(diy)Do I need a contactor?

[Christopher Parkinson]

Hi all, I'm building a small, home tanning bed. I finally have a staircase timer which works. It's rated at 16amps. I'm using 10 x 160watt lamps. There is an electronic ballast for each lamp. The ballasts are rated at 1 amp AC 230V output current. Do I need a contactor? The timer manufacturer sales guy says I need a contactor. Is that correct? It does not seem right to me. I'm only using 10 amps. Or am I missing something? If I need a contactor could someone give me a link to one on RS that I can use? It must be din rail type.

What should the breaker be rated at?

Supplementary question: I'm making a US version with 110v AC. There is a 110v version of the staircase timer. I forgot to ask what amperage it is. (I've just sent an email now). On the ballast for that one I've got: Max input current 0.60A @ 230v . (Not sure if the 230v is a mistake - it's a prototype so maybe is a mistake). Lamp Power . 1.96 - 160w. Lamp current 0.80 - 0.90A. What amperage breaker do I need? I think I need a contactor for this one. What amperage contactor do I need? Single pole or dual pole?

 

[Megawatt]

Chris the voltage for homes is 240/120 the basic receptacles are 120vac. Commercial projects are usually 3 phase

QUOTE="Megawatt, post: 1606163, member: 120510"]
Chris the voltage for homes is 240/120 the basic receptacles are 120vac. Commercial projects are usually 3 phase
[/QUOTE]

 

[Lucien Nunes]

I use PFC with both meanings; here I meant power factor correction but should have been more explicit. I was mainly trying to highlight some of the hoops through which the OP needs to jump in order to validate the suitability of his ballasts, rather than tackle the problem coherently. To move beyond proof of concept stage, it needs input from someone who has worked with SMPSUs for a while and knows how they behave, what questions to ask about them and how to interpret the answers. And not to blindly assume that I=P/Uo is sufficient to guarantee that the mains plug won't melt.

 

[ElectroChem]

... For example, UK voltage is supposed to be 230 I believe but Australian voltage is 240v. I was told that the bed would still function ok with Australian voltage.

No need to concern yourself with that, tanning beds are prohibited in Australia. If we want skin cancer we just step outside.

 

[DPG]

No need to concern yourself with that, tanning beds are prohibited in Australia. If we want skin cancer we just step outside.

Bit of market research needed then as well eh

 

[Christopher Parkinson]

Bit of market research needed then as well eh

There is no restriction on using a tanning bed at home in Australia. It would be nice not to be misdirected all the time. If you look at my long post you will see that I'm actually trying to help people.

 

[DPG]

There is no restriction on using a tanning bed at home in Australia. It would be nice not to be misdirected all the time. If you look at my long post you will see that I'm actually trying to help people.

Apologies if I've misunderstood. It sounds like you are designing something to give someone a tan though. Is it more of a limiting device?