KaliKitsune
Well-Known Member
Actually I just had to think about it for a second and do some ballast comparisons. Here's how the 240V ballast would save on SOME power (not much but maybe 3-4 kW/h per month
HID bulbs run at HIGH voltages, 300 volts and higher. A 240v ballast is closer to that, plus it also requires less current which allows for it to run a little cooler and there is less transformation loss stepping up in voltage as opposed to stepping from 120v.
There would be some power savings, but in reality that 1000w bulb is still drawing more than 1000w at the ballast, no matter the operational voltage, because of thermodynamics.
HID bulbs run at HIGH voltages, 300 volts and higher. A 240v ballast is closer to that, plus it also requires less current which allows for it to run a little cooler and there is less transformation loss stepping up in voltage as opposed to stepping from 120v.
There would be some power savings, but in reality that 1000w bulb is still drawing more than 1000w at the ballast, no matter the operational voltage, because of thermodynamics.