Any way to make 277V work on 120V?

**drrasta47** · 05-03-2010, 07:40 PM

My buddy just picked up a 277V ballast, and is curious as to how to make it work in his garage. Is there any easy way to rewire his ballast or something to make it work? If I were to just rewire the plug to a 120 plug, would it blow up? lol

**obie1** · 05-03-2010, 08:20 PM

not an electrician, but not a good idea. something is going to get hot, the ballast or the wiring to your house (read fire hazard). with electrical, if you are not sure dont do it.

**mygirls** · 05-03-2010, 08:24 PM

nope 277 is 3 phase. your ordenary house electrical box is single phase.

**obie1** · 05-03-2010, 08:24 PM

hey good dr, in another thread you claim to be an electrician. what gives.

**drrasta47** · 05-04-2010, 10:29 AM

haha good question. I'm certified for residential electrical not commercial, hence my confusion...

**diemdepyro** · 05-04-2010, 01:00 PM

You need a multitap transformer or a specific transformer.
I am not an electrician but i did stay at a holiday inn express last night.

**drrasta47** · 05-04-2010, 01:38 PM

Originally Posted by diemdepyro

You need a multitap transformer or a specific transformer.
I am not an electrician but i did stay at a holiday inn express last night.

lol the things you learn at Holiday...

Also, thank you for the clarification. I got the ballast that I'm running my MH on from a lamp post from an old local baseball field and rewired it about a year and a half ago. I checked it out last night, and it does in fact have a multitap transformer. Did some more research, and found these multitap transformers online for pretty cheap.

Here's a link for those that are interested in a DIY way to save yourself some good money on ballasts...

http://www.prolighting.com/ballasts-...-ballasts.html

**mygirls** · 05-05-2010, 07:45 AM

Originally Posted by drrasta47

lol the things you learn at Holiday...

Also, thank you for the clarification. I got the ballast that I'm running my MH on from a lamp post from an old local baseball field and rewired it about a year and a half ago. I checked it out last night, and it does in fact have a multitap transformer. Did some more research, and found these multitap transformers online for pretty cheap.

Here's a link for those that are interested in a DIY way to save yourself some good money on ballasts...

http://www.prolighting.com/ballasts-...-ballasts.html

why notjust crack open the ballast switch the wires to run 220volet or 110 voltes. that it if it is amulti wire ballast

**drrasta47** · 05-05-2010, 09:39 AM

Originally Posted by mygirls

why notjust crack open the ballast switch the wires to run 220volet or 110 voltes. that it if it is amulti wire ballast

That's a good idea, I thought about that, but it doesn't seem very practical for a company to make the transformer multitap instead of just wiring it to the rating they put on the box. My buddy ended up hunting down the correct ballast on craigslist and is going to break even anyways. Good knowledge and nice little lesson in electrical, though! :P

**mygirls** · 05-05-2010, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by drrasta47

That's a good idea, I thought about that, but it doesn't seem very practical for a company to make the transformer multitap instead of just wiring it to the rating they put on the box. My buddy ended up hunting down the correct ballast on craigslist and is going to break even anyways. Good knowledge and nice little lesson in electrical, though! :P

every ballast i have ever bought has been a multi wire. you should check into that. save you sum $.