I Want More Lights but With the Same Amperage!

West Coast Medicine

West Coast Medicine

Well-Known Member
Does anybody know of a low amperage light system or a way of fitting the most ballasts into 10A? I can't do regular 600s because they are 5.5-6A each, and I don't want to run (2) 400's. I am running a single 1000 right now and the line is running at capacity now. I can run 10.5A tops! Thanks!
 
Luger187

Luger187

Well-Known Member
if u have a 10amp breaker, u shouldnt go above 8 or 9. since its not a 15amp breaker, im guessing u live in an older home. the wiring in those houses is usually smaller, so just replacing the breaker with a 15amp will not work, since the wires will heat up and catch fire with that much amperage. sorry im not really sure what u should do. just putting in my 2 cents
 
D

DVSxGenetix

Member
West Coast Medicine said:
Does anybody know of a low amperage light system or a way of fitting the most ballasts into 10A? I can't do regular 600s because they are 5.5-6A each, and I don't want to run (2) 400's. I am running a single 1000 right now and the line is running at capacity now. I can run 10.5A tops! Thanks!
Click to expand...
More Lights same Amps or less?

You have a few options that i can think of at the moment.

1 Digital Ballast
If you happen to have the old fashion cap & coil (big, heavy, hot, usually white) ballast. Look into upgrading them to some new digital ballast. The Quantum Hort digital ballast is one of a few new digital designs that can run both High Pressure Sodium (HPS) and Metal Halide (MH) bulbs. It runs both 120v and 240v currents and they give both plugs. Finally it also features a dim option for younger plants and a built in fan which cools the ballast (just like in your laptop). My Quantum 600w runs cooler than my 400w Lumatek ballast. It also runs at 5.4a so you could technically put up two 600w ballast (veg and flower in the same room with 2 sets of HPS & MH bulbs) and it's close but you might have have a few amps left over for a fan and filter. You could even think about going with 3 x 400w lights and have amps to spare for a fan and filter. I'd recommend topping your plants to keep them short or growing mostly Indica (or indica heavy) strains if you go with that last option.
bongsmilie

Take a look !!
Quantum Hort (http://www.quantumhort.com/quantum-600-watt-dimmable.html)

2 LEDs
LEDs are still up for debate, im about to conduct my own personal experiment and start a thread about LEDs vs HPS (with an emphasis on the light spectrum). There is an advantage but on a hobby level it boils down to less heat, less energy, more capital.

Straight UP !! They are super expensive if plan on doing it Right! No Joke. Those little 90w UFOs on ebay will Veg 3-4 plants but wont really flower them. The light doesn't penetrate enough according to this guy if you pick up the cheap stuff. You hear him mention the 3w bulbs (diodes), Im saving for the good lights :blsmoke:

Angry Man
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AitzoImckSY)

BUT

i found this super expensive light on ebay running 700w (1w bulbs) and in the technical specs they say it runs 4.8a so you technically run 3 of those and not need as much cooling. Each 700w LED system would be equal to a 1000w HPS...

(http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200383006388#ht_4927wt_830)

I did find 1 company that runs a really good quality LEDs Light with the 3w bulbs. A little expensive when you go real big (not as much as the ebay guy) but they have the best return policy & warranty i've seen in the USA. Plus the LEDs are made here in the USA so not that im the biggest patriot but we need the $$$

Let me know what you think. I'm experiencing similar problems and this is what i've come up with so far. Unless your willing to have an electrician wire you 240v into your room i believe the best solution will be a couple digital ballast.

Peace Out :)
DVS x Genetix
 
Blow

Blow

Active Member
i think if u use a 240v instead of regular 120v outlet light use less almost half amps
 
TruenoAE86coupe

TruenoAE86coupe

Moderator
Blow is kind of right, the amperage is the same 1/2 because it is now 2 hot wires, not just 1. Some say things run more effiecntly on 240, that is debatable what is not is the fact getting 240 would require running new wire and a new breaker
 
d r0cK

d r0cK

Well-Known Member
theres not much you can do.... the more wattage you want for lighting the more amperage you are going to consume. running 1000w of lighting power is going to draw 8-9 amps regardless of how many ballasts you are using or the type of lights you are using.
 
tjizzle

tjizzle

Member
Ive used t12 2 footers from walmart.they go for 5 bucks a peice ,they took 3 crosses from dna 2months without any over due streching.never flowered with them but alot of others have ,just keep em short.so a short height clone put directly into flower would work fine.If led's work they'd sell em at kmart
 
