MH lights on 240 Volt 1/2 the power?

Pro_builder · 12-24-2003, 11:20 PM

I was thinking again.....

If I was to setup my MH Ballasts to run on 240V instead of 120V wouldn't they use 1/2 the power.
I was digging throught the specs on the DIY MH ballasts from Advanced. Tis is for a 250 watt MH
120 volt Power Consumption= 2.6 amps
240 volt Power Consumption= 1.3 amps

Am I reading this right? It would use 1/2 the power on 240 volt setup?
Were is Scooterman when I need him.

Witfull · 12-24-2003, 11:44 PM

hmmmmm.....less is good!!

wooddood · 12-25-2003, 09:25 AM

troy i beleive your right 220 is always cheaper to run.

Pro_builder · 12-25-2003, 09:54 AM

Well, That is what I was thinking, but wanted to get some info, from some people that are more qualified. (Not Me

)

wooddood · 12-25-2003, 10:00 AM

well im not an electrician but i did stay at a holiday inn express last night lol.

Pro_builder · 12-25-2003, 10:02 AM

pista01 · 12-25-2003, 12:43 PM

Either way it's still 312 watts. I'm no expert, but I don't think it would matter.

Pro_builder · 12-25-2003, 10:06 PM

I'm not sure on this one, but I think tha motors and such run easier on 220 than 110?

BoomerD · 12-25-2003, 10:10 PM

Keep in mind, that anything you hook up to 220 HAS to be made for it, or else you will burn things up QUICKLY! I's not just a matter of hooking up to 220, there are a lot of other considerations. Consult with an electrician before you attemp such things.
Electricity & water don't mix!
Electricity is VERY unforgiving! I used to be the crane operator for an electrical unility, and I've seen some of the very nasty consequences of messing where you sholdn't.
CONSULT AN ELECTRICIAN!!
I can't stress that strongly enough!

Pro_builder · 12-25-2003, 10:16 PM

Boomer, I have a call into a Sparky (Electrician) that I work with all the time. He said that he would come hook it up for me, if I wanted it done.
He also said that I need to put a ground Probe in my tank also, instead of just in the sump.
Isn't there a really cheap DIY on this? (Ground Probes)
Thanks for all the help everyone

BoomerD · 12-25-2003, 10:20 PM

Buying a good titanium ground probe is fairly cheap, about 15 bucks. Remember though, most of your aquarium equipment WILL NOT run on 220/240. Made for 110. You will have to find equipment made specially for the higher voltages. Can't get around that. The 110 stuff will fry, and maybe with disastrous consequences.

Witfull · 12-25-2003, 10:20 PM

i'd love to try it too since im ordering new lights soon myself, but the cost of running a new 220 line, a breaker, if my panel would take it, and i dont know Sparky.

Pro_builder · 12-25-2003, 10:26 PM

I will run a separate circut for the MH only, that will stop all chances of burning something else up. They will be hardwired into a 220 volt timer and to the wall setup for 220 only. No plugs to plug into.

The ballasts that I have are setup to run on 110, 220, 270, 440. So I should be ok there.

Reef Geek · 12-25-2003, 11:32 PM

Watts = Voltage x Amps
The Electric Company measures use in Watts, hence:
120V * 2.6A = 312 Watts
240V * 1.3A = 312 Watts

Same power usage.
But in order to get to 240V you would need a step-up transformer and the power usage involved in that as well will result in more power needed for the 240V set up.

Pro_builder · 12-25-2003, 11:53 PM

Quote:

But in order to get to 240V you would need a step-up transformer and the power usage involved in that as well will result in more power needed for the 240V set up.

What do you mean by step up.
I will just wire 220 to the wall by the tank, straight from the fuse box

12-24-2003, 11:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
Pro_builder DIY Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Oxford, Iowa Posts: 1,746 View Gallery Karma Komment	MH lights on 240 Volt 1/2 the power? I was thinking again..... If I was to setup my MH Ballasts to run on 240V instead of 120V wouldn't they use 1/2 the power. I was digging throught the specs on the DIY MH ballasts from Advanced. Tis is for a 250 watt MH 120 volt Power Consumption= 2.6 amps 240 volt Power Consumption= 1.3 amps Am I reading this right? It would use 1/2 the power on 240 volt setup? Were is Scooterman when I need him. __________________ -Troy 180 gallon Reef, 3- 250 XM 15K MH Electronic ballast, 380 watts VHO Actinics, 2- 5 watt LED Moon lights, 100 gal rubbermaid sump, 75 gallon Fuge, ETSS 600 Skimmer, 4700-5400 gph pump for return, Octopus 3000 controller, Iwaki 40 RL skimmer pump, 2- 65w PC 10K fuge lights, 2 55 gallon barrels, Custom light oak stand and hood, misc pumps, extra 600 gallon rated tank size protein skimmer. Purple tang, yellow tang, pacific blue tang, 2 green chromis, 1 Sand sifting star, snails, hermit crabs, 2 mated perculas, pulsing Xenia, Anenome, mushrooms, ricordia, zoanthids, kenya tree 1 1/2" tall, misc other hitchhiker stuff. DIY is my dream... ...well OK the only way I can afford this Addiction!! Just as the light goes on in my head... ... I break the bulb!!

