Huge Lighting questions

L

LeedsC

New Member
Hey guys thanks in advance I’m seeking input in the following because I’m some areas I’m sooooo damn confused

A) at first my MH had burning smell so I unplugged cleaned it and put back on now running no smell so good there... was this smell from oils from skin ?

B) ballast is 120 v / 8.5 amp and 240v/4.25 amp and I only have 125v cord plugged into wall..this is the part I’m soconfused it’s not even funny.. is this ok? I ordered a 240v plug and the plugs are fucked they won’t fit into my wall lol what the hell is going on with this?? Will mylight run better if it’s on 240 V cord? How do I do this or am I fine on 120 v... wtf isdifference ??
 
raggyb

raggyb

Well-Known Member
is this an old MH you got used somewhere? that's what I use but there are a few catches. I assume you're US. we are 120 V. sometimes we have 220 in old houses in one or two places either for a big window air conditioner or a fancy $5000 oven maybe. so us 220v plug looks different. but it's not the Euro 220 plug. let us know if it's old magnetic ballast and will elaborate. if it is the smell could be an old style oil filled capacitor that is going bad. plus i notice that smell if light has not been on a long time. maybe i get used to it, not sure.
 
Cinco

Cinco

Well-Known Member
LeedsC said:
Hey guys thanks in advance I’m seeking input in the following because I’m some areas I’m sooooo damn confused

A) at first my MH had burning smell so I unplugged cleaned it and put back on now running no smell so good there... was this smell from oils from skin ?

B) ballast is 120 v / 8.5 amp and 240v/4.25 amp and I only have 125v cord plugged into wall..this is the part I’m soconfused it’s not even funny.. is this ok? I ordered a 240v plug and the plugs are fucked they won’t fit into my wall lol what the hell is going on with this?? Will mylight run better if it’s on 240 V cord? How do I do this or am I fine on 120 v... wtf isdifference ??
Click to expand...
It produces whatever it’s wattage output at either one of those input voltages, drawing up to the amperage listed. I’m guessing it is a 1000w bulb, and if you notice 120v * 8.5 amp and 240v * 4.25amp are both 1050, in watts, and that is the Watts equation. Voltage * amperage = wattage.

If you are in north America you will have very few 240v plugs anywhere. We have 120v house power. We usually use 240v only for dyers, stoves, compressors, welders, etc.

Europe often has 220-240v house power.

The plugs don’t fit to stop you from putting one into the other when you don’t know what you’re doing (see, it worked).
 
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Cinco

Cinco

Well-Known Member
The burning smell was probably just the smell of whatever production oils, plastics, etc. may have been on the ballast heating up. Many electronics smell when they are new. If it wasn’t new, who knows what could be on it. I always clean any used stuff before it goes into my grow room.

You shouldn’t touch your bulb with bare hands, if you did it may have also been skin oils.
 
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Oakiey

Oakiey

Well-Known Member
There's no real savings running 220, wattage is the same and what you pay for.
Amprage is damn near the same, but split between two legs instead of one
 
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