TruenoAE86coupe

TruenoAE86coupe

Moderator
I believe that the 1000 watt hps is the best you can do. 2 600 would be brighter, but you already stated thats outside your limits. I would measure the length of the wire and do some research online and see what amps you can draw based on the National Electric Code. Length of the wire is as big an issue as the gauge, if its less than 6' long it can hold an immense amount more amperage than if its 60' long. I believe in most homes 14 gauge wire can safely hold the full 12 amps before you start hitting the limit of your 15 amp breaker. Have you considered 2 digital or electronic ballasts? They use less electricity to power the ballast, if you are running a 1000 watt magnetic you are actually pulling closer to 1100 watts already, so 2 600 efficient ballast would only pull 100-150 more watts while providing more lumens.
 
legallyflying

legallyflying

Well-Known Member
It's rather simple people. Volts x amp = Watts. So just like the other poster said, the only thing you can do is increase the volts by running 220. Just buy a 220 breaker and 220 outlet and your good to go.

Then you can run 4 600's pulling around 12-13 amps.

Ps don't kill yourself in the process as while 110 will poke you, 220 will hit you with a bat and has the potential to kill you.
 
smartmonkey777

smartmonkey777

Well-Known Member
legallyflying said:
It's rather simple people. Volts x amp = Watts. So just like the other poster said, the only thing you can do is increase the volts by running 220. Just buy a 220 breaker and 220 outlet and your good to go.

Then you can run 4 600's pulling around 12-13 amps.

Ps don't kill yourself in the process as while 110 will poke you, 220 will hit you with a bat and has the potential to kill you.
Click to expand...
he is right here yea volts x amps = watts

220 volts is more efficent in hid lighting because your ballast has 100 less volts to convert up to running voltage, and your ballast not having to work as hard resulting in less loss due to heat from the conversion .. also 220 volts will travel down a same size / longer wire with less loss than 120 volts .
 
withoutAchance

withoutAchance

Active Member
OK its time for class.

U can make a 110/120 into a 220/240 circuit its easy, as long as the original 110 circuit had 3 wire and it should.

1) kill power to circuit
2) take outlet out of wall locate the 3 wires Copper white and black
3) if you want you can get a 240 plut with chinees eyes wire it up black on 1 side white on the other doent matter copper on the green pole
4) get teh dual pole breaker and find space for it
5) wire black to one side and white to other side copper to ground strip with rest of um
6) put breaker in and turn on now you have 220/240

Remember everything on that cicuit is now getting 220 so ide run a new wire but if you have a room where all outlets can be 220 then your ok but either change the outlets or lable them as 220/

i switch all my ballast plugs 2 120 style because it is 3 times cheaper then buying 220 outlets.
 
West Coast Medicine

West Coast Medicine

Well-Known Member
withoutAchance said:
OK its time for class.

U can make a 110/120 into a 220/240 circuit its easy, as long as the original 110 circuit had 3 wire and it should.

1) kill power to circuit
2) take outlet out of wall locate the 3 wires Copper white and black
3) if you want you can get a 240 plut with chinees eyes wire it up black on 1 side white on the other doent matter copper on the green pole
4) get teh dual pole breaker and find space for it
5) wire black to one side and white to other side copper to ground strip with rest of um
6) put breaker in and turn on now you have 220/240

Remember everything on that cicuit is now getting 220 so ide run a new wire but if you have a room where all outlets can be 220 then your ok but either change the outlets or lable them as 220/

i switch all my ballast plugs 2 120 style because it is 3 times cheaper then buying 220 outlets.
Click to expand...
So I can run my old 14ga for 220?
 
West Coast Medicine

West Coast Medicine

Well-Known Member
TruenoAE86coupe said:
I believe that the 1000 watt hps is the best you can do. 2 600 would be brighter, but you already stated thats outside your limits. I would measure the length of the wire and do some research online and see what amps you can draw based on the National Electric Code. Length of the wire is as big an issue as the gauge, if its less than 6' long it can hold an immense amount more amperage than if its 60' long. I believe in most homes 14 gauge wire can safely hold the full 12 amps before you start hitting the limit of your 15 amp breaker. Have you considered 2 digital or electronic ballasts? They use less electricity to power the ballast, if you are running a 1000 watt magnetic you are actually pulling closer to 1100 watts already, so 2 600 efficient ballast would only pull 100-150 more watts while providing more lumens.
Click to expand...
Length of my wire is about 20-30ft
 
S

SwiftGrow

Active Member
I run two 600 watt hps and 2 150h kessil leds and thats approx 1272w/240v= 5.12-5.3 amps very low amperage and i have it on a MLC thats hooked into 240v ran to a 30amp breaker.

OR go to homedepot and get a breaker replace the breaker with a 30amp hehe :D
 
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