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king1522

Jul 6, 2005, 5:11 PM

Post #1 of 3 (705 views)

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This bean counter needs some electrical advice

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I am trying to figure amperage. I have a light that runs T5 fluorescents. Each bulb is rated at 54 watts. There are 8 bulbs and if my math is right that comes to 432 watts. Can anyone tell me what the amperage the light will draw. I think I know what I am talking about or at least I am close!!!!!
Thanks
Don

Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The more paper that
is rolled off, the faster it goes.

johanson / Moderator

Jul 6, 2005, 6:18 PM

Post #2 of 3 (700 views)

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Re: [king1522] This bean counter needs some electrical advice

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Next Friday's Tech Talk article in the Guad Reporter talks about the relationship between amperage, wattage and voltage'

The formula is W =IE where W=watts, I=amps and E=volts

Amperage therefore equals the wattage divided by the voltage

Typically your voltage is 127. If your wattage is 432 then your amperage is 432/127 or about 3.4 amps

(This post was edited by johanson on Jul 6, 2005, 6:20 PM)

king1522

Jul 7, 2005, 7:18 AM

Post #3 of 3 (669 views)

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Re: [johanson] This bean counter needs some electrical advice

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Thanks Pete. That was the formula I was looking for. I am setting up my saltwater aquarium. I am not saying it will draw a lot of power, but when I turned it all on in Corpus, all the lights in the neighborhood dimmed and if I listened close enough, I could hear the generators at the power plant growning and moaning. After receiving my power bill last month and finuring out how it was calculated, I figured this might be a somewhat expensive hobby. I am now in the process of looking for alternative power sources. I have consided solar, but that is a bit pricy. I brought an excellent power generator with me from the states. I am thinking if I can purchase some batteries similiar to the ones used in campers and an power inverter, this may work. Any ideas on the subject???
Thanks
Don

Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The more paper that
is rolled off, the faster it goes.