converting 240v ballast to run off 120v

Lumatek 600W 240V HPS Elect Ballast
LK6240

all i can ever find is the same damn description over and over
it never says

i`ll see what i can find out for ya i have a few good connections at hydro stores and do wiring for me sometimes

While we are waitin' on Bonz, I did a bit of research myself. I am assuming this is the digital ballast. They offer both 120 and 240v. Since I seriously doubt that they mfgr the components, they probably buy ballasts in the needed wattages, and wire them according to thier voltage needs. I know nothing about a digital ballast, but with magnetic ballasts, they almost always come from the factory with the ability to be wired in different configurations 120/208/240/277. The folks who make the lights buy the boxes, ballasts, wires, reflectors etc, and assemble them. So they will wire them for the most usable voltage for thier markets. You SHOULD be able to open it up and see if the wires inside are marked with different voltages. If they are, you're on.

Good luck!

ok, got an answer. i talked to a worker with dr hornby, he is down the road from me, ya advance nutes i believe he was. anyway you should be good to switch it. they are pretty much like thelastpirate said.
are you buying it or bought it, and how much if ya dont mind?

what if they say 240v only??

it will have a wire for each voltage possible. they mass produce them and then when it gets to the country of sales it will be wired accordingly.
or wait for the response from the company.
you dont sound to confident i dont know if i woukd recomend fukin around with it

Look simple electrical 101!!! 220v power is only two legs of 110v you can take a double pole breaker full or compact and run your own power to where ever you need it. Just remember to use noting smaller than 10ga solid core romex!!! If you have a basement or an attic that should be no problem but if you don't have either you can always run your wires outside, mount them to the wall in a neat and orderly fasion then into the room you need! Super easy to do!

The last pirate - thanks for all your help, yeah i dont know much about digital ballasts either. i know that you can change the voltage on most ballasts, but this is why i am cautious about the lumatek. Most ballasts make it a point to advertise that they can be switched between 120/240/etc, however lumatek never mentions it on their website or on any of the resellers websites. Unfortunately for me, i cant open the ballast up because its not in my possession yet, figuring out whether its compatible with my houses wiring is what is keeping me from buying the ballast.

Bonz - thank you so much for going out of your way to help me out. that really clears things up for me. I haven't bought it yet, if i had i would probably have tinkered around with it until i either converted it or broke it haha...

on the contrary bonz, i am confident with my DIY skills , i think you are confusing MrMicro's post with mine. I just dont want to buy the ballast and have it shipped here and than realize it can't be rewired. I have no problem with a little work to save a few bucks

and it is selling on an auction site with 1 day left the price is 27.50 with 15.00 shipping, it was part of a batch of 3 identical lumatek ballasts and the first two already sold for 90 dollars a piece. the cheapest i can find them elsewhere is 140.00 + shipping.

pro4204med - thanks for the advice, i would attempt something like you are talking about if i was doing a larger scale grow, or a for profit grow, however this is a small closet grow and i cannot justify the extra costs and time

well good luck with whatever you decide, only you know what to do

thanks man, thanks for all the help and everything, on a different note, i just bought a Hydrofarm Daystar 6" AC hood, for $66. I think they usually retail for about 110. I'm stoked on that, anybody know where i could find a cheap 6" inline exhaust fan that pushes 250-450cfm. I'm hoping for something under 60 new or used as long as it works, pushes air, and isn't too rediculously loud.

Man, just get a 120 to 240 stepup transformer. I would never take apart a lumatek, they are nice ballasts and i believe that voids your warranty. Also they are "resin sealed" which i don't remember but it seems like it was a hermetic seal. If they seal em up so well it's for a reason and i do not think you can even switch lumateks, they say they are different in some circuitry to maximize effiecency versus a switchable. You could probably find an efficient step up transformer if you aren't comfortable wiring a 220 outlet.

Did you get this rewired thinking of doing the same

Update? I have the same 600w Lumatek. Was free and idk if i can just plug a 110 cord into it or if i should trade it. Another member said not to open it *shrug*

0
[QUOTE="MisterMicro, post: 1182475, member:

Hi

I know this was posted ages ago but I have a similar problem I'm very new to here and really need some help I bought a UK 1000w maxibright digilight pro select ballast and a USA 1000w eye hortilux daylight blue bulb I tryed turning the bulb on but it only stays lit for about 30seconds and then goes off again this probably has something to do with the voltage differences between the two countries but I've also googled everything I can and found nothing I mean I know I might need a voltage converter/transformer but would a 240v maxibright ballast work with only 120volts ? The ballast is obviously wired and made to run on 240v not 120v HELP!!! PLEASE

pro4204med said:

noting smaller than 10ga solid core romex!!!

Click to expand...

I thought you could go as low as 14 for a 240v circuit.
The wiring in my walls is 12ga...

Lighter gage wire = smaller breaker.

14ga -> 15 amp breaker
12ga -> 20 amp breaker
10ga -> 30 amp breaker

Wire is sized based on amperage. 120 or 240 volts, same wire size. Branch circuits are generally limited to 12 and 14 gage, unless they serve a dedicated piece of equipment.

I have same issue opened up only see one set of wires on a board any help or should I buy a step up transformer /I’m worried about a cheap amazon step up being a fire hazard any direction to deal with this lmk I too wonder if I can just hook up a 110 computer power wire to and it might work but not sure know nanolux made this both commercial and res and supposedly res 110 line could be connected to either without any change to inside or any switch etc

you must connect it between phases