photocell rating

[lmchenry]

On the side of a photocell controlling the lights on a billboard the sticker reads 120 V 1800 watt 8.3 amp. Can this circuit that it is on be protected by a 20 amp Breaker? Or does it need to be a 15? 1800/120.

 

[480sparky]

What is the wire size of the circuit? That is what determines the breaker.

 

[iwire]

On the side of a photocell controlling the lights on a billboard the sticker reads 120 V 1800 watt 8.3 amp. Can this circuit that it is on be protected by a 20 amp Breaker? Or does it need to be a 15? 1800/120.

It could be a 30 amp circuit, all that matters is the load your placing on the photocell.

 

[lmchenry]

Let me add a little info. The photocell is in the side of the panel and the 18 awg wire from the photocell is under the breaker screw. On the load side of the photocell is a short pc of 18 nutted to a 12 that goes up the pole to the lights. The photocell has to be protected with some size breaker doesn't it?

 

[iwire]

The photocell has to be protected with some size breaker doesn't it?

No, not in the normal sense.

What size breaker would you use for 18 AWG?

 

[lmchenry]

The 18 awg is fixtrue wire and it can be on a 20. So what does the 1800 watt mean?

 

[480sparky]

The 18 awg is fixtrue wire and it can be on a 20. So what does the 1800 watt mean?

I wondered that too. How can it control 1800 watts at 120 volts, but still be limited to 8.3 amps?

 

[lmchenry]

I read it twice, because I doubted myself. That is what it said. Thanks for your input.

 

[electricman2]

It is probably 1800W incandescant load, 8.3A inductive for ballasts.

 

[480sparky]

It is probably 1800W incandescant load, 8.3A inductive for ballasts.

 

[POWER_PIG]

Lol!

Lol!

Yes, good question and good answer.