light controllers...amp question

[Noworries]

Okay, say a 12 light 240v controller made for 1,000's

the ones im looking at appear to have a 60 amp breaker. If you plan on running 12 lights should you go above a 12 controller, or can it handle the 12?

12 1ks on 240 is something like 53 amps (giving the 1ks a little more than an exact 1000 watts) using 53 amps on a 60 amp breaker will throw a lot won't it?

Im not an electrician so I apologize for my ignorance

 

[PButter]

It depends on the controller in my experience. If it throws all 12 on at once- yeah, problems. The ballasts draw more amps at startup than they do just a few seconds in...(mine in particular are something like 3.5amps vs. 7++ at startup) So if the controller spaces out the startup into three or four groups you would be good to go. turns seven on. turns three on. turns two on. Also, it has always seemed that when looking at the manufactured stuff, if it says 12 it might mean 8... If it were me and I needed to run 12 I would look into a 16light controller. Or maybe buy two eights or two of whatever that would allow for a thirty amp breaker per four lights.

PB

 

[Noworries]

Exactly what I needed to hear, thank you