Anyone running their MH off 240v?

[ToXIc]

so i had a discussion with my maintenance manager about MH ballast and 120v VS 240v and was edumacated. so basically i'm thinking about running a 240v circuit with a GFI breaker for my lightning to save electricity..

anyone doing this? does it really cut the power consumption down by half?

 

[Dave3112]

Did they explain how it would cut the power in half? I haven't heard of that. Following along to see what the consensus is......

 

[ToXIc]

he said at hight voltage the ballast would use less amperage..

 

[kuyatwo]

Since you are doubling the voltage that is why you are cutting your amperage

P = I x V

400 watt ballast = I (1.81 amps) x 220 volts

400 watt ballast = I (3.63 amps) x 110 volts



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[Dave3112]

Thanks kuyatwo! I knew I USED to know the formula! LOL. That has been a very long time ago........

 

[Landon]

I've done it. Actually still have my pump running on it. I purchased a large setup that was imported from Japan. Everything was in 240v. Basically I had to utilze two of the 120V circuits from the curcuit breaker and run the wiring from the basement and then drill through my molding. I was running the Heissmann (sp) 250 W on it and had no problems. I now run two 400W MH but on 120V.

 

[ToXIc]

Why didn't go back to 240?


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[AZDesertRat]

There really is no savings with residential utility rates. If you were on an industrial or agricultural pumping rate it would save you money but there is no incentive with your power rate. A kilowatt hour is a kilowatt hour regardless if its at 240v or 120v.
In large installations they use three phase power and are able to wire things with different gauge wire and different service entrance gear so its an incentive but for a home with a 240v service it doesn't make any difference.

 

[kuyatwo]

What helps is that you can run more 240 watt ballasts on one ckt breaker as the current amp load on the ckt breaker is less than if you run 110 volt ballasts




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[AZDesertRat]

But a 240v circuit breaker takes up twice as much room in the panel so defeats the purpose. There is no advantage.

 

[reeftank21]

400 watts is 400 watts. Most utility companies charge by watts or kilowatts not amperage. 240 would allow you to use thinner wire to the outlet since the amps are low.

 

[maroun.c]

isn't it actually 110-220 not 120-240.
I do run on 220 as this is the voltage we get here, everything does consume half of what it did in amps when the whole country was 110 . Still you pay more per amp as mentioned above as the charge is in Kilo what so basically your KW reading reamins the same.
Also don't underestimate the added running cost of a transformer...

 

[AZDesertRat]

In the USA it is 120/240. 110 was upgraded many many years ago. The power consumption is the same, research Ohms law for an explaination.

 

[skinz78]

Or at least it is every day when I check it..... It really depends on how far you are from a sub station the closer the higher your voltage will be, and vice versa for further. Power company's try to keep it 120/240 +/- 4 volts.

In the USA it is 120/240. 110 was upgraded many many years ago. The power consumption is the same, research Ohms law for an explaination.

 

[harlequinreefer]

I agree with AZDesertRat, electrical consumption will be the same regardless. Let's say you have a pump that can be wired for 120 or 240V. First you wire it for 120V and plug it into a regular US receptacle, then take an electrical reading which is 5amps @ 120V or 600watts. Then let's say you rewire the same pump for 240V, change the receptacle, change the wiring, change the breaker and then plug it in. You measure with a meter and get 2.5amps @ 240V or 600watts. Watt draw will be the same.

 

[AZDesertRat]

Volts x amps equals watts regardless or how you look at it. The utility charges by watts or kilowatts, the only economy is in the original wiring since 240 v can get by with smaller diameter or gauge wiring.