120v vs 240v

upinchronic1

Well-Known Member
I just found out that lumatek doesnt make any more 240v ballests for there 250wers, after purchasing a fucking 240v one on ebay...nice... But is the difference really worth it to get my money order back and look for a 240v ballast?
 

buster7467

Well-Known Member
What is the difference when running one on 110v versus the 240v. I have a 250w hps light that i can switch a couple wires and run off of 240v. But right now i am just running off 110v. Seems to work just fine for me.
 

User24

Well-Known Member
the main difference is that it draws half the amps, and that 220 can flat out kill you if you don't know wtf you are doing, where 110 will just give you a good jolt.

normal 1000w lamps will pull around 9.6 amps on 110, while a 1000w lamp on a 220v circuit will only pull about 4.5 amps, this is really only important if you are running multiple 1000w lamps, as a normal household outlets are either 15 or 20 amps of 110. So they can only run 1-2 lights at most, and that is nearing max capacity, leaving very little amps for fans, pumps, heating, cooling, rez aeration, and all the other shit you need to run a good setup.

I do not believe that the higher voltages put out more lumens, otherwise you would see a lot of threads that you should only use 220
 

We TaRdED

Well-Known Member
the main difference is that it draws half the amps, and that 220 can flat out kill you if you don't know wtf you are doing, where 110 will just give you a good jolt.

normal 1000w lamps will pull around 9.6 amps on 110, while a 1000w lamp on a 220v circuit will only pull about 4.5 amps, this is really only important if you are running multiple 1000w lamps, as a normal household outlets are either 15 or 20 amps of 110. So they can only run 1-2 lights at most, and that is nearing max capacity, leaving very little amps for fans, pumps, heating, cooling, rez aeration, and all the other shit you need to run a good setup.

I do not believe that the higher voltages put out more lumens, otherwise you would see a lot of threads that you should only use 220
this is all true and saved me the typing :D good job user24!:mrgreen:

:peace:
 

jimmyspaz

Well-Known Member
The bulb not the ballast detremines lumen output. 240 or 120 makes no difference to that, only amperage as has already been said. I run separate 20 amp circuits for each 1000 watt fixture , this gives me headroom to run other devices ( fans etc.) without worry. Please make sure that you know what you are doing with electricity people. That ballast sounds like hype to me..
 

huntowne

Active Member
Im an electrician of about 15 years and the main reason I run 240 is because it is alot more cost efficient. Higher voltage less amps= smaller wire to run less of a chance to over heat wire. be careful with 240 its no fun when you get wacked turn power off when you work on it.
 

We TaRdED

Well-Known Member
Im an electrician of about 15 years and the main reason I run 240 is because it is alot more cost efficient. Higher voltage less amps= smaller wire to run less of a chance to over heat wire. be careful with 240 its no fun when you get wacked turn power off when you work on it.
this is also true. :D

dont mess with electricity if you dont know what your doing, you could die!!!:cry:
 

Unicks

Active Member
the main difference is that it draws half the amps, and that 220 can flat out kill you if you don't know wtf you are doing, where 110 will just give you a good jolt.
I beg to differ. Voltage has nothing to do with lethality. Amperage is what kills. It takes less than 1 amp to stop a human heart, whereas a normal 110v home circuit is capable of delivering almost 30 amps. 110v home power can easily kill you. In contrast, a shock of static electricity can be several thousand volts, but extremely low amperage, which only gives you jolt. Be very cautious around any form of electricity!
 

User24

Well-Known Member
I am not going to attempt to explain electrical theory to a bunch of potheads, feel free to waste your time.

all they need to know is to be very careful around 220. I have been shocked many many times in my life by 110, never died yet.

regardless of the scientific basis of your argument, it is just that, a petty argument that has no bearing on the risk of death associated with running 220v power.

:blsmoke:
 

upinchronic1

Well-Known Member
so just hype.. alright well shit i guess it doesnt matter, everyone seems to think v have nothing to do with lumens so shit, i guess it doesnt. No one who thinks otherwise?

Cool well fuck it, im just going to upgrade to the 400
 

User24

Well-Known Member
back to you, yeah, it might have a marginal improvement, as the lines and ballast can run cooler, usually thats a good thing, you might have a few % imporvement, I wouldn't say its really going to be noticeable.
 

upinchronic1

Well-Known Member
Yeah well, i guess you cant beleive everything you read, i have no knowledge on v and amps and anything really electricle so fuck me arguing with any of you would be like a retard in the special olimpics, which never gets to far. Im going to go with the 240v anyway, i want my set up optimal. Check out ebay if anyone is intrested in a lumatek ballast, find florahydro, great to work with, i bought one of his 250w ballast that he advertised as 240v, didnt have any, so hes going to send me the 400w for no extra charge. NICE!! WOOOOOT!
 

We TaRdED

Well-Known Member
you dont really need a 240v setup for a 400 watt system.

you mine as well go with the 120v version if your doing a 400w system because it doesnt draw enough power to matter

if your house is not wired for 240 at the outlets, you should get the 120v system.

in my place i got a 400w hps, and im running my occ fan and inline fan from the same circuit with no worries about over drawing on my 15 amp breaker.

go 120v !!!!!! unless you want to go BIG...

just my honest humble opinion... :mrgreen:

:peace:
 
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