OK I think I am confusing myself. This is related to my question about wiring ground to a fluorescent when installing a power cord.

I have always gone by amp draw to determine what size power cord to use.

But the guy at Lowe's insisted I needed "special" SVT rated power cord to wire a fluorescent fixture because the ballasts are rated at 600V.

But the more I think about it the more that does NOT make any sense. Because those power ratings on portable cord (extension cord, power cord) are for SERVICE voltage - aren't they? Isn't there a step-up device in the ballast to convert 120V supply to (up to) 600V start-up voltage for the bulb(s)? So that 600V is created AFTER service voltage enters via the power cord, and has nothing to do with the power cord - does it?

I am not seeing how the voltage rating on the ballast really has anything to do with the voltage rating of the power cord. I think that guy was talking through his hat - but I still have a cold and I'm having trouble thinking this through.

I'm thinking I had this worked out properly the first time - BEFORE I talked to the Lowe's guy - and that the ONLY thing I need to worry about is having 2 conductors and a ground that are capable of carrying the 800mA peak current. Which is basically almost anything, given that 18g will handle 10 A.

So who's right, me or the guy at Lowe's?

This post was edited by zensojourner on Mon, Nov 24, 14 at 23:42