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trichome
THC
Registered: 07/20/08
Posts: 104
Last seen: 10 years, 9 months
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Remoting a ballast
#488523 - 10/16/10 04:55 PM (14 years, 1 month ago) |
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What kind of wires are required for connecting a 250w probe start metal halide ballast to the corresponding bulb? Would a heavy duty (15 amp) extension cord short circuit under the high voltage load during lamp startup?
Edited by trichome (10/16/10 05:40 PM)
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Amnesiac
Registered: 10/13/08
Posts: 102
Loc: Under the sea
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Re: Remoting a ballast [Re: trichome]
#488558 - 10/16/10 06:07 PM (14 years, 1 month ago) |
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The 15 amp cord would be fine, you would be drawing 3 amps at the most after the lamp is warm and no more than 6 amps (probably way way less) during start up. Just for reference; W = A x V.
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keepITLegalFellas
airo trials
Registered: 10/12/10
Posts: 27
Last seen: 13 years, 9 months
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Re: Remoting a ballast [Re: Amnesiac]
#488733 - 10/17/10 08:58 AM (14 years, 1 month ago) |
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Ive never bought a ballast or fixture that didn't come with overkill wiring. Look at the wire behind your 1000watt coffee pot or the wire on your 1400 watt hairdryer.
-------------------- I do not condone or condemn. This is my disclaimer, as all my post are complete fiction. Furthurmore any reason for lurking here is swim's and does not concern me.
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keepITLegalFellas
airo trials
Registered: 10/12/10
Posts: 27
Last seen: 13 years, 9 months
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Just make sure any extension cords you use say ul on them and use a 14/3 or better. IMO Lowe's has a good triple tap one on sell for 20$
-------------------- I do not condone or condemn. This is my disclaimer, as all my post are complete fiction. Furthurmore any reason for lurking here is swim's and does not concern me.
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trichome
THC
Registered: 07/20/08
Posts: 104
Last seen: 10 years, 9 months
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Re: Remoting a ballast [Re: trichome]
#488890 - 10/17/10 03:04 PM (14 years, 1 month ago) |
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Folks I appreciate the help but I wasn't asking for current (or electricity 101). I am well aware that 250w is no problem for most wires. Simple fact. The VOLTAGE is what I am concerned about. I.e., pulse start metal halide lamps start up at 4,000 volts, in other words, well over the dielectric constant of air at 1cm (or several for that matter). If you take apart a ballast, you will see that the wires connecting the components are rated at 600 volts and 10 amperes. Normal house wiring, afaik, is rated for 240 volts. The wire insulation is what counts for voltage, whereas the wire gauge, or thickness, is what matters with amperage.
I bought a prefabricated mogul base + 15' cord, but I would like to continue this discussion for future reference.
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