Truu's electrical help thread.

Howdy folks.

This thread will be dedicated to any of your electrical needs. Whether it be a question about your growing setup, or if you just need help around the house. I have many years of electrical experience in residential, commercial, and industrial fields.

Just ask your question as detailed as possible, throw in some pics if needed. The more info I can get, the better I can understand what you need. It is also a good idea to let me know if you are from over seas, for I am not lol.

 

[A4]

What is the manufacturer and type?

 

[NikaVolkova]

400w magnetic from http://www.htgsupply.com/Product-HTGSupply-400-watt-High-Pressure-Sodium-Grow-Light
I think it's a generic that they slap a sticker on...

 

[A4]

Well, I have looked all over and they don't give any spec sheets for that ballast. Since it clearly states that it will run 220/240 I would think it would be safe to assume you are ok. I don't believe you have a safety issue with it but you may have a performance issue thus decreasing ballast/bulb life. Me being a nerdy electrician, I would still shoot them an email and ask if them about operating it at 220 50 and see what they say. Simply wiring it to 220 has already made it much safer by decreasing current draw. Sorry, I don't have a more specific answer but it is hard to tell you definitively without a good spec sheet on the ballast.

 

[NikaVolkova]

WOW thank you A4 I plugged her in and click click pling she was on!!!! and I'm still alive, Thank you! I think she runs better over here on the 220!
Warm up was only around 2 minutes not 5

 

[breederj]

I need more electrical knowledge myself

 

[Truu]

Hey Nika, I'm sorry I didn't get to this sooner. It will work. But using a lower frequency on a higher rated frequency will cause more current. Over time this can cause the wire insulation to degrade and cause a short circuit. Think of it as the ballast trying to work harder to keep the bulb at the wattage it needs. And we all know that's a safety issue. If I were you I would be in the market to buy a new one ASAP.

 

[Kman1965]

HELLO.....I have a 80mm dc computer fan I would love to use...Any Idea how to wire it up?

 

[Truu]

Hey Kman. you will need some type of 12v transformer. I found one with my old phone charger. cut off the male end of the chord and wire it to your fan and plug into your wall. Easy as that. If you have to buy a transformer its the same type of wiring. Good luck.

 

[Don Fulano]

Hey Truu, ive been having some trouble with case fans too, i wired one to a 12v 400ma transformer and soon as i turned it on, the fan burned out. The fan was a12volt arctic f14 drawing 160ma, it worked perfectly with a5v 350ma phone charger, although it was a bit slow. Any idea why it burned out?

 

[Truu]

Hey Don Fulano. With the information you've given me I cant see a reason as to why it would do that. My guess is maybe it was just a bad fan, Or maybe you wired the positive and negative wrong? It shouldn't matter how you wire it up in my experience the motor would just spin backwards, but who knows crazy stuff happens.