startup amperage of 4x 600w digital ballast

[Local420]

I'm looking to find what the approximate amperage of 4x 600w digital ballasts @ 240v when all 4 first turn on.

I heard awhile ago that you multiply 1.25 by the amperage draw (in my case, 240v 600w digital ballast should pull around 3amps) which yeilds me 3.75

multiply 3.75 by 4 which is 15. So the start up of 4 600w digital ballasts running at 240v should push about 15amps, then drop down to 12 once the ballasts are fully on.

Is my math right or have I been given wrong information (from a electrician).

thanks in advance.

 

[Local420]

anyone?

 

[ItsGrowTime]

A 600w digi will draw 2.5 to 3amps each on a 240v circuit (wattage divided by voltage). 12amps would be your constant draw and since digis use soft start technology, their startup draw isnt much more.

 

[Local420]

so is it safe to assume that 4x 600w digis would fit safely on a 20amp breaker?

thanks for the reply

 

[smurfin'herb]

4 x 600watts= 2400watts/240volts= around 10amps, so yep your good, and u could put some fans on the same line, but stay under 80 percent of your 20 amp allowance as a saftey precaution!

 

[Guest]

Startup current is highly overstated.I've had my ampmeter round my wires and my eyes on the prize on 3K startup with magnetic ballasts and either it's too fast for the eye to see,or its basically overstated.Either way you have 16A continuous on a 12 wire 20A circuit.Go by nameplate rating in amps and say startup what?

 

[DIGITALHIPPY]

digis tend to be constant without the spike that magnetics have. they probably have softstart.
if it helps you out.
i put my digi galaxy (one 600 of my 4) on a 120v w/kill a watt and it pulled 5.8 then dropped to 5.6-5.7 within 3 seconds.

 

[Local420]

for what its worth they are elux ballasts, purchased from ww

thanks!