pairing up different lights
- Thread starterAlexD
- Start date
Im not sure because i'm not sure what the models are so i cant find exact measurements but i'm sure there very difference is going to be large.
JD
Well-Known Member
Voltage and Wattage are independent of each other. I think what was being asked is if the lamps were 120 volt or 240 volt.
In either case, if you were to parallel two fixtures, one being 1000 watts, and the other being 300 watts via a two-fer, they would work just fine. (assuming the lamps were both 120 volt or 240 volt*)
If your dimmer output is 240 volts, and your lamps are 240 volts, you are fine.
If your dimmer output is 120 volts, and your lamps are 120 volts, you are fine.
The only time wattage becomes an issue is if your dimmer output is 240 volts and you are trying to run two 120 volt lamps by putting them in series. In that case, they would need to be exactly the same.
* 120/240 is a rarely that! A "120 volt" source may be anything from 110 to 130 volts (sometimes even wider!), a "240 volt" source may be anything from 220 to 260 volts. All depends on what your electric company feels like giving you!) (Also, not to be confused with the whole "208" thing.) Here in the US, lamps are often made in 115 volt versions and 120 volt versions. This allows the user to match to what is available. Also, better dimmers allow you to do a bit of voltage regulation to prevent the output voltage from exceeding a certain level, as well as compensate for voltage sag, up to the available line voltage.
In either case, if you were to parallel two fixtures, one being 1000 watts, and the other being 300 watts via a two-fer, they would work just fine. (assuming the lamps were both 120 volt or 240 volt*)
If your dimmer output is 240 volts, and your lamps are 240 volts, you are fine.
If your dimmer output is 120 volts, and your lamps are 120 volts, you are fine.
The only time wattage becomes an issue is if your dimmer output is 240 volts and you are trying to run two 120 volt lamps by putting them in series. In that case, they would need to be exactly the same.
* 120/240 is a rarely that! A "120 volt" source may be anything from 110 to 130 volts (sometimes even wider!), a "240 volt" source may be anything from 220 to 260 volts. All depends on what your electric company feels like giving you!) (Also, not to be confused with the whole "208" thing.) Here in the US, lamps are often made in 115 volt versions and 120 volt versions. This allows the user to match to what is available. Also, better dimmers allow you to do a bit of voltage regulation to prevent the output voltage from exceeding a certain level, as well as compensate for voltage sag, up to the available line voltage.
No the power won't "go to the lower wattage lamp" and hurt it. If you can plug in either one by itself, plugging them both together with a grelco is not a problem, provided the sum of both wattages does not overload the circuit.
A grelco is, in fact, a unique to Britland device which us US-ians would call a two-fer.
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