[Mark Adams]

I have an existing 220v line which supplys a outdoor light pole with two 400w metal halide fixtures. How can I drop the voltage down from the 220 supply leaving the fixtures to add a 110v outlet at the base of the pole?

 

[jsmith929]

Transformer or pull a neutral from the panel

 

[spark plug]

Transformer or pull a neutral from the panel

Pulling ONLY a NEUTRAL from the panel will not help you. Because you can't protect a 120v. load with a 2-pole circuit breaker. You have to bring a 2-wire + ground lead from the panel and protect it with a single-pole 15 or 20 amp. breaker, depending on the size of wire and the receptacle. In addition to meeting all the other requirements for outdoor installations by the NEC!!!:yes:

 

[theatretch85]

Pulling ONLY a NEUTRAL from the panel will not help you. Because you can't protect a 120v. load with a 2-pole circuit breaker. You have to bring a 2-wire + ground lead from the panel and protect it with a single-pole 15 or 20 amp. breaker, depending on the size of wire and the receptacle. In addition to meeting all the other requirements for outdoor installations by the NEC!!!:yes:

I'd think about that statement again! Under the 2008 NEC Code, Multi-wire branch circuits are required to be protected with a 2 pole breaker. What the op has (with the addition of the neutral wire) is basically a multi-wire branch circuit.

Running the neutral would probably be the best option, that is of course if the op would like to keep the light run on 240 volts. Are both metal halides 240 volts or are they wired in series across the 240 volts?

 

[frenchelectrican]

Most larger Metal Halides lumiaires useally have multi tap ballast so they can hook up any one of 4 or 5 voltage setting the 120, 277 v is most common one but in HID useage 208 and 240 volts is used as well { yeah they can go higher much as 347 or 600 or 480 volts }

90% of Metal Halides are useally single lamp with single ballast however there are few that do have two lamp in series with single ballast.

The other question I will ask is how far is the location where you want to install the receptale to the load centre ??

Merci,Marc

 

[jsmith929]

He say's it feed's one existing pole,he wants to change it it 120.Pull a neutral, existing pole should be grounded regardless of 120 ,220 or 480 volts.You now have 2 circuits for for a MWBC for your lites just have to make sure it is on 15 or 20 amp breaker.

 

[J. V.]

Make the lights 120 volt and install the GFCI receptacle. Like Marc said the ballast may be multi-voltage. However the neutral must be white or gray. This where I would mark the wires with white tape. But I am NOT telling you to do it.

 

[frenchelectrican]

He say's it feed's one existing pole,he wants to change it it 120.Pull a neutral, existing pole should be grounded regardless of 120 ,220 or 480 volts.You now have 2 circuits for for a MWBC for your lites just have to make sure it is on 15 or 20 amp breaker.

I wrote it down underline that something you should becarefull before you make a reply on that one due there is SO many diffrent pole style and shape and materails it used and the way you bring the conductor and some pole from my experince with very tall metal pole my simple rule is snag at least two ground rods { you should see how the concrete exploed when the lighting get thru them }

Merci,Marc

 

[hayewe farm]

Considering the amount of work and time to pull a neutral or to switch the light to 120 vac it may be easier to bury a new UF cable for the receptacle.