How to switch ballast to 240v

durantson

durantson

Member
I have 5 600w ballasts and 1 1000w

Most are fusionbright and digibrite.

I set up a lighting control box from my 240v 30A dryer plug.

My ballasts must not be able to automatically switch but they have advertised that both 120v and 240v can be used.

My question is do I need to switch cords on the ballasts and lighting control box to accommodate 240 or is it something I switch in the ballast.

Thanks for the help.

20170324_180647.jpg 20170218_172725.jpg
 
rkymtnman

rkymtnman

Well-Known Member
those 240v outlets although labeled correctly are not correct 240v outlets. they should have 2 horiz slots and one round. you'll be in big trouble if you ever plug a 120 v appliance into the 240 v outlet.

my digi ballasts came wiht a 120 and 240 cord.
 
durantson

durantson

Member
That's excellent news. It should be an easy fix to switch it around. I should test the plug to make sure they are actually putting out 240 before doing the change over
 
sixstring2112

sixstring2112

Well-Known Member
you do not need to change the cord on the nano or the lumitec they just automaticlly know the power source.but i agree you should never use those recepticals for 240v. i never saw or heard of those other ballasts,but i would def check voltage before using any of that.
 
A

augusto1

Well-Known Member
What size are the feeder cables? Are you sure they will support the amps you will be using? Make sure and use right breaker to avoid a fire.
 
durantson

durantson

Member
I'm using 10/3 feed cables to my light controller. Basically just an extention cord for my clothes dryer. I have 2 30 amp breakers run together in my fuse box to make 240v at the dryer outlet. I'll replace the outlets on my light controller with the horizontal ones for 240v today. As well as replace the cords from my ballasts with the appropriate ones to fit the outlets. I have a multimeter now and will go out to check the voltage and make sure everything is where is should be. I'll keep you guys posted on what happens
 
durantson

durantson

Member
So my multimeter tells me the 120v outlets are working correctly but the 240v outlets only have power in one prong. If that makes sense. Everything seems to be hooked up correctly so I'll but the 240v horizontal plugs and outlets today and see if that does the trick. Only difference I noticed I'd the wiring diagram had the ground going from the control box to the outlets. 20170325_101622.jpg
 
sixstring2112

sixstring2112

Well-Known Member
dont want to sound like a dick but that looks all fucked up.first off i do not like how you ran the bare copper ground in the timer box right across the front of all those lugs,that should be rerouted and possibly taped up. plus the blacks are always hots or L1 and red is L2 so on your recepticals you have black on the wrong side,not that it matters since one side isnt even hot like it should be.the ground coming into the timer should also be coming into the recepticals,not just using the boxes as ground and i dont see that.its been a few years since i wired a timer like that but i think you need to make sure all the jumpers are setup properly.im pretty sure you are missing a jumper wire from red lug to white lug in the timer.also like to know where this wire comes from,most dryer outlets i have seen are only 3 prong.this wire(big orange wire) should be coming directly from a breaker.if you want to use all those boxes as the ground you must use a nut tightened in every piece of threaded conduit in this setup.even then i would spilt the ground with a wire nut in the timer and run another ground into the 240v outlet and then jump ground from green screw to green screw.but if ya had all the nuts on those conduit it might be fine.
 
sixstring2112

sixstring2112

Well-Known Member
going back to the wiring of each receptical/outlet,you should have black wire on copper screw and white wire on silver screw for 120v. for 240v it should be black on copper,red on silver. maybe open that timer cover and take a good pic for us ?
 
durantson

durantson

Member
This is all great info. I'll be using every bit of advice I have been given. I'll keep everybody updated with the results. I have a picture of the back of the timer. Not a great one but here it is. I should have an electrician coming tomorrow as well. Hopefully we can get this looking proper. 20170325_102204.jpg
 
sixstring2112

sixstring2112

Well-Known Member
I wanted to see the wiring diagram on the inside of the timer door lol.but i feel much better knowing you have a electrician coming tomorrow. Just turn off the breakers and go buy some 240v cords for those ballasts at the grow store and wait it out :eyesmoke:
 
durantson

durantson

Member
I'm driving to the hydro store now but have a zoomed in potato quality pic of the diagram.

Thanks for all the help too. You guys are awesome! Screenshot_20170325-131257.png
 
qballizhere

qballizhere

Well-Known Member
durantson said:
I'm using 10/3 feed cables to my light controller. Basically just an extention cord for my clothes dryer. I have 2 30 amp breakers run together in my fuse box to make 240v at the dryer outlet. I'll replace the outlets on my light controller with the horizontal ones for 240v today. As well as replace the cords from my ballasts with the appropriate ones to fit the outlets. I have a multimeter now and will go out to check the voltage and make sure everything is where is should be. I'll keep you guys posted on what happens
Click to expand...
One thing I see is you used 2 single pole breakers and that doesnt work for 240 you need a double pole breaker. Single pole for 120 double pole for 240
Just wait until the electrician is there and pay him to fix it right.
 
Last edited:
green217

green217

Well-Known Member
yeah stop fucking with this, it is obviously a bit out of your realm. If you keep "taking stabs in the dark" you may burn your house down or at least burn up some ballasts. Get someone with electrical experience to install it for ya.
 
durantson

durantson

Member
I know they are old, but I think these are double pole breakers in the box connected together. The green ones are for the dryer outlet. 20170227_141223.jpg Electrician will be here in 2.5 hours. I'm excited and nervous lol. I bought 240v outlets and 240v cords for the ballasts. Wish me luck.
 

Attachments

qballizhere

qballizhere

Well-Known Member
durantson said:
I know they are old, but I think these are double pole breakers in the box connected together. The green ones are for the dryer outlet. View attachment 3913528 Electrician will be here in 2.5 hours. I'm excited and nervous lol. I bought 240v outlets and 240v cords for the ballasts. Wish me luck.
Click to expand...
Read the sticker on the breaker they are 4 1 pole breakers you have 1is 15 and 1 is a 30 .
On a 2 pole breaker both poles are the same
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-a-single-pole-and-a-double-pole-MCB
 
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