Tnelz thread about whatever!

[SeaF0ur]

Okay so as a starting point lets say I know absolutely nothing about electricity, fuse boxs, amps, and safety knowledge. I was just going to pay an electrician to come over and give everythhing a once over and install anything i might need, like a dedicated fuse box and power directly for the basement(if thats even a thing).....Okay so how do I figure how how much stuff I can plug in safely without blowing a fuse? What do you do if you need more outlets or mor power to an area like my basement. Is it something an electrician has to install?? Any help would be great, Im also googling stuff but figured one of yous guys would be pretty savvy with this stuff........

you'd need a sub-panel runnin from the main box... which you can do... you can even run the line... then, based off what you said, get someone else to do that last hookup to the live power...

now, the issue here is wiring... when wiring exceeds its load, it heats up... obvious problem...
standard household uses 2 sizes primarily

15a @120v = 14 ga wire
20a @120v = 12 ga wire

Your wattage is your volts multiplied by your amperage...

the usable wattage at 20 amps and 120 volts is 2400 watts.
At 240 volts and 20 amps it is 4800 watts.
(its good to stay around 80% of your MAX... best not to push it... if you care about things like fire, that is...)

This is because of the amperage, which is a very specific number electrons passing through the wire per second. That electron movement creates the friction that heats the wire up if you get too many electrons flowing.

Voltage is the pressure the electrons are under....

the combination of volts x amps = the net FORCE.... or watts.

Exceptions are made with regard to the length of copper wire..
once you get over a few hundred feet the wire carries less wattage because friction in the wire causes the voltage to drop.

If you call a guy, I'll give you advice someone once gave me....

Ask for a 50 amp sub panel.
Tell them you want a 240v outlet for a small welder at 30 amps.
And then ask for a couple 120v 20 amp circuits.

30 amp @240 will run 5 1000w lights safely, with a little extra for safety. (MAX of 7200w... but using -80%)
20 amp @120 will run a small A/C and exhaust and circulation fans.

If you need more lights... imagine a bigger welder... and ask for a 50@ or even 60a @240

 

[Stumpy420]

Okay so as a starting point lets say I know absolutely nothing about electricity, fuse boxs, amps, and safety knowledge. I was just going to pay an electrician to come over and give everythhing a once over and install anything i might need, like a dedicated fuse box and power directly for the basement(if thats even a thing).....Okay so how do I figure how how much stuff I can plug in safely without blowing a fuse? What do you do if you need more outlets or mor power to an area like my basement. Is it something an electrician has to install?? Any help would be great, Im also googling stuff but figured one of yous guys would be pretty savvy with this stuff........

Yeah don't touch it if you haven't done it. electricity can kill (obviously you know that, you mention safety) so you are better off hiring a close friend or someone you know. if not take everything out and all they need to know is how many watts each item is and how many items. I don't think they need to know exactly WHAT you are plugging in, just how much your items are going to draw wattage-wise.

that's just if you don't know somebody though lol

 

[BlackSheepOG]

you'd need a sub-panel runnin from the main box... which you can do... you can even run the line... then, based off what you said, get someone else to do that last hookup to the live power...

now, the issue here is wiring... when wiring exceeds its load, it heats up... obvious problem...
standard household uses 2 sizes primarily

15a @120v = 14 ga wire
20a @120v = 12 ga wire

Your wattage is your volts multiplied by your amperage...

the usable wattage at 20 amps and 120 volts is 2400 watts.
At 240 volts and 20 amps it is 4800 watts.
(its good to stay around 80% of your MAX... best not to push it... if you care about things like fire, that is...)

This is because of the amperage, which is a very specific number electrons passing through the wire per second. That electron movement creates the friction that heats the wire up if you get too many electrons flowing.

Voltage is the pressure the electrons are under....

the combination of volts x amps = the net FORCE.... or watts.

Exceptions are made with regard to the length of copper wire..
once you get over a few hundred feet the wire carries less wattage because friction in the wire causes the voltage to drop.

If you call a guy, I'll give you advice someone once gave me....

Ask for a 50 amp sub panel.
Tell them you want a 240v outlet for a small welder at 30 amps.
And then ask for a couple 120v 20 amp circuits.

