On my 70W MH ballast it says "insulate unused input lead for 1000 volts" and "insulate lamp lead crimp for 1000 volts"

I'm also doing a 150W at the same time. But it does not say how to insulate. Does this just mean I should use a certain type of wire crimp connector? I have a bunch laying around, but IDK how many volts they are rated for. How can I tell? and can I use a 16 gauge extension cord for my input an output from the ballast? Or do I need to get some of the wiring that was made to run to power outlets in your home?


Thanks.

It has been a long time, but I believe house wiring is 14 ga.

I don't remember the ga. of the house wiring. But it said for a max of 600 volts. But that shold be pulling 30 amps at 120 volts (3600 watts) without a problem. So my intuition is that I'll be fine with a 16 ga. extension cord, which is rated for something like 1600 watts. This is just a 70 watt ballast. But I'm no electrician so I thought I'd ask for a second opinion since it mentions insulating for 1000 volts. I can't imagine 1000 volts coming out of a 70 watt MH ballats.

At 1000 volts that is only .07 amps to get to 70 watts. It just doesnt make sence. But again, I'm no electrician.

These are only rated for 600 volts. This is the best I can find.

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xr5...catalogId=10053

It's an industrial rating, and you will have a hard time finding anything suitable at a hardware store. It's overkill though, and anything with a 600v household rating will be fine.

Good that's what I figured. But hearing it from you makes me feel more at ease.

I called my brother, who is an electrician, and he said "I don't know, but if I were you i would turn it on for the first time outside." You can imagine the look on my wifes face.

So will the cheapest grounded extension cord be a good choice for wiring? Or should I just go with some of the wiring for a house and get a plug for the end?

Get something decent. Get a grounded 14/3 cord with a molded plug on the end. Don't skimp on something so important.

Maybe a dumb question... What is 14/3? 14 ga. w/ 3 wires?

Yup

Cool, thanks again!

I second what evil said. Just buy a 14g appliance cord.


As for the "insulate for 1000v" thing, I believe that has something to do with code compliance for arc fault ratings and such on the fixture. I wouldn't worry about it. If you are, you could always crimp it, and cover it in Skotchcast or rubber splicing/friction tape.

I can get a 14 GA 10' extension cord for $6 at harbor freight. I'll pick that up tomorrow and just use that then.

Thanks everyone.

residential code is 12 ga i would go with 12/3 ext cord that way your not degrading the wire just my $0.02


btw i hope i didnt step on any toes

Yeah, but that is running the full 30 amps or whatever your breaker can handle. This will just be one 70 watt light bulb. I asked because it said insulate for 1000 volts, but do you really think I will degrade the wire with a 70 watt fixture?

70 watts with ballast losses etc is still well under 1 amp and any wire that has 3 conductors and an AC plug molded onto the end will be able to handle the current. 14 is more than enough, I'd probably use something between 18 and 14 depending on what the hardware store has.

12 gauge wire starts to get thick and inflexible and isn't a good idea.

16 g is fine, wire nuts and electrical tape is all you need.

Sounds good, thanks. Good point about it being less flexible.

the high voltage is in the ballast and between it and the bulb. the extension cord will only be carrying the 70 watts plus some for losses at normal 120v.

the 1000 volt insulate is what the output power from the ballast is capable of 1000v and they make 1000v insulated tools to work on the ballast in a live situation, and the wire on the output side should also be 1000v rated in that it will be insulated very well?

Yes yes yes yes yes jake.

You are overly concerned about the number stamped on the side of the wire. Coincidentally, this is the only meaningful difference between wires rated for 250V, 600V, and 1000V. It's the same wire. You've got to get up to the 5kV or 13/15kV rated wires before you see an actual change in the insulation.

Believe it or not, but 1000V is still "Low Voltage". You're not going to have the wire insulation break down at these levels. You're just not. Period.