Running Apollo LED light on CAP 240V Controller.. Need Electrician Advice

BatMaN SKuNK

BatMaN SKuNK

New Member
Okay so I am interested in the Apollo 18 LED light from Cidly.

I have a CAP Controller MLC8x. This controller provides Qty8 240V Power plug in receptables. Each can handle a 1000w HID ballast. But since I have empty receptacles I want to run a couple Cidly Apollo LED lights alongside my HID ballasts but plugged in the Controller.

My lighting controllers info here.. http://www.randmsupply.com/images/link/MLC-8XInstructions.pdf

I had the controller professionally installed. I have 50amps available at 240V with the proper 8awg romex cable and 50amp breaker installed in panel.

I asked the Apollo manufacturer (Cidly) about compatibility and was told this...

First of all , all of our products are wide voltage input, which means you can light it up with
100- 240 V voltage , so i don't think you need the controller at all.

I then went on to ask if they would ship a light with a USA 240V power cord simular to a clothes dryer power cord and sent a photo of what that type of plug looked like.. he replied and said.."no we would ship with a cord that is like most common USA power cords" and sent me a photo back of a standard USA 120V Power cord.

Just doesn't sit right with me.

I have to be 100% certain that I am running this light safely and do not wish to have any problems after the purchase nor do I wish to cause a fire. Safety always first.

Can anyone give any insight as to what I should do and what would work?

This has been driving me insane.



 
legallyflying

legallyflying

Well-Known Member
ok. So if the lights WILL run on 240 then you should be ok. Since you have a controller with NEMA 6015R plugs (the horizontall 240 outlets) then you just need to cut the 120 plug off the cord, strip the wires a little, and then install a 220 plug. You can buy one for about $5 at the big orange building with all the retards in orange aprons.
 
BatMaN SKuNK

BatMaN SKuNK

New Member
What about a plug adapted to convert to the NEMA 6015R Plug? Is something like that out there? And would this work? Thanks I appreciate the quick response.

Are u sure u don't mean [h=1]NEMA 6-15P??[/h]
 
Bucket head

Bucket head

Well-Known Member
So yea, Ideally, you should be running 240v with respect to lighting etc! However, If I understand correctly; You should be able to run a lower voltage(120) appliance, but you incur a high amp draw tho. Just make sure you dont go past 30 amps or so and you are golden. You might be able to plug in both in that socket. Just me 2 cents
 
BatMaN SKuNK

BatMaN SKuNK

New Member
Bucket head said:
So yea, Ideally, you should be running 240v with respect to lighting etc! However, If I understand correctly; You should be able to run a lower voltage(120) appliance, but you incur a high amp draw tho. Just make sure you dont go past 30 amps or so and you are golden. You can plug in both in that socket. Just me 2 cents
Click to expand...
Idk Bucket. The CAP controller says in bold print not to do that. I want to be safe.

They should just offer a 240V Cordset for USA. Its annoying.
 
Bucket head

Bucket head

Well-Known Member
well they do say this on that sheet: Note: "Although this MLC can be wired for 120 volt operation and used in conjunction
with a 120 volt ballast, this is not an optimal combination and reduces the number of ballasts that can be ran with this MLC."

I was just referencing that, Idk I'm blunted! :p
 
ArcticGranite

ArcticGranite

Well-Known Member
I looked at the CAP controller pdf and am seeing 8, 240 volt receptacles. I looked at the Cidly website and for the Apollo it specs power supply from 100-240 VAC which is rectified to 48VDC. That power supply info was sparse though. Unsure of the connection ( plug ? ) to mate with your MLC. Thats the rub though. Looks to me like the 240 from the MLC is acceptable to the Apollo. The Apollo's website is not forthcoming with any usable info to me regarding the power supply connection to AC supply. IDK- give them a call for a spec cut sheet, check other forums? From what I read the voltage sounds like a suitable match. Best of luck
 
BatMaN SKuNK

BatMaN SKuNK

New Member
Yes basically Cidly, the maker of the Apollo is saying that their ballasts support 240v but they do not supply them with the proper power cord. It's what I am seeing. The manufacturer actually reccomended I plug the Apollo into the controller with the standard 120Vcord. I just don't see that as being correct information.

