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Okay a question that might already be answered but, I have a 200 amp box in this place an want to use the dryer plug that has two 30 amps pushing the 240 dryer wall plug. Didn't look till I started an realize that the outlet I have gotten to match up with the power strip that comes from the ballast a 1k magnetic ballast is rated only for 20 amps. Now the wire hooking to the dryer plugin is braided an looks to be #6 wire, pretty thick stuff an no good way of hooking it to the outlet that matches up with the ballast wire. Can I cut off the male plug end an put one that would match up with the dryer wall plug? The ballast should only pull what it needs correct at least that is the way it is with 120 never hooked ballast up to a 240. Thanks for any assistance you can give me with this plus can I find a double female connector instead of a single like HD or Lowes has for 240 wall plugs or do I need to go another way?
seems like a giant pain in the ass to go through all of that for just one light..why not plug it into a regular outlet?
It would be fine to re-wire your power cord with a dryer plug end..if the dryer plug will tighten down real good where you connect the wires. The problem with that is you won't be able to run a timer with that plug end. If it was me I would pay the $100 for a 30 amp light controller..it would allow me to add more lights later and the set up would be clean and moveable. You can wire the 30 amp controller with a plug to match your dryer outlet, using copper 10-2 with ground...even if your dryer is a 4 prong. You would just be eliminating the use of your neutral, while leaving it intact. Just be sure to test the lines and put the hots to hots and the ground to ground when you wire the dryer plug end.
sidenote...#6 awg seems pretty heavy for a 30 amp dryer circuit..and braided at that? ..makes me think it is aluminum instead of copper. If that's the case..runs using aluminum have to be thicker gauge to carry the current without major voltage drop.
sidenote #2....be sure to get into your magnetic ballast and switch the tap wire to the one marked "220"...that is if it isn't an obvious switch @ the exterior of the ballast