Does a 600w light only draw 600w

[MongyMan]

I am no electrician and read some where that a 600w light draws more than 600w because there is a % lost in the ballast. ie a ballast that runs at 85% efficency actually draws just over 700w when running and up to two and a half times this on start up. can sombody please enlighten me.

[keepleft]

im not sure what it pulls in watts but its amps that you are of more concern because each circuit can only handle a certain amount of amps

 

you are correct when you say the 600 watt ballast pulls more amps in start up. they start high and work down. i think there called reactive ballasts.

 

whereas a 1000w constage wattage starts low in amps and works up.

 

btw the general formula of watts/volts = amps doesnt apply for ballasts. eg 1000/240 = 4.2. but most 1000's will be pulling 4.8. so 5amps to be safe.

[two2time]

im not sure what it pulls in watts but its amps that you are of more concern because each circuit can only handle a certain amount of amps

 

you are correct when you say the 600 watt ballast pulls more amps in start up. they start high and work down. i think there called reactive ballasts.

 

whereas a 1000w constage wattage starts low in amps and works up.

 

btw the general formula of watts/volts = amps doesnt apply for ballasts. eg 1000/240 = 4.2. but most 1000's will be pulling 4.8. so 5amps to be safe.

 

 

hes hit the nail right on the head... you will always use a little more as you lose some amps due to heat thru the wire and shit like that...

 

but a ballest is a setting up trasformer which means you but 230 v in and it sets it up to make 600w . your power at home goes the same way but they step it down to safer levals for house holds to handle...and ballest work the same way.... i hop this helps..

 

tt

[loylty gets u nothing]

yeah

i always understood em to draw more originnaly for start up

then they settle in to a range lower than start up

thats why if u run multiple lights from 1 circuit

u stagger the starts so there is nt such a huge pull at once on the circuit

to cause a shut off or fire etc

peace

billo