And bucket my controller is wired to be used to 240V not 120V.. you have a choice when you install it. I configured mine for 240V power. It has to be either or, not both.

The best response is the 2nd one from the top of this thread, in regards to changing the plug by stripping the wire and changing it to a 240V Nema plug end. I didn't want to have to do that, but it may be the only way I can plug into my cap. Or I can just plug it into a standard 120V timer and a 120V Outlet. Really didn't wanna do that tho. Fucking bullshit these manufacturers don't have removable interchangeable power chords like ballasts so we can choose our cord. Pisses me off. There has got to be alot of other people out there with controllers who wanna try LED.. I would think?
 
legallyflying

legallyflying

Well-Known Member
the probably don't make a NEMA adapter..I am almost positive of it actually. If they did it woould be clalled the "fire plug" LOL
 
berad4guvna

berad4guvna

Well-Known Member
BatMaN SKuNK said:
Okay so I am interested in the Apollo 18 LED light from Cidly.

I have a CAP Controller MLC8x. This controller provides Qty8 240V Power plug in receptables. Each can handle a 1000w HID ballast. But since I have empty receptacles I want to run a couple Cidly Apollo LED lights alongside my HID ballasts but plugged in the Controller.

My lighting controllers info here.. http://www.randmsupply.com/images/link/MLC-8XInstructions.pdf

I had the controller professionally installed. I have 50amps available at 240V with the proper 8awg romex cable and 50amp breaker installed in panel.

I asked the Apollo manufacturer (Cidly) about compatibility and was told this...

First of all , all of our products are wide voltage input, which means you can light it up with
100- 240 V voltage , so i don't think you need the controller at all.

I then went on to ask if they would ship a light with a USA 240V power cord simular to a clothes dryer power cord and sent a photo of what that type of plug looked like.. he replied and said.."no we would ship with a cord that is like most common USA power cords" and sent me a photo back of a standard USA 120V Power cord.

Just doesn't sit right with me.


I have to be 100% certain that I am running this light safely and do not wish to have any problems after the purchase nor do I wish to cause a fire. Safety always first.

Can anyone give any insight as to what I should do and what would work?

This has been driving me insane.
Click to expand...

I have the same controller. The plug that will come on your LED is fine to plug into that controller. As Long as the light is rated for 240 the cord will be too. Scooby is the man for certainty with all electrical questions!

Good luck
 
sheik yerbouti

sheik yerbouti

Active Member
Electrical apprentice here. If the manufacturer says they're LED lights will run on 240v then your fine to plug into the mlc with the 120v cord. The actual shape of the plug (240 or 120) has no actual electrical importance, meaning that they make different shapes to prevent you from plugging a 120v appliance into a 240v source or vice versa but if your appliance is rated to 240v the shape of the plug doesn't matter. Make sense? I have all my 240v ballasts running off normal 120v cords, as long as the outlets are wired to 240v then its all good.
 
waterdawg

waterdawg

Well-Known Member
Shiek is right! Plug shape makes no difference. just replace with same style as needed I looked at the specs but could not find wiring diagram. I am astonished that you can plug it in to anything from 80 to 240 without intrernal wiring change, amazing!!!
 
hyroot

hyroot

Well-Known Member
I have an older Apollo 10. It has a round inlet with 3 male prongs. Similar to an xlr connection on a microphone. So chords can be swapped like hid. But I would ask them to send a 240 chord. Finding one with that shape fitting will be difficult.

Also use analog timers. Digital ones will keep the led on.

You might get a better deal buying 3 Apollo 6's than an 18 . They drop the price if you buy more panels. I know if 4 Apollo 6 's are purchased at one time they are $150 each plus shipping
 
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