Metal Halide High Bay Lights

[hardypalmguy]

One of my customers is putting a grow room in his operation. He came across several 400 watt metal halide high bay warehouse lights that he wants to use (got them for free). It looks like the ballast is wired for 277 volts, but can also run on 120, 208 and 240. They currently have 400 watt bulbs in them and it looks like the amp readings on the ballast equate to 400 watts across the board at all voltages. (120 volt says 4.0 amps, and then goes down from there). He wants to run these lights at 277 volts (which is what they are already wired for and put 1000 metal halide bulbs in them for more light output). The amp draw at 277 volts would be 3.61 for 1000 watts. He thinks that since that amp reading is under the 4.0 reading it gives for 120 volts (his idea is the ballast can handle 4 amps at lowest voltage so why can't it handle 3.6 amps at 277 volts). Will this work or is he looking at problems? He has more lights than he needs and he is thinking of testing one to see what happens and if it burns the ballast out, so be it.

Thanks for the help.

Tim

 

[roger]

Your customer needs to call an EC.

With that said I am closing this thread in accordance with forum rules.

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Roger