utilizing W/D hook ups +REP

bjeminyro

bjeminyro

Active Member
I have a washer/dryer hook up in my basement that i'd like to use for my lights, problem is its rated at 240 and my lights are 120 so obviously they won't work together.
Does anyone know how to convert the w/d plug hook ups so I can run a couple 1000W HID's off of it?
+REP for any useful information, thanks in adance RIU!
 
Schmarmpit

Schmarmpit

Well-Known Member
Damn, your 1000W ballasts don't have a 240V line? I would double check on that. You'll save so much electricity running them off the 240V.
 
Arsehole

Arsehole

Well-Known Member
Schmarmpit said:
Damn, your 1000W ballasts don't have a 240V line? I would double check on that. You'll save so much electricity running them off the 240V.
Click to expand...
Using 240v over 120v does not save on electricity.

It's pulling 240v from your panel so you have to do some panel work in order to properly use it, 240v circuits have two hot wires both providing 120v so you really can't safely use it without doing some panel work. I had a 240 volt circuit that was not being used so I pulled the double pole breaker and installed two single pole breakers and ran my own wiring. Hope this helps.
 
lowerarchy

lowerarchy

Active Member
As Schmarmpit sez, your prolly can hook up your ballasts to 240 if they're regular ass magnetic ballasts. If they're digitals I guess you're screwed unless you've got a three-wire plug + ground. In that case you can use one of the hotwires and the neutral, pretty sure you'd just disconnect one of the hotwires at the breaker - don't take my word for it though - get someone else to vouch for that approach.

But yeah, simplest possible solution is: rewire mag ballast for 240, get a dryer plug and some cable rated for 30 amps or whatever (check your breaker), wire up the cable to an intermatic and a duplex outlet and zing, plug and play.
https://www.rollitup.org/members/schmarmpit-95086.html
 
Chillums

Chillums

Well-Known Member
What you should really do is go ask this questions in the thread dedicated to electrical questions. It is run by a licensed electrician. That would be the safest easiest thing to do... but just my 2 censts.
Chillums
 
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