30 amp @240 will run 5 1000w lights safely, with a little extra for safety. (MAX of 7200w... but using 80%)
20 amp @120 will run a small A/C and exhaust and circulation fans.

If you need more lights... imagine a bigger welder... and ask for a 50@ or even 60a @240

I run a 60 amp with 6/3 from the main and I've got plenty of juice, more then I'll ever use :)

 

[lemons]

Suspected goat leaner making herself at home. She was the first transplanted, hopefully the others follow suit. Ran out of pots, there still five in need of homes and a couple in random pots.

 

[Lazerus00]

you'd need a sub-panel runnin from the main box... which you can do... you can even run the line... then, based off what you said, get someone else to do that last hookup to the live power...

now, the issue here is wiring... when wiring exceeds its load, it heats up... obvious problem...
standard household uses 2 sizes primarily

15a @120v = 14 ga wire
20a @120v = 12 ga wire

Your wattage is your volts multiplied by your amperage...

the usable wattage at 20 amps and 120 volts is 2400 watts.
At 240 volts and 20 amps it is 4800 watts.
(its good to stay around 80% of your MAX... best not to push it... if you care about things like fire, that is...)

This is because of the amperage, which is a very specific number electrons passing through the wire per second. That electron movement creates the friction that heats the wire up if you get too many electrons flowing.

Voltage is the pressure the electrons are under....

the combination of volts x amps = the net FORCE.... or watts.

Exceptions are made with regard to the length of copper wire..
once you get over a few hundred feet the wire carries less wattage because friction in the wire causes the voltage to drop.

If you call a guy, I'll give you advice someone once gave me....

Ask for a 50 amp sub panel.
Tell them you want a 240v outlet for a small welder at 30 amps.
And then ask for a couple 120v 20 amp circuits.

30 amp @240 will run 5 1000w lights safely, with a little extra for safety. (MAX of 7200w... but using -80%)
20 amp @120 will run a small A/C and exhaust and circulation fans.

If you need more lights... imagine a bigger welder... and ask for a 50@ or even 60a @240

Thanks for all the info homey!!! Do you have any idea on what that might cost? an estimate is all im looking for nothing concrete...i just want an idea of what something like that might cost so i dont get too ripped off....

 

[Lazerus00]

@SeaF0ur

Also if I ask for a 240 outlet at 30 amp.....you say that will run 5 lights...wouldn't i need more then 1 of those outlets then? Sorry that just confused me...

 

[BlackSheepOG]

Thanks for all the info homey!!! Do you have any idea on what that might cost? an estimate is all im looking for nothing concrete...i just want an idea of what something like that might cost so i dont get too ripped off....

Cost of all the parts and doing it yourself or cost of someone doing it all?

 

[BlackSheepOG]

@SeaF0ur

Also if I ask for a 240 outlet at 30 amp.....you say that will run 5 lights...wouldn't i need more then 1 of those outlets then? Sorry that just confused me...

1 240 plug on a 5 light controller

 

[Lazerus00]

Cost of all the parts and doing it yourself or cost of someone doing it all?

a rough estimate of what i might get charged for someone else to do it

 

[Lazerus00]

1 240 plug on a 5 light controller

lol......AHHHAAAAA.....smart....thank you....but ok so for now all my lights are 120v tho so do I just have to get extra of the normal outlets or does that change something....even when i buy an ac in a cpl months it will be a window unit that plugs into a normal outlet...Im not sure ill even need a 220 bc by the time I expand that big I will deff have moved....ill only be here for like another year or so.....so basically i need to make sure my 2 1k ballast are good plus my 960w led light plus all the fans, exhaust, intake, humidifers and dehumidifiers then probably the window ac and possibly 1 more 1k light.......what do i ask the electrician for if i want all that stuff to be okay and they will all be on 120 plugs???

 

[SeaF0ur]

@SeaF0ur

Also if I ask for a 240 outlet at 30 amp.....you say that will run 5 lights...wouldn't i need more then 1 of those outlets then? Sorry that just confused me...

You could do the light controller.... but...

I'd use 6ga wire, a few 240 outlets and build a power strip... they exist, but not beefcake enough for me



Although y'all already know I like to make sure its done right so I tend to do everything myself...
the pre-made power strips use too skinny of a wire and cant take the amperage....

