208/110 3 phase power

[greenfriend]

hi all,

does 208/110V 3 phase power work with 240V 1000W ballasts? There are six 110V plugs and 3 circular 30 amp plugs in the room. Is it possible to run 8 1000W lamps in this setup, or what electrical changes would need to be done?
Thanks!

 

[Growdude]

hi all,

does 208/110V 3 phase power work with 240V 1000W ballasts? There are six 110V plugs and 3 circular 30 amp plugs in the room. Is it possible to run 8 1000W lamps in this setup, or what electrical changes would need to be done?
Thanks!

If its 208, not 220 then it wont work unless your ballast is multi tap and is wired for 208.

Also 3 phase power will work, you just have to use 2 of the 3 legs of power. Just leave one of the hot wires unused.

Are all 3 twist lock plugs (circular plug) on the same 30 amp breaker?
If so you can get ~6, 1000 watt lights @ 220 volts, less at 208.

 

[greenfriend]

If its 208, not 220 then it wont work unless your ballast is multi tap and is wired for 208.

Also 3 phase power will work, you just have to use 2 of the 3 legs of power. Just leave one of the hot wires unused.

Are all 3 twist lock plugs (circular plug) on the same 30 amp breaker?
If so you can get ~6, 1000 watt lights @ 220 volts, less at 208.

ya the ballasts only run on 240V, not sure how to use just 2 of the 3 legs, (should i been looking 4 an electrician?) and unfortunately all three circular plugs are on the same 30 amp line.

a guy at the hydro store told me that the 240V ballasts will work if it can be upgraded to a 40 amp breaker. but i think imma need at least a 90 amp line, or multiple breakers for running 8 lamps.

 

[tesla]

My ballast can be wired for 208,220 and 240. I can just put the wire for whatever voltage I got coming in.I got a older one though.

 

[clanchattan]

8000/208 = 38 amps so you will need to upgrade to a 50 amp breaker to allow the 20% cushion,

208 three phase (or any three phase for that matter, except wye transformers) is three hot wires from a breaker. you have to have a 3 phase service from the power company.

anyway,

phase a : 110v
phase b : 110v
phase c : 110v

if you read each leg to ground you get 110v

if you read between any two of the three you get 208v

you should allways wire three phase in a pattern of:

light 1 : a phase & b phase
light 2 : b phase & c phase
light 3 : a phase & c phase
light 4 : wire as light 1 and so on

this balances the load across all 3 phases.

before popping in a larger breaker you have to determine the wire size on your circuit. putting a 50 amp breaker in place of a 30 amp with a 10 awg wire is a recipie for a fire, the wire is not large enough to handle the amperage drawn by the equipment. for a 50amp circuit you'll need a 6 awg wire.

if you are unsure call an electrician. single phase is hard to understand for some and 3 phase can be a nightmare. a electrician is alot cheaper than fighting the insurance company to replace a house burnt down by dangerous wiring that you d.i.y.'d

 

[Mutt]

if you are unsure call an electrician. single phase is hard to understand for some and 3 phase can be a nightmare. a electrician is alot cheaper than fighting the insurance company to replace a house burnt down by dangerous wiring that you d.i.y.'d

:goodposting:
still confused why'd you have 3-phase unless its a commercial building. I have wired up 480V 3-phase equip...if you don't know don't mess with it. really easy to screw up with 3-phase if you don't know...and it packs a lot more current than res.
I you got 3-phase there should be some single phase 220v in there too. I'd wire off them.

 

[greenfriend]

208 three phase (or any three phase for that matter, except wye transformers) is three hot wires from a breaker. you have to have a 3 phase service from the power company.

its a new commercial building, so i believe it is a 4 wire wye 3 phase system.

 

[greenfriend]

thanks all for the help! If im understanding correctly, it is possible to run 240V ballasts from a 208/110V 3 phase power, but i'll need an electrician to rewire a few things. maybe it would be easier to look 4 a different space. what is the optimal electrical setup to run 8 or more lamps?

 

[Growdude]

thanks all for the help! If im understanding correctly, it is possible to run 240V ballasts from a 208/110V 3 phase power, but i'll need an electrician to rewire a few things. maybe it would be easier to look 4 a different space. what is the optimal electrical setup to run 8 or more lamps?

Im telling you if its 208 you cant wire a 220/240 ballast to it unless
the ballast must be multi tap.

Sound like your growing commercial anyway

 

[Mutt]

Electricians typically charge more for 3-phase....utility bill might be higher too for the 3-phase service.
I'd still price it both 3-phase and single see which one comes out better.

 

[nycdiesel]

I'm an electrician - CALL SOMEONE IN TO WIRE IT.

Way to many variables.

just because the receptacles are rated for 30amp doesn't mean the wiring is.

Don't play with 3-phase 380v will kill you. Many 3-phase systems are 277/480v. 277v will kill you. If you don't die during wiring and turn system on it may work for a little while and then burst into flames.

I recently replaced a bunch of fixtures cause some ***hole put spiral fluorescents into a 277v socket. They worked fine but when they came in the next day the place was full of smoke and the only thing left of the fluorescents were a couple piles of melted plastic. THEY WERE LUCKY!

If your lucky your place is 277 it will be cheaper to operate.

 

[mendo local]

8 or more lights? sounds like more than a medical problem.