2 grounds. One was pinched under a very short screw that was in the box and basically just screwed into a thicker section of the metal and the other went under a screw that held the top on. Its like 11 or so years old though and magnetic.

 

[mybeans420]

My first HID ballast/light had 2 grounds. One was pinched under a very short screw that was in the box and basically just screwed into a thicker section of the metal and the other went under a screw that held the top on. Its like 11 or so years old though and magnetic.

hey omega7,
when you say "One was pinched under a very short screw that was in the box" and "the other went under a screw that held the top on"
do you mean the ballast housing or socket assembly?


what i am referring to is that there are two grounds on the end the socket assembly goes on. the other end was already wired in i just had to wire the socket on.

 

[Verite]

All I know is the hotdog goes between the braided white and black wires.

 

[omega7]

You can warm the hot dog buns on the bulb as well haha.

both were in the oct. box(socket assembly). Basically same thing you have pictured minus the hood. One was under the screw that held on the lid (like the one in the top left of the box you have pictured) and the other was hooked around a very short screw that just screwed into a hole in a thicker spot of the box (it was just a square of extra metal molded in the box with a very shallow screw hole).

 

[Guest]

Some security issues have been discovered with these ballasts....

http://www.uk420.com/boards/index.php?showtopic=51082

http://www.uk420.com/boards/lum/rfi.mov

I was using a lumatek ballast but I have now had reports of the same problem with other makes including the ones sold in the uk420 store.

Personally until such time as this problem is fixed I will not consider useing one again as I consider the risk to great.

All the best Ot1.