12-25-2003, 09:25 AM	#3 (permalink)
wooddood the wood dude Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: CARMEL. INDIANA Posts: 3,450 View Gallery Karma Komment	troy i beleive your right 220 is always cheaper to run. __________________ 120 gal/in wall tank/starboard substraight/2 250 watt 10k xm metal halides/ 4 55watt 03 actinics/150lbs lr/scwd on return/scwd on a closed loop/aquaclear aquatics 200 pro wetdry w/skimmer. ask all the questions you have if we cant answer it we'll make up some thing. remember patience is the key to a kick ass reef. dave.

12-25-2003, 09:54 AM	#4 (permalink)
Pro_builder DIY Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Oxford, Iowa Posts: 1,746 View Gallery Karma Komment	Well, That is what I was thinking, but wanted to get some info, from some people that are more qualified. (Not Me ) __________________ -Troy 180 gallon Reef, 3- 250 XM 15K MH Electronic ballast, 380 watts VHO Actinics, 2- 5 watt LED Moon lights, 100 gal rubbermaid sump, 75 gallon Fuge, ETSS 600 Skimmer, 4700-5400 gph pump for return, Octopus 3000 controller, Iwaki 40 RL skimmer pump, 2- 65w PC 10K fuge lights, 2 55 gallon barrels, Custom light oak stand and hood, misc pumps, extra 600 gallon rated tank size protein skimmer. Purple tang, yellow tang, pacific blue tang, 2 green chromis, 1 Sand sifting star, snails, hermit crabs, 2 mated perculas, pulsing Xenia, Anenome, mushrooms, ricordia, zoanthids, kenya tree 1 1/2" tall, misc other hitchhiker stuff. DIY is my dream... ...well OK the only way I can afford this Addiction!! Just as the light goes on in my head... ... I break the bulb!!

12-25-2003, 10:00 AM	#5 (permalink)
wooddood the wood dude Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: CARMEL. INDIANA Posts: 3,450 View Gallery Karma Komment	well im not an electrician but i did stay at a holiday inn express last night lol. __________________ 120 gal/in wall tank/starboard substraight/2 250 watt 10k xm metal halides/ 4 55watt 03 actinics/150lbs lr/scwd on return/scwd on a closed loop/aquaclear aquatics 200 pro wetdry w/skimmer. ask all the questions you have if we cant answer it we'll make up some thing. remember patience is the key to a kick ass reef. dave.

12-25-2003, 10:02 AM	#6 (permalink)
Pro_builder DIY Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Oxford, Iowa Posts: 1,746 View Gallery Karma Komment	lol __________________ -Troy 180 gallon Reef, 3- 250 XM 15K MH Electronic ballast, 380 watts VHO Actinics, 2- 5 watt LED Moon lights, 100 gal rubbermaid sump, 75 gallon Fuge, ETSS 600 Skimmer, 4700-5400 gph pump for return, Octopus 3000 controller, Iwaki 40 RL skimmer pump, 2- 65w PC 10K fuge lights, 2 55 gallon barrels, Custom light oak stand and hood, misc pumps, extra 600 gallon rated tank size protein skimmer. Purple tang, yellow tang, pacific blue tang, 2 green chromis, 1 Sand sifting star, snails, hermit crabs, 2 mated perculas, pulsing Xenia, Anenome, mushrooms, ricordia, zoanthids, kenya tree 1 1/2" tall, misc other hitchhiker stuff. DIY is my dream... ...well OK the only way I can afford this Addiction!! Just as the light goes on in my head... ... I break the bulb!!

12-25-2003, 12:43 PM	#7 (permalink)
pista01 Fire Coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Taylor, Mi Posts: 83 View Gallery Karma Komment	Either way it's still 312 watts. I'm no expert, but I don't think it would matter.

