120v vs. 240v

R

Ronald Gerald Smith

Active member
Hello,

I am considering getting a light, and it comes in either 120v vs 240v. What would be the advantages of both? And what would be recommended if I planned to use this light most on practical home/non-studio locations?

Thanks,
Ron
 
Hi Ronald,
If you are in NTSC world (ie. North America) your only real choice is 120v (unless you are running a generator or plan on tapping 240+ volts off of your main panel). If you are in PAL land (ie. Britain, Europe) your only real choice is 240v.

I'm guessing you are probably not be planning on using the lights on a scale that would require a distro and generator, so base your decision on the country where you are using your lights.


Jason
 
AwakenedFilms said:
Hi Ronald,
If you are in NTSC world (ie. North America) your only real choice is 120v (unless you are running a generator or plan on tapping 240+ volts off of your main panel). If you are in PAL land (ie. Britain, Europe) your only real choice is 240v.

I'm guessing you are probably not be planning on using the lights on a scale that would require a distro and generator, so base your decision on the country where you are using your lights.


Jason
Click to expand...

Yes, 120v seems like the correct choice because I am in NTSC land. I am curious, however, if there are any advantages to using 240v power?
 
Ronald Gerald Smith said:
Hey Andrew,

Where did you get that '10 Amp' calculation from? Is it common to see 240V outlets come in 10 amp limits?

Thanks,
Ron
Click to expand...

I think 240v can go up to 15 amps on most residential circuts (in europe), but I believe 10 is more common. 120V can go to 20 Amps, but 15 in more common. I just used 10 Amps as an example. But generally you can't even find 240V circuts in the US, other than on Washing Machines; And sometimes they even use two seperate 120V lines.
 
Andrew McCarrick said:
I think 240v can go up to 15 amps on most residential circuts (in europe), but I believe 10 is more common. 120V can go to 20 Amps, but 15 in more common. I just used 10 Amps as an example. But generally you can't even find 240V circuts in the US, other than on Washing Machines; And sometimes they even use two seperate 120V lines.
Click to expand...

That makes things very clear now. Thanks Andrew!
 
Ronald Gerald Smith said:
Yes, 120v seems like the correct choice because I am in NTSC land. I am curious, however, if there are any advantages to using 240v power?
Click to expand...

There are advantages, but in the US, only one or two circuits in a 'normal' house have 220 (drier, hottub). So access would be limited.

Most business property, unless you rent and specify a 220 circuit be put in, or take over a facility that was used for an 'industrial' purpose, the typical circuit is again 120. The 'typical' amps on a circuit is 15.

Some of the lighting 'fixtures' I've seen mentioned here have the ability to be used with both voltages, but need to have power cords, and bulbs selected for the specific power available.

Similar to most electronic equipment power adapters these days have the ability to accept 100/120/220 and just the cord and plug diffentiate what voltage is used. (and you can 'cheat' that usually... but most electronic devices are well under 2-300W and so the power going over the line won't heat up the conductors and cause a fire.

Such a 'cheat' is not recommended for lamps, as they are in the 500W-1000W or more, and could cause heating, and resulting damage/fire/disaster...

Speaking of which, you do need to analyze the power budget for a circuit. From the simple calculations:

120 V 15 A => 1800 W

That means if you have 1 1000 W lamp, and 1 500 W lamp you have pretty much used up that circuit... about the only time I'd be called conservative... I would not put that much on a circuit, but put 1 1000 W lamp on one 120 V 15 A circuit...

I don't live in a 220 V world, so I don't know what the standard amps are for a circuit, however if 15 amps is a standard then:

220 V 15 A => 3300 W

So, that means I probably would be ok with 2 1000 W lamps on a circuit.

As a note... have a clear nose... or get someone with a good sense of smell...
 
WHOA, STOP.

Single phase power.

240v power in the US consists of three legs. Two legs with power, 120v each, and the third leg is a neutral. On the street this is often referred to as 220v. You cannot plug a std lightbulb directly into that circuit. If you take half of that circuit: one of the 120v legs and the neutral, that is what a normal household circuit is and is lightbulb friendly. Your home breaker box does this breakdown for you.

240v, the Euro type has just one leg rated at 240v and one neutral. Entirely different!!! You can plug a lightbulb into this just as you would a 120v circuit in the US. Since the voltage is higher it requires a different bulb, and they use a different plug.

As was stated, the 240v Euro wiring is more efficient. US 240v with three legs is better for running motors.

There is a whole different class of power called 3 phase, which in various forms and voltages is used for power transmission until it is broken down to single phase for your home. 3 phase is also widely used industrial situations.

Simplified but important.

Grant
 
Yes here in England all our standard household sockets accept plugs fitted with 13 Amp fuses.

In my house all my sockets are on 30 Amp ring mains (i have 5 seperate ring feeds) and my lighting is off 5 amp rings.

( i think newer houses now have 32 amp rings)

I cant remember the exact amperage of the feed into the house but i think its 100 amps from memory. I have friends houses were its 80 so
i guess it depends on the age of the install here.
 
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