New to me Olec 5k - need quick help

[mimosatexas]

Just bought an Olec 5k MH (Olite AL53) and I need to rewire the power cord as the one it came with is only about 5 feet long. 

I don't really know a lot about electical stuff, but I want to learn a little and figure this is an easy one.  Current 5 ft wire is 10/3.  I would like to extend it to 15 or 25 feet (or even 50 honestly) to give me some options when it comes to arranging my shop, and would prefer not to pay an electrician to come in to add another outlet on the other side of my shop right away unless I have to.  Do I need to go down to something like 8/3 or 6/3 wire if I increase the distance that much?  The thing says it pulls 24 amps (haven't actually tested it yet).  Just looking for advice.  Thanks!

[ScreenFoo]

A voltage drop calculator should help you out with that.  Sounds pretty over specced for that short of a run, but I don't even play an electrician on TV. 

FWIW, those things got some current going through them, I wouldn't hurry too much. 
Also make sure the PS chassis is properly grounded... rather important with such a piece of gear.

[mimosatexas]

Can you elaborate on grounding the chassis.  This is all new to me...

been running a 1k MH grow light for a few years now and ready to speed things up a bunch...

[IntegrityShirts]

According to these calculators you only need 12# to go 50ft with 24amp draw at 208v or 240v

http://www.jhlarson.com/resources/wire-size-calculator.html

http://www.paigewire.com/pumpWireCalc.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

[jvanick]

According to these calculators you only need 12# to go 50ft with 24amp draw at 208v or 240v

http://www.jhlarson.com/resources/wire-size-calculator.html

http://www.paigewire.com/pumpWireCalc.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

a 24amp draw according to the NEC charts would require a 30amp breaker... the minimum 'rated' gauge would be 10AWG, up to around 100 feet, at which point you may have to start de-rating the wire and go with a lower gauge, depending on how well the load will tolerate voltage drop.

[mimosatexas]

I went with 8/3 since the cost difference was minimal.

[mimosatexas]

It looks like I have the "standard" reflector vs the "superwide"  Any idea what the math should be for calculating distance for the one I have?  Also, any idea on the cost for changing to the superwide (is that even doable?).

[ebscreen]

Search for the Olec AL53 manual, it has the specs on the reflectors.

Douthitt should have the superwide.


They say they only draw 24 but mine used to pop a 30 amp breaker regularly. Good choice
on 8 gauge.


Great strong light.

[mimosatexas]

Google is failing me when it comes to finding the manual.  Anyone feel like emailing me a copy?  Shoot me a pm for contact info etc.  Thanks!

[Frog]

It looks like I have the "standard" reflector vs the "superwide"  Any idea what the math should be for calculating distance for the one I have?  Also, any idea on the cost for changing to the superwide (is that even doable?).

I seem to remember that the standard reflector uses the standard 1.5 times the diagonal while the wide uses a factor of .8

[ZooCity]

According to these calculators you only need 12# to go 50ft with 24amp draw at 208v or 240v

http://www.jhlarson.com/resources/wire-size-calculator.html

http://www.paigewire.com/pumpWireCalc.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

a 24amp draw according to the NEC charts would require a 30amp breaker... the minimum 'rated' gauge would be 10AWG, up to around 100 feet, at which point you may have to start de-rating the wire and go with a lower gauge, depending on how well the load will tolerate voltage drop.

Yep.

Fyi, I put the clamp meter (I use a good one, not the harbor freight variety) on our lines while running our AL53 and it pulled 29a.  It will pull lower with the shutter closed.   Heat and other factors may cause a 30a to trip at this load but we never had that issue. 

I have the manual and would attach but it's unfortunately scanned in two pdfs one with even and the other with odd pages, yeargh.   It has the formula for glass to glass distance using the various reflectors.

Email with questions and congrats!

[mimosatexas]

Thanks zoo.  Honestly I don't care if it is scanned weird like that (i can merge them easily enough) if no one has a better copy.  I'll email Douthitt (and Olec?) too I guess.

[ebscreen]

Found it.

[mimosatexas]

Found it.

AWESOME!  Thanks!

[ZooCity]

Also thanks!

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