Powering a Lumatek on 220v instead of 110v????

Im stepping things up, ..and just bought two 600w Lumatek ballasts.

They came with a cord, to plug them into a regular 110v 15amp wall socket, BUT, they're able to run on 220v, ...and do so much more efficiently. My wash room is adjacent to my spot, SO I attached a second dryer power cord to the back of my dryer, and ran it up into the attic. Then I ran a 30amp extension cord over and down into my room. Then, I'm going to use a splitter, to go to the two ballasts.

Now here's the problem. Do I use an adapter from the three prong 30amp dryer plug, to the regular 110v plug on the ballast cord?

Or do I use a different cord for the ballast, that already has the dryer style plug?

Or do I need to use something else?

I looked at some 240v(220v?) ballast cords, but it's a different style plug, like they use overseas. I dont think that would do me any good, unless they make an adapter for that, too. Any help is appreciated.

You need to get that 110v cord switched out with a 220v cord @ the hydro shop. When I got my lumateks they came with 220v, I had to get the cords switched out with 110v cords.

you need to get the 220v ballast power cords. wherever you bought the ballasts from will probably have them and let you change them out for free. if not you can get them online. i'm confused on your wiring though. did you jump the circuit at your dryer or at the outlet for the dryer? either way you may not wanna run your dryer while your lights are on. not sure what the draw is on your dryer but sounds like you have too many connections (voltage drop) and extension cords. either way you will need a 240 receptacle for those cords. i can't remember the exact models but i'm pretty sure it's a nema 6-15r, 6-20r, or 6-30r that you need. the numbers being the rated amps. you can get a double one just like your wall outlet and then hardwire it.

Make sure that the wires in your house leading to the breaker are rated at 220 or you will overheat them and they will melt. You can't run 220 without proper wiring on your ballast, breaker and everything inbetween.

Yes you can use an adapter on a digi......but your efficiency running on 220 theory is not that great.......remember voltsxamps=watt......the power company charges you by watts consumed, they don't care at what volts your running ...........a watt is a watt(yes it's SLIGHTLY more effeicient at 220v)...good luck

Dank Raptor said:

Make sure that the wires in your house leading to the breaker are rated at 220 or you will overheat them and they will melt. You can't run 220 without proper wiring on your ballast, breaker and everything inbetween.

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wires aren't rated for volts. they are rated for amps.

nuglets said:

wires aren't rated for volts. they are rated for amps.

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That's right. To get "220" instead of 110 you simply use 2 hot legs + neutral and ground, instead of just one hot leg, neutral and ground. In reality, it's more like 208 though due to phase cancellation, unless you have a split phase step down transformer, then it's 240.

nuglets said:

wires aren't rated for volts. they are rated for amps.

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Ok thanks for clarifying. All I know is my electrician said I cant run 220 because my wires were only powerful enough to handle a 110.

PJ Diaz said:

That's right. To get "220" instead of 110 you simply use 2 hot legs + neutral and ground, instead of just one hot leg, neutral and ground. In reality, it's more like 208 though due to phase cancellation, unless you have a split phase step down transformer, then it's 240.

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My dryer in my house is 220v (30a circuit), and is definitely wired correct. I wont be running the dryer, when the lights are on.

If wires are rated at for amps, and not volts, then I should be able to put a 110v adapter on the end of my big 30a dryer extension cord, and plug my ballast in! That'll be great, if so.

The ballast pulls 5.47a at 110v, and 2.74a at 220v. A 5.48a draw should be just fine through the 30a extension cord I'm using. They're supposed to be a good bit brighter on 220v, also.

Lights aren't brighter at 240v. Not sure where you heard that.