i am having a problem trying to covert my 240 amp plug to 120 for my lights. i have been told that i have to get a profesional to put in a new breaker or get this box that has 4 120 plug and 2 110 pugs but it cost over 300 dollars. i know there are alot of people here with alot of good advice. so if anyone has an idea or a product please let me know.
240amp switch to 120 or 110
- Thread starter romaking
- Start date
Al B. Fuct
once had a dog named
I think you're asking how to run a 240 VOLT light on 120V.
If you're in North America, you will be able to get a 220V line from your residential breaker box, but you will need an additional circuit added to the box.
I suppose one could use a 2:1 step-up transformer on a 110V line to yield 220V, but the size, weight, poor efficiency and most of all cost of such a transformer (working on the presumption of a 1000 watt minimum transformer) would all be prohibitive.
What sort of light are you trying to use?
If you're in North America, you will be able to get a 220V line from your residential breaker box, but you will need an additional circuit added to the box.
I suppose one could use a 2:1 step-up transformer on a 110V line to yield 220V, but the size, weight, poor efficiency and most of all cost of such a transformer (working on the presumption of a 1000 watt minimum transformer) would all be prohibitive.
What sort of light are you trying to use?
Al B. Fuct
once had a dog named
Oh! That's a bit easier to fix.
Go buy a standard 2 socket outlet. Wire it like this:
Keep in mind that this will work ONLY if both 120V loads are identical and both are turned on at the same time.
This is a bit of a shonky way to do it, electrically speaking... The CORRECT way would be to use a step-down transformer, either big enough to carry both lights or one step-down for each light.
Go buy a standard 2 socket outlet. Wire it like this:
Keep in mind that this will work ONLY if both 120V loads are identical and both are turned on at the same time.
This is a bit of a shonky way to do it, electrically speaking... The CORRECT way would be to use a step-down transformer, either big enough to carry both lights or one step-down for each light.
Al B. Fuct
once had a dog named
Upon further consideration, working with the supposition that you're going to run a pair of HID lights, I'm going to contradict myself; you probably shouldn't do this with HID or fluoro lighting (any light with a ballast).
If you were going to run a pair of simple resistive loads like two equal sized heaters or incandescent lights (and I KNOW you're not running any incandescents... right?!), this voltage divider would work fine.
However, HID lights draw a large amount of current to strike an arc in the lamp tube. If one lamp doesn't strike or if one strikes slower than the other, the ballast which is drawing more current (presenting less resistance [impedance in AC ckt terms]) will see less voltage than the other which will then get more than its share of the voltage drops in the circuit- one of the lamps could be damaged from overvoltage while the loads are imbalanced.
What sort of lamps do you have? What's the wattage?
If you were going to run a pair of simple resistive loads like two equal sized heaters or incandescent lights (and I KNOW you're not running any incandescents... right?!), this voltage divider would work fine.
However, HID lights draw a large amount of current to strike an arc in the lamp tube. If one lamp doesn't strike or if one strikes slower than the other, the ballast which is drawing more current (presenting less resistance [impedance in AC ckt terms]) will see less voltage than the other which will then get more than its share of the voltage drops in the circuit- one of the lamps could be damaged from overvoltage while the loads are imbalanced.
What sort of lamps do you have? What's the wattage?
VictorVIcious
Well-Known Member
I'll stick my two cents in here. Taking out a 220 circuit will result in two empty spots in your panel. Breakers for 110 volt circuits are under $5.00. Changing a breaker is not that hard. If you can do the wiring that Al is suggesting you should be able to change a breaker. You should get twenty amp breakers for 1000watt lights. VV
beenthere donethat
Well-Known Member
Depending on what type of ballast you have it may be easy to rewire it to run at 240. In many instances, it involves moving only a wire or two to change the operating voltage of the ballast.
Do you know the maker of the ballast...or was it a kit?
Do you know the maker of the ballast...or was it a kit?
abudsmoker
Well-Known Member
99% of modern day ballasts 99 to current are mulitvolt. change your imput wire to one that will be clearly marked 240 volt then you can rewire a 110 outlet to run 2 hots and a netural. make sure you ground your ballasts
it can be switched to a 240v but i have two lights and only one outlet. and i havent been able to find a 240 split. i have euros ballast.
but i just found out that there is something that i can buy that will plug into the 240v outlet and connected is 4 120v and 2 110v outlets. but it goes for about $250. so i am looking for a cheaper way. now with putting in a 20 amp breaker. victor said it wasnt that hard. i really dont know much about electrical. but tell me if i am wrong. putting in a new breaker is cheap and easy, but what about wiring the outlet to the breaker i heard that thats the hard part and the expensive.
but i just found out that there is something that i can buy that will plug into the 240v outlet and connected is 4 120v and 2 110v outlets. but it goes for about $250. so i am looking for a cheaper way. now with putting in a 20 amp breaker. victor said it wasnt that hard. i really dont know much about electrical. but tell me if i am wrong. putting in a new breaker is cheap and easy, but what about wiring the outlet to the breaker i heard that thats the hard part and the expensive.
VictorVIcious
Well-Known Member
Define expensive. If you are not familiar with electric circuits you may want to do some research, first. There isn't anyway for us to tell you what may be involved in doing this in your house from the breaker panel out to your grow area. The price of the wire has gone up a lot, like 200 or 300% in the last 5 or six years.
Labor for having it done will still, in my opinion, be the most expensive part. The exception to that would be, "I don't have any tools so I have to buy everything I need to do this". Drills, etc.
Before I put in my grow room I bought a book that I would recommend, Wiring Simplified. I have one of the rare copies of the 40th Edition and its based on the 2002 National Electrical Code, so you might not be able to get my outdated book. Code's haven't changed much in the last few years, and the book has more information than you should ever need. It also has information you do need, like Chapter 9, Outlet and Switch boxes. I bought mine for $5.00. The full retail in $10.95. Good investment. VV
Labor for having it done will still, in my opinion, be the most expensive part. The exception to that would be, "I don't have any tools so I have to buy everything I need to do this". Drills, etc.
Before I put in my grow room I bought a book that I would recommend, Wiring Simplified. I have one of the rare copies of the 40th Edition and its based on the 2002 National Electrical Code, so you might not be able to get my outdated book. Code's haven't changed much in the last few years, and the book has more information than you should ever need. It also has information you do need, like Chapter 9, Outlet and Switch boxes. I bought mine for $5.00. The full retail in $10.95. Good investment. VV
Al B. Fuct
once had a dog named
No kidding. The cost of getting it wrong is fairly high.
Having some competencies in basic electricals is a security matter in a grow op. If you have to call someone in to do wiring, it's possible they could be alerted to your op or intentions. If you set fire to your place, well... it's academic.
Everyone inclined to plug in a light in Nth America should get a copy of that book VV suggests.