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Joined: Mar 2004
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A particular timer lists it's various ratings. It says it can handle a resistive load of 1,800 watts, but only 1,000 watts of a tungsten load. I thought incandescent lamp filaments were made of tungsten. Does this mean it can handle an 1,800 watt wall heater, but only 1,000 watts of incandescent lighting?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,476 Likes: 3
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They're referring to HID lighting ... the ballasted Mercury, HPS, and MH types.
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 947
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Does this mean it can handle an 1,800 watt wall heater, but only 1,000 watts of incandescent lighting? I think so because I'm pretty sure that in Canada switches on incandescent lights need a tungsten rating for a similar reason. Or, at least they did at one time. The explanation was that tungsten has a higher current draw until it heats.
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 8,441 Likes: 4
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This sounds a tad strange, Are you sure you aren't getting the inductive rating of the contacts of the the timer, mixed up with an incandescent rating? Inductive circuits need higher rated contacts, because of the in-rush current and breaking current, or de-rating needs to take place. Just my $0,02 worth. 
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Joined: Sep 2004
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BigB,
Yes, tungsten is the rating for incandescent filament loads. The amperage draw for these lamps is much higher when cold than after heating up, although it is somewhat instantaneous. Throw an amprobe on a bulb and use the max setting on the amprobe. You'll see quite a difference.
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 873 Likes: 4
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It is a correct statement on the time clock!
A tungsten load has a lot higher inrush current, cold about 10 times more then hot.
For example a 100 Watt, 230 Volts lamp has a very low resistance when cold. (42.9 ohms) Just measured with a calibrated ohm meter.
When the filament is hot the resistance increases considerably. (about 529 ohms.)
A resistive load, like heater elements, don't change much in resistance value between cold and warm.
From memory the 3 kW 230V hotwater element is about 17 ohms (cold) It may increase to 19 ohms when hot.
It explains also why most lamp filaments fail at switch on, because of the large initial current flow which shakes the cold filament apart + the thermall stress shock on top of that as well.
The product of rotation, excitation and flux produces electricty.
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