How many watts/lights can i put

jerry zinfadel

jerry zinfadel

Member
Hello everyone quick question, if i have 40 amps (2x20amp breakers) how many watts can i pull from them? typically i hear around 1900 per 20 amp breaker, but i have a 10 guage wire running to the breakers, rather than a 14 gauge/ 12 gauge? what do you think? can i run 2 x 1000w and 3 x 600w lights?? or even 3 x 1000w and 2 x 600w lights? thanks any help would be great...
 
WeeGogs

WeeGogs

Active Member
jerry zinfadel said:
Hello everyone quick question, if i have 40 amps (2x20amp breakers) how many watts can i pull from them? typically i hear around 1900 per 20 amp breaker, but i have a 10 guage wire running to the breakers, rather than a 14 gauge/ 12 gauge? what do you think? can i run 2 x 1000w and 3 x 600w lights?? or even 3 x 1000w and 2 x 600w lights? thanks any help would be great...
Click to expand...
120 volts
20 amps
= 2400 watts


240 volts
20 amps
= 4800 watts

check it yourself !!!!!

http://www.supercircuits.com/resources/tools/Volts-Watts-Amps-Converter

if the cable load is too low you could start a fire.
 
queenster

queenster

Active Member
your ballast should tell you how many amps they draw at 240v which mine are around 4.5 amps per 1000watt light so add that up and add in your fans and a.c and theres your answer. look on the tag on your product and they almost always say there amps used

jerry zinfadel said:
Hello everyone quick question, if i have 40 amps (2x20amp breakers) how many watts can i pull from them? typically i hear around 1900 per 20 amp breaker, but i have a 10 guage wire running to the breakers, rather than a 14 gauge/ 12 gauge? what do you think? can i run 2 x 1000w and 3 x 600w lights?? or even 3 x 1000w and 2 x 600w lights? thanks any help would be great...
Click to expand...
 
M

mrmadcow

Well-Known Member
WeeGogs said:
120 volts
20 amps
= 2400 watts

240 volts
20 amps
= 4800 watts
Click to expand...
that is the max you can run but for safety, try to keep loads at 80% so if you are running at 220, 3800watts or less is your goal.
your lights will draw 3800 watts but the ballasts will draw 20-100 watts each so you will be maxed out but it should be OK.I would use 2-3 different timers(timers will draw a few watts each also) and set them to start a few minutes apart as the ballast draw alot more on startup and all starting at the same time might overload you.
since you ran 10 gauge wire,you could swap out the 20 amp breakers to 30 amps if you wanted.
 
Cannabisworks

Cannabisworks

Active Member
dont forget voltages also. need heavy wire to handle the over 600 volts they use. can melt wires
if he needs to split it up to be diff timers for the strike up load then its not right. if it is done right it will handle it. thats why we check amp and volt loads to chose a wire. its wont harm by separate just more money
 
W

watchhowIdoit

New Member
mrmadcow said:
that is the max you can run but for safety, try to keep loads at 80% so if you are running at 220, 3800watts or less is your goal.
your lights will draw 3800 watts but the ballasts will draw 20-100 watts each so you will be maxed out but it should be OK.I would use 2-3 different timers(timers will draw a few watts each also) and set them to start a few minutes apart as the ballast draw alot more on startup and all starting at the same time might overload you.
since you ran 10 gauge wire,you could swap out the 20 amp breakers to 30 amps if you wanted.
Click to expand...
You are correct except I would not go over 70% of the circuit rating when running HID lights. The extended, continuous load has a way of warming a circuit...
 
MrEDuck

MrEDuck

Well-Known Member
You need to use 240V to run all those lights. But you have more than enough juice to run em all.
 
WeeGogs

WeeGogs

Active Member
Cannabisworks said:
dont forget voltages also. need heavy wire to handle the over 600 volts they use. can melt wires
if he needs to split it up to be diff timers for the strike up load then its not right. if it is done right it will handle it. thats why we check amp and volt loads to chose a wire. its wont harm by separate just more money
Click to expand...
"HEY"

what have you been smoking,?
do you have any left ? i want to buy some,!!!

also where can i get 600 volts, i can draw a huge amount of amps using that voltage.
 
Cannabisworks

Cannabisworks

Active Member
well all my digi ballast say 6009 voilt dood. thats where i get the info. and the buddy that worked my place and does inspection for city here advised to watch that. you saying they dont draw that????
 
G

GoFish104

Member
Your ballast may very well PRODUCE 6000v pulses but it uses 120 or 240v input. If you look you'll notice the wire leading to the light fixture is different then your ordinary 600v insulated wire Peace Jack
 
Cannabisworks

Cannabisworks

Active Member
thought i posted 600 not thousand. not sure what that emanbs.,..an ordinary 600 volt wire...what does a non ordinary one look like...wire is wire to me in right gague for the load
 
Cannabisworks

Cannabisworks

Active Member
and if it olny draws 120 volt or 220 and small amp like 5 amp then why such a huge gauge wire...its not needed if volt is small to
 
W

watchhowIdoit

New Member
Cannabisworks said:
thought i posted 600 not thousand. not sure what that emanbs.,..an ordinary 600 volt wire...what does a non ordinary one look like...wire is wire to me in right gague for the load
Click to expand...
15 amp circuit-14 gauge wire
20 amp circuit-12 gauge wire
25-30amp circuit-10 gauge wire
Anything circuit over 30 amps I would definitely recommend 220v.......
Most all the gauge wires above sold at home improvement stores is rated to 600v...
 
Cannabisworks

Cannabisworks

Active Member
ok way it was explained to me is it actualy had a draw of 600. yes i get the draw from wall is only 120 or 220 but i thought it changed inside and always was told must use 600v ratede cored and not just look at the amp load limits. and it was by a ful liscenced electrition and a city inspector for my grow room....???? no matter i go over anyways on what they want
 
G

GoFish104

Member
Painting w/ a broad brush here but... most insulated wire used for household current is rated 600V. The wire from the ballast to the light bulb is pulse rated. Also voltage has nothing to do w/ wire size. Peace Jack
 
Cannabisworks

Cannabisworks

Active Member
voltage has nothing to do with wire size??? what??/ so i can take a tiny little speaker wire and jam 600v in it?..doubt it. when i looked at homo depot i saw boith 300 and 600v on the insultaing cover. i dont recall of toip of head what amp or gauge it was but i ended with the 12/3 was told the length of line mattered for the volt drop also
i also was told solid or not is a big diff for volt load to..funny how many diff answers there is.
 
G

GoFish104

Member
Wire size has nothing to do w/ volts. Wire size is determined by amps. Your speaker wire will handle 1000's of volts ( the insulation won't tho) or you could burn it up w/ the 12v from your car battery. Don't mean to sound like a know it all just in a previous life I built powerlines so I do know a little, now I work for the power company. Yard & street lights we put up are HPS so again I pick up a little knowledge. Peace Jack
 
Cannabisworks

Cannabisworks

Active Member
dont sound know it all to me dood. im asking questions so this is all helpfull. and ya i know the math deal for figuring the volt amp info, is why what i was told didnt jive to what i learned in school
scarry to know this dumass here is the one signing off on the permits..thx all
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top