GrowLite 315W Electronic Ballast 120-277V

How the Growlite 315W CMH Ballast Runs a Ceramic Lamp

This is the remote electronic ballast Growlite builds for one job: lighting a single 315W ceramic metal halide lamp. It fires single-ended and double-ended 315W lamps through a standard S-type lamp connector. The input senses 120, 208, 240 or 277VAC on its own and accepts anything from 95 to 305VAC at 50/60 Hz. Draw is 2.84A at 120V, 1.42A at 240V and 1.23A at 277V. That last number decides how many fixtures share a breaker in a commercial room. Power factor holds at 0.95 or better, with harmonic distortion under 20% and crest factor under 1.5. A soft start eases each strike, which is easier on the arc tube over a long run of cycles. An LED status display shows the supply voltage and output wattage while the lamp burns. Seven protections cover short circuit, open circuit, end of lamp life, hot-start, ignition failure, overheat and over or under voltage. The sealed, UL listed case measures 8.75 x 5.07 x 3.125 in and weighs 5.5 lb installed. It is rated for -13°F to 122°F ambient, and a 6 ft 120VAC cord and a 3-year warranty come with it.

Placing a 120-277V Ballast in the Grow Room

This kind of driver pays off in rooms already wired for commercial lighting voltage, where a two-voltage driver would need a transformer. Mount it off the reflector and out of the exhaust stream, so its heat leaves with the room air instead of the canopy air. Leave at least six inches between ballasts, never stack them, and keep them clear of gas or electric heaters. The case is sealed against dust, yet it still needs open air around it rather than a closed box. Keep it high and dry, away from reservoirs and irrigation splash. Kill the power before touching the lamp cord, since plugging a live lamp lead can arc and ruin both parts. When the supply changes, unplug the ballast and move it to the new receptacle instead of ramping it through a transformer. Each ballast drives one lamp, so splitters are out. There is no dimming, so intensity comes from hang height and the lamp choice. Have an electrician wire any hard-wired high-voltage circuit to code before the first strike.

Key Features

• Fires SE and DE 315W lamps: One driver covers both lamp formats, so a refit does not mean a new ballast.
• Voltage sensing 120-277VAC: The same model works on a house circuit or a commercial lighting panel.
• Low draw on high voltage: Lower current per fixture at 277V lets more lights share each breaker.
• Seven built-in protections: Faults at the lamp or the supply shut it down before damage spreads.
• LED status display: Reads out voltage and wattage so a weak circuit shows up fast.
• Soft start: Gentler strikes help the lamp hold its output over a long service life.

Technical Specifications