Can LED drivers be located outside room?

[login]

Is it possible to locate the drivers out of the grow room? And if so is there a limit to how far away like with CMH?

Also can the drivers be connected to a light controller with network cables?

 

[Homesteader]

There is a limit to how far, not sure what that is but yeah you can. Depending on how many drivers, that could be a lot of wire to run.

 

[boomgagem]

I have mine mounted outside on a headboard I have no other place for. I also put heat sinks on the driver with a fan. This is the first time I’m doing this, so I’ll have to let you know along the way. I’m not running full power yet so we’ll see. I have about 5’ of solid 18 ga wire going into the tent onto the board. It’s an hlg 260 v2

 

[Dub_City405]

As long as the cord is.

 

[login]

Well the room would be 12x30 but would like to keep all drivers in a seprate vented room.

 

[Dub_City405]

Keeps the heat and dust build up away from plants. Smart.

 

[tobh]

I modified the cables on my drivers to allow relocation outside of the tent. Haven't noticed any negative impacts as a result. Just make sure to use the proper gauge wire as you don't want to add a fire hazard to your environment. For longer spans, bigger gauge wire is more appropriate to address voltage drop as a result of resistance introduced by the wire. Here are a couple charts to help with that

**FULL DISCLOSURE: I am NOT an electrician, and do NOT advise doing this if you've never done this or are unsure of how to do it. Proceed according to your knowledge and abilities. Electricity is like Wu-Tang Clan -- nothin to f with.**

DCV

	24 AWG	22 AWG	20 AWG	18 AWG	16 AWG	14 AWG	12 AWG
DC 100mA	216 feet	342 feet	594 feet	867 feet	1,379 feet	2,197 feet	3,508 feet
DC 200mA	108 feet	171 feet	297 feet	433 feet	689 feet	1,098 feet	1,755 feet
DC 300mA	72 feet	113 feet	198 feet	289 feet	459 feet	732 feet	1,169 feet
DC 400mA	54 feet	85 feet	148 feet	216 feet	344 feet	549 feet	877 feet
DC 500mA	43 feet	68 feet	119 feet	173 feet	275 feet	439 feet	701 feet
DC 750mA	28 feet	45 feet	79 feet	115 feet	183 feet	293 feet	467 feet
DC 1000mA	21 feet	34 feet	59 feet	86 feet	137 feet	219 feet	350 feet

ACV

	24 AWG	22 AWG	20 AWG	18 AWG	16 AWG	14 AWG	12 AWG
10 VA (417mA)	103 feet	283 feet	286 feet	451 feet	716 feet	1,142 feet	1,811 feet
20 VA (833mA)	52 feet	141 feet	142 feet	225 feet	358 feet	571 feet	905 feet
30 VA (1,250mA)	34 feet	94 feet	95 feet	150 feet	238 feet	380 feet	603 feet
40 VA (1,667mA)	26 feet	70 feet	71 feet	112 feet	179 feet	285 feet	452 feet
50 VA (2,083mA)	20 feet	56 feet	57 feet	90 feet	143 feet	228 feet	362 feet

 

[login]

Thanks for the chart but I need to extend the fixture cord 30-40 feet to the driver. Not the power cord to the driver.

 

[RealizedReal000]

Just cut the cord, add appropriate wire needed. Cap and tape.

 

[tobh]

Thanks for the chart but I need to extend the fixture cord 30-40 feet to the driver. Not the power cord to the driver.

Same rules apply. It's just electricity, it doesn't care which side of the driver you extend the wire on. I extended the lines from my drivers to the lights, a lot of people do. Just make sure you use the appropriate gauge wire for the distance you're running.

 

[LEDTonic]

**FULL DISCLOSURE: I am NOT an electrician, and do NOT advise doing this if you've never done this or are unsure of how to do it. Proceed according to your knowledge and abilities. Electricity is like Wu-Tang Clan -- nothin to f with.**

Good advice that is worth mentioning every time! It's easy to forget that a small error can in the worst case burn the whole house down.

As mentioned already, use the correct gauge. Longer cables result in voltage drop and larger cables will negate this effect to some extent.
Here's a simple voltage drop calculator if you or anyone else wants to see the difference it makes between different lengths and gauges. It is eye-opening to some.