220v Fluorescent lighting conversion...

Moving back to the states soon and I have some fluorescent lights in the garage. The question becomes: Can I just change the plug (so it fits the outlets in the states) and use the lights?

I've heard with the Edison style bulbs, you can just change the bulb and plug and have at it...

It doesn't really look like there's much to the lights, just a cord, ballast, and the bulbs. I was of the thinking that the ballast might have to be changed for one rated at 110v, but figured I'd better check with you guys first.

Thanks.

-Bill

You will most likely need to change the ballast. Most newer ballasts are rated at several different voltages, but if it is old it is most likely just a single voltage.

Yes, the ballasts will probably need to be changed, but if you can open the fixture and look at the ballast the input voltages should be on the label. Most of the fixtures I specify use universal hallways that work with 120-277 volts. However, it'll depend on the age of the fixtures.

Where are you moving from?

The 120-277v ballasts on this area of the world are designed to work at 60Hz. 220v ballasts likely don't have that voltage range and are even more likely made to work on 50Hz line frequency.

In the end, it'll be more cost effective to simply buy new fixtures.

Edison Style bulbs. I am henceforth referring to my phone as my Bell Communicator.

nocones said: Edison Style bulbs. I am henceforth referring to my phone as my Bell Communicator.

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kcbhiw said: Where are you moving from? The 120-277v ballasts on this area of the world are designed to work at 60Hz. 220v ballasts likely don't have that voltage range and are even more likely made to work on 50Hz line frequency. In the end, it'll be more cost effective to simply buy new fixtures.

Moving from Hungary. I'll have to give the lights another gander the next time I have the step ladder out and check the rating. In the odd event that they are rated at 120-277v then we should be good to go then?

Sorry, I'm a cheap-o. Any money spent on lighting (again) is money that could have gone to my Alfa or towards building a work bench in the new garage (hey it all adds up)...

Good times.

Google tells me that mains in Hungary are 220vac/ 50cycles. Don't know how the 50hz affects fluorescents. Most modern electronics will adapt to either 50 or 60, but that has not always been the case.

Ok... back in the office and I did some light digging. Ballasts in the US appear to be set up to run between 60-70 Hz. A Euro-spec 50 Hz ballast might be able to run on 60 Hz. The input Hz range should be on the ballast as well as the input voltage range.

Unless you really have some emotional attachment to these fixtures, sell them in Hungary and buy new fixtures in the US.

ah fair enough.

Selling them isn't going to be worth the effort so I'll probably just leave them in the garage for the landlord. Good times.

Thanks everyone

I'd have to check my code book but I don't think 240vac lights are allowed for residential use (I work on industrial stuff so don't get into the residential regulations very often.)

Having said that, I suspect it will probably cost more to bring them back than it's worth - just buy new ones here.

In reply to stuart in mn:

Different 220V in Europe: 220V Phase to N "single phase" rather than 208-240V phase to phase "single phase". Their 220V is closer to our 277V.

However, upon further digging... it actually might work depending on the Hz range of the ballast. Instead of connecting it to a 1P breaker it would be connected to a 2P breaker. Bearing in mind, you'd need a 2-pole 240V switch to turn them on/off.

IMHO, there's enough risk they won't work to leave them in Europe.