i ran 6 150w hps w/caps on a 2000w inverter genny but that was 1600w @ 80% of the Genny's Load.... You should be able to run 4 150 hps w/Caps No prob...
But more important is the amps if you genny can handle that many amps...
2.4a x 120=288w Start
1.4a x 120=168w Warm

2.4a x 4= 9.6a Start
1.4a x 4= 5.6a Warm
2000w/80% of genny's load=1600w

 

We need a rule on here that a person must understand that amps and watts are directly connected with neither being more important than the other before they are allowed to answer electrical questions.
Also [6] hpf 150's will run on 8.7 amps @ 120 vac[1044 watts]+ or - when warm which is far from 1600 watts.

 

Theoretically you can run (8) 150 HPS's with caps. One 150w high power factor HPS= roughly 180 watts.

But I would stick with 6 lights and be sure to turn the last two on one at a time after the others are warm.

 

why do you always corret me???

 

You and I posted up at the same time. I didn't correct you. Your numbers are spot on as far as I am concerned! I normally figure 180watts per light just for a good round, safe number. I figures 6 lights would be less strain on his cheap generator to help it live a long and happy life. Also, I based my number of 8 lights on his 1500 running watts.

 

well srry goin based on the chart that 1000bulbs sent me w/ my 400w hps ballast kits..
No i was just messin w/ u Jp... I see right now i dont kno what im talkin bout accordin to obg best i dont post anything anymore...lol obg u da man on this stuff

 

well srry goin based on the chart that 1000bulbs sent me w/ my 400w hps ballast kits..

The chart that Mudfish has as a sticky also says the same number you posted up.

I normally round up a little since most people push the limit anyways!

 

Ok. I'm planning on buying my lights from econolight. These lights don't have caps right? If not then how many can I run w/o caps?

 

Econolight has 2 different lights. 1 with a cap and one without.GvLighting on Ebay has a better light than the econo's. It has a the cap already.

 

Econolight has 2 different lights. 1 with a cap and one without.GvLighting on Ebay has a better light than the econo's. It has a the cap already.

Ok=. I don't know if I'm just blind but I'm not seeing one that says it has cap. Can you post the link?

How many can I run without caps?

 

Ok=. I don't know if I'm just blind but I'm not seeing one that says it has cap. Can you post the link?

How many can I run without caps?

The Econo's w/cap:
http://www.e-conolight.com/floods/small/small-hid/e-hc2h151z.html

The GVlighting w/cap:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160541903657&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Since 150's without a cap draw roughly twice as much as a 150 w/cap that would be half as many? lol

 

Obg so my math is wrong huhhh... I said he could run 4 with ease never said anything about 6 lights and my figures were based on a 2000w inverter genny not his 1500w genny.. yes i said amps were more important but i admit i fell to incorpate that watts were also important to i admit wrong their..

so check this and tell me if im wrong gonna try this at 6 light not 4???
2.4a x 120v=288w (Start)
1.4a x 120v=168w (Warm)

2.4a x 6 lights=14.4a (Start)
1.4a x 6 lights=8.4a (Warm)

288w x 6 lights=1728w (Start)
168w x 6 lights=1008w (Warm)

If the genny was a 2000w its still 1600w @ 80% never said that i ran 6 lights @ 1600w i knew that 6 lights was less than 1600w.I based everything on 80% of my genny.. you could push the genny and run 8 if i really wanted to but played it safe.. so i was givin him a safe amount of fixture just in case he wanted to use the genny for other things like i did... but to be techinal he could run 8 lights and put switches for all 8 lights or put 2 light per switch and let them warm up 1 or 2 @ a time...

 

Obg so my math is wrong huhhh.

My post was based on this --"i ran 6 150w hps w/caps on a 2000w inverter genny but that was 1600w" and this "But more important is the amps if you genny can handle that many amps" not on whether or not you can push the buttons on a calculator. Or maybe I was pms'ing. No big deal- just gotta keep you youngsters in line you know.

 

Thats to everyone that has been replying. Yall are a big help. I have no clue when it comes to electrical.

 

Ok, since I started this thread I've researched and I think I have learned a little (key word being little) about amps and watts and hps lights. I'm gonna throw out some numbers and options and feel free to tell me I'm an idiot in a semi-nice way if I'm totally off.

My generator says 1500 running watts so I'm gonna stick with that even though 80% is 1600w.
It has 1 120v plug with a 15amp breaker so 1500w and 15amps are my limits.
We can only afford a max of 4 lights at the moment.

GVLighting guy said his lights have 3.2 starting amps and the ones with caps drop to 1.8amps after warm up.
Econolight says system wattage is 170w.

4-150s
4x170w=680w
4x3.2a=12.8a (start)
4x1.8a=7.2a (warm)

So I'm totally good turning 4 lights on all at once.

I also know a local place where I can get a few 400w lights for dirt cheap.

Econolight claims these numbers for 400w light.
watts=460(system wattage)
amps(start)=3.3a
amps(warm)=3.9a

SO.....3-400w lights would be
3x460w=1380w
3x3.3a=9.9a(start)
3x3.9a=11.7a(warm)

So I can run 3-400w lights as well.


.........Right???

 

Your genny's continuous rating is 1500 watts[12.5 amps @ 120 vac]. Applying the 80% recomendation for long genny life would give you 1200 watts[10 amps @ 120vac].
Having a 15 amp plug and breaker does not mean you have 15 amps available for continuous use. It only means that it has a standard 15 amp 120 volt receptacle and that the breaker should trip when the load exceeds 15 amps.
Econolight and GVLighting are both using a reactor style ballast with a cap inline on the input side so start and run figures will be very close between the 2 lights regardless of what they tell you. Actual measured amp draw on either of the 2 lights will be in the range of 1.8-2.0 amps at start-up and 1.4-1.6 amps after warm up depending on input voltage and bulb condition.
Your genny should handle 4 of these lights easily. [8] hpf 150's should be possible but will be close to it's max continuous rating
[3] 400's should also work.

 

Well I'm going to b running 2 400's and 4 150's off my honda eu2000 and I'm figuring on that I'll b about 80 wats over my 80% capacity but it works

 

This 80% thing has gotten out of hand here lately. Basically if you keep your load under 80% of the gennys rated output it is supposed to prolong genny life. This means 80% of the gennys continuous rating not surge rating. On a Honda EU2000 for example the rated output of 1600 watts is-by chance-80% of it's 2000 watt maximum surge rating. When applying the 80% rule that everyone is so fond of it would be 80% of 1600 watts which is 1280 watts. Running a EU2000 with a load of more than 1600 watts is exceeding the rated output and should be limited to less than 30 minutes--or so the manual says.