As for cost, use the welder story to get some rough estimates from local cats... tell em you want a 20 foot straight run of wire, (or however long you actually need) and a sub panel with the suggested outlets for a welder and some fans and hand tools... get a few local rough estimates over the phone...

 

[SeaF0ur]

lol......AHHHAAAAA.....smart....thank you....but ok so for now all my lights are 120v tho so do I just have to get extra of the normal outlets or does that change something....even when i buy an ac in a cpl months it will be a window unit that plugs into a normal outlet...Im not sure ill even need a 220 bc by the time I expand that big I will deff have moved....ill only be here for like another year or so.....so basically i need to make sure my 2 1k ballast are good plus my 960w led light plus all the fans, exhaust, intake, humidifers and dehumidifiers then probably the window ac and possibly 1 more 1k light.......what do i ask the electrician for if i want all that stuff to be okay and they will all be on 120 plugs???

almost all ballasts are switchable but you might need to swap a wire or two around inside... most of mine have 2 sockets so you could plug em in either way... got plates that slide to cover the 120 socket when youre using 240 and vice versa... you're already lookin at 3kW +, so why not give room for a future expansion to 5? Do it right just once and all... cause if you decide you want another vert bulb later or somethin, theres a possibility that ALL the wire (especially the rather expensive wire to the subpanel) might need to be changed out....

 

[Lazerus00]

You could do the light controller.... but...

I'd use 6ga wire, a few 240 outlets and build a power strip... they exist, but not beefcake enough for me

http://www.gosale.com/search/220v power strip

Although y'all already know I like to make sure its done right so I tend to do everything myself...
the pre-made power strips use too skinny of a wire and cant take the amperage....

As for cost, use the welder story to get some rough estimates from local cats... tell em you want a 20 foot straight run of wire, (or however long you actually need) and a sub panel with the suggested outlets for a welder and some fans and hand tools... get a few local rough estimates over the phone...

What would i ask the electrician for if i want that sub panel but without any 240 plugs...just enuf 120 plugs to run 2 or 3 1k lights, my 960w mars led, all my fans, exhaust, intake, humidifers and dehumidifers ,and a window a/c???

 

[Lazerus00]

I just want a way of asking for a box to put out nuf power for all that without having to tell the electrician all the stuff i need power for..ya know?....when he ask i just want to be able to tell him the size box i want and how many outlets

 

[SeaF0ur]

well, thats the reason for the welder... if you want 120, you need a "woodworking shop"... invent a chop saw, table saw, sawdust vacuum, a compressor, and a pile of hand tools in your mind... the sub panel and its line and amperage would pretty much stay the same.

 

[BlackSheepOG]

Love vigorous seedlings...

 

[Lazerus00]

well, thats the reason for the welder... if you want 120, you need a "woodworking shop"... invent a chop saw, table saw, sawdust vacuum, a compressor, and a pile of hand tools in your mind... the sub panel and its line and amperage would pretty much stay the same.

PERFECT!! Thank you!

 

[SeaF0ur]

In an unfriendly state situation, you must take precautions... a tradesman wont be an idiot, and many smoke...
If your story dont make sense, you might as well just tell him what you're up to...

look at your growroom erhm... "woodworking shop" where do you want your ballasts? well... thats where the "saws" and "air compressor" goes... get it? now as long as that makes sense, he'll never question it.

 

[Lazerus00]

In an unfriendly state situation, you must take precautions... a tradesman wont be an idiot, and many smoke...
If your story dont make sense, you might as well just tell him what you're up to...

look at your growroom erhm... "woodworking shop" where do you want your ballasts? well... thats where the "saws" and "air compressor" goes... get it? now as long as that makes sense, he'll never question it.

lol...i got it thank you....ill feel out the situation of course....if i can get a friend of a friend ill most likely be honest but its if i have to hire a stranger I wanted a reason for all the power and I couldn't think of what made sense....what you suggested is absolutely perfect!!

 

[Stumpy420]

you know I'm sitting here reading catching up on this electricity lecture and I got electrocuted when I checked my veg room... not bad gave me a head ache for a while.. is a rigged up light socket with nothing around the bulb or socket to protect me, I moved it and ZAAAAAP! OW What was that!??!?!oh shit electrical shock. fucking. Stoner :drunk2: