Ampage question for 400 watts

Manjinken

Well-Known Member

• Jun 11, 2008

• #1

does anyone know how many Amps standard 400 watt HPS ballasts pull?

Im asking because i need to know in order to know what kind of wire im gonna have to run. I have checked a few products but i wanna check with people who are 100%, considering i don't want a house burned down.

 

iBLaZe4tozErO

Well-Known Member

• Jun 11, 2008

• #2

Watts/volts= amps

 

BigBudBalls

Well-Known Member

• Jun 11, 2008

• #3

Manjinken said:

does anyone know how many Amps standard 400 watt HPS ballasts pull?

Im asking because i need to know in order to know what kind of wire im gonna have to run. I have checked a few products but i wanna check with people who are 100%, considering i don't want a house burned down.

Click to expand...

Watts / house voltage (plus about 10% for the ballast)
So about 4 amps for a 120VAC

 

iBLaZe4tozErO

Well-Known Member

• Jun 11, 2008

• #4

Imma just show u an example. 400(watts)/120(volts)= 3.4amps
if u run a 240 volt line then replace 120 with 240.

 

Manjinken

Well-Known Member

• Jun 11, 2008

• #5

so if its only 3.4 amps i can actually run it through most house hold outlets which carry 15 to 20 amps?

 

Last edited: Jun 11, 2008

BigBudBalls

Well-Known Member

• Jun 11, 2008

• #6

Manjinken said:

so if its only 3.4 amps i can actually run it through most house hold outlets which carry 15 to 20 amps?

Click to expand...

Yuppers.

( a hair dryer is 1200W on average)

 

Manjinken

Well-Known Member

• Jun 11, 2008

• #7

BigBudBalls said:

Yuppers.

( a hair dryer is 1200W on average)

Click to expand...

hair dryers aren't left on 18 hours a day, will regular house wiring(14-12 gage) handle being on for that long?

 

BigBudBalls

Well-Known Member

• Jun 11, 2008

• #8

Manjinken said:

hair dryers aren't left on 18 hours a day, will regular house wiring(14-12 gage) handle being on for that long?

Click to expand...

You'll be fine. Its at 1/4 the rating of the breaker (at 15A)
Just be careful what else is plugged into the circuit.

 

Chumlie

Well-Known Member

• Jun 22, 2008

• #9

I have a 400wt hps, and i tested mine.
I came up with 1.4 amp pullage. ​

 

BigBudBalls

Well-Known Member

• Jun 22, 2008

• #10

Chumlie said:

I have a 400wt hps, and i tested mine.
I came up with 1.4 amp pullage. ​

Click to expand...

Sounds about right for 240/230VAC.

if 120VAC
What did you use to measure? If a clamp meter, did you get the line over neutral?

 

Chumlie

Well-Known Member

• Jun 23, 2008

• #11

Yea it was a clamp meter, yet i was told to only put over the hot.

 

Chumlie

Well-Known Member

• Jun 24, 2008

• #12

yea i used a clamp type, but i was told to clamp around the hot.