Flourescent amp draw = current (Total) ?

[kngkong]

Hey there,

Bought a couple double flouro fixtures to add to the lighting and replace my old singles. Is this the number Im looking for to tell me how many I can run on one circuit?

On the label the line that says 'current(Total)-.73A'?
thats the draw plus the starter right? So ill do my calculations off that number.

Been making good progress on the waterproofing and hoping now I can do some painting and getting new lights up will really improve the place.

 

[kngkong]

hey guys

Can anyone confirm thats the right number to use for the draw of each unit when starting?

 

[domain]

I am not positive but I dont believe that includes starting amps. Thats probabaly fla or full load amps. Starting amps should be slightly higher. The best way I would say is to use a clamp meter on amps to get the accurate answer!

 

[djjsr]

Those are 240 volt. Is that what you want?

 

[kngkong]

yeah, we're only 240 in New Zealand

 

[straightup]

That's the max amps you'll see. I highly doubt they'll even draw that much. That's pretty high for 2 36w lamps. The ballast must waste a lot.

 

[ddawg16]

Assuming 2 [email protected] is 0.3A...something does not seem right....

 

[djjsr]

72 watts @240 volts is 0.3 amps.


Those are New Zealand amps, don't they spin the other way or something?

 

[kngkong]

yeah, .3A right, for just the bulbs.

But, I thought during startup there is a higher draw and to figure out how many fixtures I can put on my circuit I need to find that max number. I was thinking thats what this number is. But, you still think thats too high an Amperage to be the starter draw?

Im only going to put about 12 fixtures max on a 16 amp circuit and Im pretty sure Im safe. Was just trying to understand the math correctly and make sure of the specs on the fixtures.

 

[kngkong]

72 watts @240 volts is 0.3 amps.


Those are New Zealand amps, don't they spin the other way or something?

Heh, I wish my meter spun the other way

 

[sfckiddo]

overseas the wattage is low, thier 240 wiring looks like our cheap brown extension cords

 

[ddawg16]

overseas the wattage is low, thier 240 wiring looks like our cheap brown extension cords

Not according to Ohms law.....Watts is Watts....no matter what voltage your using.

I think you mean "Amps".

 

[SeanM]

EE's know it as
Power (W) = Voltage * Current

ME's know it as
Force = Pressure * Area

From what I see there the ballast run at 50% efficiency or for some reason they give a 2x safety factor to compensate for in-rush

 

[ishiboo]

That's the max amps you'll see. I highly doubt they'll even draw that much. That's pretty high for 2 36w lamps. The ballast must waste a lot.

Agreed. It's probably mostly a "max", startup should not be too high for that size bulbs.

Also, fluorescent lamps have a different power factor - probably 60-70%... which I'm thinking that rating cannot take into consideration.

 

[kngkong]

Alright, sounds good. I dont think I have anything to worry about. Just read so many posts about finding the startup rating on the fixture and was interested. Maybe its marked internally.

I wired up one of the fixtures a couple days ago to replace an old nonworking one and what a difference it is to have a little more light in there. Cant wait to see what its like when I get a couple more lights up. Ill probably have five or six in the front room and the same in back. Ill have two switches to control each so I can control the brightness a little.

Just need to decide on my layout now.