monkeypaw

Hope someone can help me on this...

I recently came upon some 400w mh fixtures at a demolition salvage warehouse that seem to be ready to use. They are the type with the balast mounted on top of parabolic type aluminum housing for the bulb (included). These things are dirt cheap ($25), so I grabbed one and was about to pay the scruffy dude who runs this place mentions that the light is set up to be
3-phase ?, so it would have to be rewired in order to run single phase. I'm pretty sure that he knew what I was up to with the light, so he tells me that he tried to use one of the same lights by simply splicing the leads on to an extention cord, but the light wouldn't work. So he called a friend who was an electrician, and he told him the balast had to be re-wired, but it was easy to do.

I personally, have no experience re-wiring anything, so I decided to wait untill I could see how much of a project it would be before buying it. I want to make sure that it can be done safely, as burning down the house would likely get me in trouble with the wife ...anyone know what I'm up against??

sientbob

All lamps operate on single phase. It is only a matter of what voltage they are wired for. Some voltages like 277v or 480v are usually delivered to the building in 3 phase service but the lamps only use two hot legs so it is single phase.


You need to figure out what voltage the ballast is wired for. There should be a label on the transformer stateing which voltages it is made to operate on.

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monkeypaw

Thanks Bob- I believe it is 480volts. Is it difficult to rewire??

PAW

sientbob

not feasable.

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Please read our Posting Guidlines, Grow Guide, and Library of useful threads.
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killer12382

You could use a step up transformer 120vac to 480 vac. Step up or step down transformers come in different voltage and wattage sizes.

sientbob

not feasable!

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Please read our Posting Guidlines, Grow Guide, and Library of useful threads.
Learn about light? Which lamp to buy? Troubleshooting HID and Fluorescent lamps
Atomospheric Control guide. Fun with ventilation. Fan speed control
Latitude model. Outdoor grow started from cuttings. Adventures in growing Outside.

buzzmobile

Listen for the silent "l". Not feasi ble. Sorry, bob, it's that other bug in me that prompted the bold letter...the spelling bee

sientbob

muwahahahahahahahahahaha

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Please read our Posting Guidlines, Grow Guide, and Library of useful threads.
Learn about light? Which lamp to buy? Troubleshooting HID and Fluorescent lamps
Atomospheric Control guide. Fun with ventilation. Fan speed control
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monkeypaw

Ok...I'll watch my spelling too...

actually, i figured out the problem. i unscrewed the plate on the ballast, and realized that inside were three sets of leads...one was marked 440v and was connected to the ballast lead. along side of it were two other wiresthat were not connected. One was marked 330v (from memory)and the other was 120v. i simply disconnected the 440v wire and connected the 120v wire. the neutral wire (marked com) and the ground wire were already connected.

Then i screwed back on the plate, spliced everything on to a heavy duty extension cord, plugged her in and bingo! she fired right up.

I've already got two plants (Ice and NL) into day 12 of flowering under 1000K HPS, so now i can get some cuttings and get a few clones going for the next batch.

Thanks for the help.

PAW

sientbob

Good work monkeypaw.

I have never seen a multi-tap ballast for such voltages. or I would have suggested to check it out. All the ballasts I have seen for 480 volts have been single taps. learn something new everyday.

Good for you , for taking the time to check it out.


Good Growing

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Please read our Posting Guidlines, Grow Guide, and Library of useful threads.
Learn about light? Which lamp to buy? Troubleshooting HID and Fluorescent lamps
Atomospheric Control guide. Fun with ventilation. Fan speed control
Latitude model. Outdoor grow started from cuttings. Adventures in growing Outside.