400w 480v Metal halide ballast to 120v question?

D

DoctorPartlow

Member

• Apr 23, 2011

• #1

just snagged a 480v 400 watt metal halide ballast from this local shop for $25 (this is sort of like a thrift store for building supplies all used or second hand crap)

the question is how do I convert the 480v input it requires to the standard 120v output from my wall sockets?

any electricity guys know how to do this?

thanks!

picture below or
http://i.imgur.com/Ofnio.jpg
if not showing...
don't mind the sharpie. the people at the place had no idea what it was anyway.

 

RedReign

Active member

• Apr 23, 2011

• #2

Is there a spare (unused) wire that says 120v on it? If so, all you have to do is disconnect the wire that says 480v, and connect the 120v wire.

 

D

DoctorPartlow

Member

• Apr 23, 2011

• #3

instead of thinking like that I thought, "well if I just put the part numbers in google it will tell me what to do" apparently I had to ask another source. and even stupider of myself, there was a stack of about 15 of these. I opened one to look what was inside had the instructions in there of the wiring diagrams and of course I pick a nicer looking untouched box in the stack and no instructions. bummer... thanks for the idea though.

 

Andyo

Active member

Veteran

• Apr 23, 2011

• #4

auto transformer

auto transformer

i used M47 415 ballasts in the uk.
uk was 24o v then so i just needed 2 lives .
But we also used the M47 ballaste with an auto trans former
xfb 240/415
so i guess you need a 120/415 auto transformer looks just like and extra ballast.A

 

D

DoctorPartlow

Member

• Apr 23, 2011

• #5

cool thanks. was looking for the proper wording. found one.
http://www.omega.com/pptst/c-transformer.html

according to that link I could use the 75va transformer and comfortably run 1500 watts on a standard 20amp circuit. looks like a plan my friend. thanks for the reply

 

Electrician

Active member

• Apr 23, 2011

• #6

Most ballast are "multi tap" and have leads for 120V,208V,240Volt,277Volt,480Volt . Switch your input lead to the desired voltage.

 

D

DoctorPartlow

Member

• May 14, 2011

• #7

thanks for clarifying, the box is written wrong. the MT on the box written in marker does mean multi-tap.