I could use some feedback here. I decided to forgo my spa power to instead work for powering Ants. It is 220v 60a running 8 guage copper wiring. Should I:
- Leave it at 220v and get a PDU instead?
Converting down to a bunch of 120v doesn't make much sense. Keep it at 220v, and just about any PSU now-a-days will run perfect on 220, if not more efficient.
Is it 60a single or three phase? If it's single, just add two 30A breakers and you're set. If it's three-phase, you can add 3x 30A breakers.
Either way, for however number of 30A breakers you have, put a PDU on each one. Each breaker is rated for 30A, but you only want to run it @80% for a continuous load, which is 24A, which is why those PDUs are rated for 24A (continuous).
When you're powering Ants off 220v, assume each Ant will pull 2A, so you can power 12 Ants off each breaker/PDU.
Woah now you are talking. 12 Ants on one breaker sounds great. I dont understand electrical all that well (I will be paying a professional to do all this, but I like to have any idea of what to tell them). What does single phase vs three phase mean?
Here is my main box. the "hot tub" labeled breaker is the circuit I will be using:
![](https://ip.bitcointalk.org/?u=https%3A%2F%2Flh3.googleusercontent.com%2F-L-p6WwJ95Zw%2FUyoYuUrGfXI%2FAAAAAAAALck%2FJ_FjK1t6EMM%2Fw1461-h822-no%2FCAM00345.jpg&t=665&c=_1l2fF_7SoGHRQ)
Here is the conduit coming out of the main heading to the backyard:
![](https://ip.bitcointalk.org/?u=https%3A%2F%2Flh4.googleusercontent.com%2F-LazHU52AgXE%2FUyoaCRtzSKI%2FAAAAAAAALcw%2FzHmoUixz7AU%2Fw1461-h822-no%2FCAM00346.jpg&t=665&c=hTKPXVor7A-fVg)
Here is the Spa breaker box:
![](https://ip.bitcointalk.org/?u=https%3A%2F%2Flh4.googleusercontent.com%2F-7mVwih4LvOU%2FUyoazsXGKII%2FAAAAAAAALdg%2FJVuu9gV6xsc%2Fw1461-h822-no%2FCAM00348.jpg&t=665&c=620u0eKnJ2ivXA)
So the PDU will have a 220v plug and the PDU will have connections for standard 120v looking plugs?
Can you recommend a solid, affordable PDU?
EDIT: These are the PSUs I am going to use:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/321306693173. Should be fine right? IBM x3650 835W Hot-Swap Power Supply 24R2730
EDIT 2: Okay re-reading this it looks like there are different types of 220v plugs... like 6-20r or L6-30R. Is one better than the other?