277 lighting

[steve h]

Heres what i got,i recieved 12 free 277 volt 8 ft shop lights for my new shop,the guy doing my wiring said he can use to hots [120] and a double pole 20 amp breaker and use them,i have asks lots of people who do this for a living and they say no problem doing this,but i have another friend that does it for a living and he said no way in hell he would,said its possible to catch fire and for me to buy new ballets or lights,what are your opions on this,steve

 

[rockwithjason]

it won't burn but you will have to replace lamps more often. it's not optimal but they will work on 240v

 

[malibu101]

277 is 277 to ground/neutral
240 is 240 between each conductor
I too worried about this. I contacted Sylvania (the manufacturer of the ballasts I have) and they assured me it was fine to use them on 240.
Installed on 240, been working fine for about 2 years.
IMPORTANT my ballasts were multi-voltage. They said 120-277. 240 falls within that range but due to the difference in neutral, I asked.

That's my experience.

 

[steve h]

My ballast are GE 277 volts 827-slh-tcp,nothing about multi voltage on them,steve

 

[Aceman]

If your ballasts say 120-277, you're alright. If they say 120/277 you had better call the manufacturer to be sure. If they say 277 only, I wouldn't do it. They'd probably work but it's definitely not right or legal.

 

[ArthurPE]

ballasts have a tolerance...
yours is rated +5%/-10% or ~291 to 249...

it probably will work, may not ignite in colder temps, or take a while to warm up...

data sheet: http://www.gelighting.com/na/busine...lectromagnetic_Fluorescent/277V/827SLHTCP.pdf

 

[LoneGunman]

It may work and be fine but what happens if you have a fire in that garage, even if the lights didn't cause the fire how much do you want to bet the insurance company will blame the lights? Is the guy doing your wiring a licensed electrician? If so I'd keep an eye on him, only a hack would risk his license on an installation like that.

 

[Shocker]

+1 on that. You can bet that insurance will be voided if you have a fire.

 

[steve h]

Well i decided to put the right ballast so there wont be any problems,thanks all,steve

 

[Mike in Ohio]

How is he wiring them 2 hot wires to the black on the balast and a neutral to the white,or 2 hots and a ground? Also whre did you get your ballasts and what did they cost you? Thanks, Mike

 

[steve h]

was wiring it by 2 hots and no ground i think,but now i went and got new ballast for 22.00 a pc x12,feel safer about doing it right now,ive got 12 277 ballast if anybody needs them,steve

 

[LoneGunman]

was wiring it by 2 hots and no ground i think,but now i went and got new ballast for 22.00 a pc x12,feel safer about doing it right now,ive got 12 277 ballast if anybody needs them,steve

Put them on Ebay