Any $ saving suggestions?

[frogneck77]

Hello all,
I just got (9) 1000w mh fixtures in the mail today and realized the ballasts only go to 277V.Unfortunatly the existing circuitry is 3 phase 480V w/ no neutral .I know it was a stupid mistake not to check before ordering but now Im trying to find any way to save money to fix the problem. These lights need to be installed on Tuesday and rewiring any part of the circuit is not an option. Anybody have any ideas to help other than buying 9 new ballasts at $120 each. Any help would be appreciated.
Bill

[electricalperson]

can you go to the main breaker that feeds the 480 3 phase circuit and change one of the conductors to a grounded conductor? gray tape can be used to identify the circuit?

might be a violation if it falls under 200.6 thats the cheapest way without changing ballasts.

you would end up with a MWBC just make sure the 2 ungrounded conductors are not on the same phase


can you explain what you mean by existing circuitry? is the main service a 480v delta or the circuits feeding existing lights?

[frogneck77]

To make a long story short, rewiring the circuit(s) to make 1 leg a grounded conductor would entail rewiring @25 poles- most of which have #2 AL conductors bugged and taped in very tight handholes.

[brantmacga]

To make a long story short, rewiring the circuit(s) to make 1 leg a grounded conductor would entail rewiring @25 poles- most of which have #2 AL conductors bugged and taped in very tight handholes.


oh that hurts.

[electricalperson]

well it sounds like thats a tough job. you might need to order the ballasts . maybe someone else has a better idea than mine.

[LarryFine]

Return the 9 fixtures for the correct units.

[JWCELECTRIC]

See what is involved to pull a neutral from source to 480v, 3 phase panel, or as Larry said return them for the correct ones and tell the owner they were backordered and for a small fee you can get them overnight if it is a rush job. Then you can make more money

[charlietuna]

I have never got a 1000 watt MH fixture "in the mail"--your postman must hate you? But if you had ordered them from a local supplier - you might swap out the ballasts for multi-tap 480-277-240 volt ballasts and let them send the original ballasts back to the manufacturer(if necessary). Since they came "in the mail" you are probably stuck with what you have-which means your about to buy 480 volt multi-tap ballast to swap out on your fixtures. Only good part is you might use these 277 volt ballasts in the future since they are so much more common than a 480 volt unit.

[Cow]

Replace the ballasts and chalk it up to experience.

[Davis9]

I see some here for 83 bucks.

Tom

http://www.businesslights.com/1000w-venture-metal-halide-480v120t-cwa-ballast-kit-p-54.html

[norcal]

What about warranty issues w/ the fixture manufacturer if the ballasts are replaced?

[jrannis]

Hello all,
I just got (9) 1000w mh fixtures in the mail today and realized the ballasts only go to 277V.Unfortunatly the existing circuitry is 3 phase 480V w/ no neutral .I know it was a stupid mistake not to check before ordering but now Im trying to find any way to save money to fix the problem. These lights need to be installed on Tuesday and rewiring any part of the circuit is not an option. Anybody have any ideas to help other than buying 9 new ballasts at $120 each. Any help would be appreciated.
Bill

The right thing and really the only thing to do is to have the proper ballasts shipped. If you are looking here for permission to create a neutral off of a ground, I don't think you are going to get it.
Tell the person that you just plain screwed up and will need to have the ballasts changed. It happens all of the time. Sometimes by the hundreds sometimes by the thousands.

[220/221]

Send them back.

[charlietuna]

The post office is gonna love you!!:D The cost of re-shipping would far exceed the cost of the ballast(now your considering double shipping costs). You just change them out and your company will have to maintain the warentee period, if a ballast fails, bring it back to the supply house--your out the labor, thats all. Buying direct and not thru a local supply house saves a few bucks, but it's things like this that you need to consider before making the purchase. I have bought direct and saved money, but i always consider the headaches involved. It was on large purchases and when my supplier couldn't get good pricing, like retrofitting 200+ parking lot fixtures,etc.. I wouldn't say anything to the customer, because if he has a problem at all, he's gonna blame it on you ! This is just a little learning experience and be thankful it's only nine fixtures...

[jm1470]

I would check the fixture and make sure the 480 volt ballast are going to fit, Sometimes they are a little bit bigger then the 277 volt ones.

[frogneck77]

Thanks to everyone for the advice-next time Ill get the fixtures from a local supplier and be more conscientious of the voltage. Anyone want to buy (9) 1000w mh 4 tap ballasts?

[weressl]

Hello all,
I just got (9) 1000w mh fixtures in the mail today and realized the ballasts only go to 277V.Unfortunatly the existing circuitry is 3 phase 480V w/ no neutral .I know it was a stupid mistake not to check before ordering but now Im trying to find any way to save money to fix the problem. These lights need to be installed on Tuesday and rewiring any part of the circuit is not an option. Anybody have any ideas to help other than buying 9 new ballasts at $120 each. Any help would be appreciated.
Bill

I would wye connect the ballasts in groups of 3 and fuse the leads individually. I would place a label and diagram into each fixture with the circuit identification and explanation that this fixture is part of a three-phase circuit.

R,D&H:grin:

I can just hear the masses groaning.....

[don_resqcapt19]

I would wye connect the ballasts in groups of 3 and fuse the leads individually. I would place a label and diagram into each fixture with the circuit identification and explanation that this fixture is part of a three-phase circuit.

R,D&H:grin:

I can just hear the masses groaning.....
I think that your signature quote says everything that needs to be said about this idea.:D

[George Stolz]

Send them back.

Return the 9 fixtures for the correct units.
Bingo! ........

[ultramegabob]

......................

[electricalperson]

send them back and say the place you got them from sent the wrong ones :D

[weressl]

I think that your signature quote says everything that needs to be said about this idea.:D

I wish you would have elaborated on your objection, if there is one.:)

It would work but why would it be objectionable? Windings of three phase motors are routinely connected in wye to three phase supply without needing to connect the star-point to anything.