How is it dangerous? I was thinking one could wire two entension cords to it and then they'd have 240 but that seems too easy.....

I believe there are rules against having equipment with more that one power cord on it so those 240v converter boxes aren't allowed.

How much does a LEGAL transformer cost?

Not sure I'd say around 35 for a 500w one and 70-100 for a 1500w one.

If BOTH of the 120V charges draw exactly the same current, you can plug them in series directly on 240V and it'll work! They MUST draw the same current though!

But in no way this setup would be compliant nor safe XD.

Ummm Vince...I donno what you are telling me.....are you talking about using 2 different lines (the Line A and Line B) in series...BAD IDEA! That's probably WORSE Than the other way Joe mentioned...but also a dangerous idea too! You most likely will BLOW your outside transformer if you did it in Vince's way LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

Jace, do you mean the one on the pole?!! what happens when you plug in a 240v light on a 120v circut? Will the breaker get tripped or will something worse happen?

240 watts? You mean volts?

yep I meant volts.

No no Jace, I mean this:

Connecting the hot of the first charge to L1, the neutral of the first charge to the hot of the 2nd charge, and the neutral of the 2nd charge to L2! If both of them draw the same current, each one will share 120V and the proper current will flow through them.

Say two 60W lamps. If you connect them in series on 240V, each lamp will receive 120V and the whole circuit will draw 0.5A. Get it? XD

I still think you are CRAZY Vince......

Would you DARE to try that? XD

And by the way Michael, if you connect a 240V lamp on 120V, it'll simply be underpowered. I already did that at school when I was attending my residential circuits class. I randomly picked up a lamp to test one of my circuits and the one I had was 230V, it was dim, but nothing went wrong. However NEVER plug a 240V motor on 120V!

"However NEVER plug a 240V motor on 120V!" Is the same true for ballasts?

Not really. Electric motors are actually quite unique as a charge. I am about completing a 90 hrs class at school specially dedicated to AC and DC single phase motors! An electric motor has a very variable current depending of the rotor speed, charge applied on shaft, voltage, etc. In fact a motor running at lower voltage will draw HIGHER current! That's the reason why "undervolting" a motor is dangerous for both the motor and circuit.

But a ballast has a more constant current over time and various working conditions. I'm going to safely assume that undervolting any inductive charge is a sorta bad idea LOL.

What would be worse? Running 240 on 120 or 120 on 240?

Back to the subject of the luminaire itself. If it was 1985 then it had to have been early that year because the M250R2 rolled out that year.

This was made the 37th week of 1985. I guess these were still out then.

i bought a 1000W japaneese Step Up/Step Down transformer for 5 Bucks at a flea market....what kind of converter box do you guys speak of?

I converted this to 100 watt High Pressure Sodium, using that 123 ballast. And I added a photocell socket, it doesn't hold in well (the socket) Because I used the newer GE kind. So it's a little loose. D:

I might add a "10" Sticker on it. xD

Hey Ian can you take a pic of this light with a drop lens? (preferably either a FP or GE glass one if you have them) Thanks!