12-25-2003, 10:06 PM	#8 (permalink)
Pro_builder DIY Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Oxford, Iowa Posts: 1,746 View Gallery Karma Komment	I'm not sure on this one, but I think tha motors and such run easier on 220 than 110? __________________ -Troy 180 gallon Reef, 3- 250 XM 15K MH Electronic ballast, 380 watts VHO Actinics, 2- 5 watt LED Moon lights, 100 gal rubbermaid sump, 75 gallon Fuge, ETSS 600 Skimmer, 4700-5400 gph pump for return, Octopus 3000 controller, Iwaki 40 RL skimmer pump, 2- 65w PC 10K fuge lights, 2 55 gallon barrels, Custom light oak stand and hood, misc pumps, extra 600 gallon rated tank size protein skimmer. Purple tang, yellow tang, pacific blue tang, 2 green chromis, 1 Sand sifting star, snails, hermit crabs, 2 mated perculas, pulsing Xenia, Anenome, mushrooms, ricordia, zoanthids, kenya tree 1 1/2" tall, misc other hitchhiker stuff. DIY is my dream... ...well OK the only way I can afford this Addiction!! Just as the light goes on in my head... ... I break the bulb!!

12-25-2003, 10:10 PM	#9 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,234 View Gallery Karma Komment	Keep in mind, that anything you hook up to 220 HAS to be made for it, or else you will burn things up QUICKLY! I's not just a matter of hooking up to 220, there are a lot of other considerations. Consult with an electrician before you attemp such things. Electricity & water don't mix! Electricity is VERY unforgiving! I used to be the crane operator for an electrical unility, and I've seen some of the very nasty consequences of messing where you sholdn't. CONSULT AN ELECTRICIAN!! I can't stress that strongly enough!

12-25-2003, 10:16 PM	#10 (permalink)
Pro_builder DIY Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Oxford, Iowa Posts: 1,746 View Gallery Karma Komment	Boomer, I have a call into a Sparky (Electrician) that I work with all the time. He said that he would come hook it up for me, if I wanted it done. He also said that I need to put a ground Probe in my tank also, instead of just in the sump. Isn't there a really cheap DIY on this? (Ground Probes) Thanks for all the help everyone __________________ -Troy 180 gallon Reef, 3- 250 XM 15K MH Electronic ballast, 380 watts VHO Actinics, 2- 5 watt LED Moon lights, 100 gal rubbermaid sump, 75 gallon Fuge, ETSS 600 Skimmer, 4700-5400 gph pump for return, Octopus 3000 controller, Iwaki 40 RL skimmer pump, 2- 65w PC 10K fuge lights, 2 55 gallon barrels, Custom light oak stand and hood, misc pumps, extra 600 gallon rated tank size protein skimmer. Purple tang, yellow tang, pacific blue tang, 2 green chromis, 1 Sand sifting star, snails, hermit crabs, 2 mated perculas, pulsing Xenia, Anenome, mushrooms, ricordia, zoanthids, kenya tree 1 1/2" tall, misc other hitchhiker stuff. DIY is my dream... ...well OK the only way I can afford this Addiction!! Just as the light goes on in my head... ... I break the bulb!!

12-25-2003, 10:20 PM	#11 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,234 View Gallery Karma Komment	Buying a good titanium ground probe is fairly cheap, about 15 bucks. Remember though, most of your aquarium equipment WILL NOT run on 220/240. Made for 110. You will have to find equipment made specially for the higher voltages. Can't get around that. The 110 stuff will fry, and maybe with disastrous consequences.

12-25-2003, 10:26 PM	#13 (permalink)
Pro_builder DIY Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Oxford, Iowa Posts: 1,746 View Gallery Karma Komment	I will run a separate circut for the MH only, that will stop all chances of burning something else up. They will be hardwired into a 220 volt timer and to the wall setup for 220 only. No plugs to plug into. The ballasts that I have are setup to run on 110, 220, 270, 440. So I should be ok there. __________________ -Troy 180 gallon Reef, 3- 250 XM 15K MH Electronic ballast, 380 watts VHO Actinics, 2- 5 watt LED Moon lights, 100 gal rubbermaid sump, 75 gallon Fuge, ETSS 600 Skimmer, 4700-5400 gph pump for return, Octopus 3000 controller, Iwaki 40 RL skimmer pump, 2- 65w PC 10K fuge lights, 2 55 gallon barrels, Custom light oak stand and hood, misc pumps, extra 600 gallon rated tank size protein skimmer. Purple tang, yellow tang, pacific blue tang, 2 green chromis, 1 Sand sifting star, snails, hermit crabs, 2 mated perculas, pulsing Xenia, Anenome, mushrooms, ricordia, zoanthids, kenya tree 1 1/2" tall, misc other hitchhiker stuff. DIY is my dream... ...well OK the only way I can afford this Addiction!! Just as the light goes on in my head... ... I break the bulb!!

12-25-2003, 11:32 PM	#14 (permalink)
Reef Geek Reefus Geekus Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fountain, CO Posts: 325 View Gallery Karma Komment	Watts = Voltage x Amps The Electric Company measures use in Watts, hence: 120V * 2.6A = 312 Watts 240V * 1.3A = 312 Watts Same power usage. But in order to get to 240V you would need a step-up transformer and the power usage involved in that as well will result in more power needed for the 240V set up. __________________ Justin Stealth Reefer

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)