Grow Room Electrical

Jamz · Feb 5, 2015

Well I can add up all the watts later tonight and see what I get.

As far as electrical I have limited experience. My stepfather was a handy man and I helped him wire our new house when I lived there about 10 years ago. So I know some basics but I am unsure if I feel comfortable running a new wire. Installing a GFCI outlet on the other hand, I think I can handle.

What about those GFCI protected extension cords? Would that work the same as a GFCI outlet?

Thanks for the help, trying to play it safe!

Natural · Feb 5, 2015

Natural said:
Have no idea what your tv and laptops pull in watts. You can safely run 1,920 watts on a 20 amp 120v receptacle. 3 prong outlets that are wired for 2 is a code violation. These should be clearly labeled to avoid being illegal. It happens and is very common for a weekend warrior type landlord to have in place. But do you really want to raise the fuss now?
Besides changing back to a 2 prong outlet..he would have to label them clearly or have the place re-wired. If you want to have a safe outlet, install a gfci protected outlet or rewire it yourself if you have that type of experience.

Portable gfci could work..are they as efficient as a plug type?..probably pretty close. I don't know for certain. If installing the gfci receptacle..try and find the first receptacle in the run, if possible. Also be gentle with old wiring.
Also, gfci's will sometimes trip at start up with some appliances (laptop..dc motors)..in those cases you would need an isolation transformer to plug into before the receptacle.
The most important thing to remember is to not over-load your circuits. Remember that if you have a magnetic ballast..they require ramp up amps at start, unlike digital ballasts that are designed to decrease this initial surge.

cannakis said:
Yes I would like to know this too... I guess I could switch my outlet to gcfi myself too... I probably should especially for my cloner pump. What would happen if I did Not have gcfi protection?

If you have a ground fault that doesn't trip a breaker or blow a fuse, the gfci will add extra protection at it's location. Best used around damp areas, water, and outdoors' weather.
NEC GFCI requirements (and effective date):
 Underwater pool lighting (since 1968)
 Receptacles:
o Outdoors (since 1973)
o Bathrooms (since 1975)
o Garages (since 1978)
o Kitchens (since 1987)
o Crawl spaces and unfinished basements (since 1990)
o Wet bar sinks (since 1993)
o Laundry and utility sinks (since 2005)

Jamz · Feb 5, 2015

Ok so I have crunched some numbers. If I ran everything connected to the 20 Amp circuit all at once, it would be 1430 watts and 17+ amps. I couldn't find the amp rating on my tv or sound system. I know I am good on the watts (1430 of 1920 max) but I am over on the amps (17+ with 16 max). However it is very unlikely I would be running everything at once, esp. the dehuy which is only on during lights out when I am not home. This would decrease it to 1110 watts and 13.5 amps. I can also limit my sound system usage to lights out only as well as my xbox that never really gets played any ways bringing it to 890 watts and 12.5 amps. My ballast shows 5 amps, but not sure what the startup amp surge would be. So is 12.5, or 13.5 amps plus the surge going to put me over the 16 amp max?

As far as the wiring- how much of a danger is it really not having grounded outlets? All of the electrical is off the floor and above the light in my tent with all the wires going out the top of the tent, and my ballast is hanging from the ceiling outside of the tent. I dont see any water danger there. And honestly if it wasn't for my surge protector telling me that my wiring is faulty then I would be running it like that anyways!!

So if the outlet is ungrounded, will the GFCI extension cord be effective or does it need a ground? And replacing an ungrounded (2 wires in the wall, not 3) with a GFCI outlet, will I need to run a ground or? I am looking for the easiest solution here. Finding the first outlet in the circuit? Well, there is only one outlet that is close enough to the closet that I want to use, without running extension cords all over the place...

Thanks again farmers!

Natural · Feb 5, 2015

Jamz said:
Ok so I have crunched some numbers. If I ran everything connected to the 20 Amp circuit all at once, it would be 1430 watts and 17+ amps. I couldn't find the amp rating on my tv or sound system. I know I am good on the watts (1430 of 1920 max) but I am over on the amps (17+ with 16 max). However it is very unlikely I would be running everything at once, esp. the dehuy which is only on during lights out when I am not home. This would decrease it to 1110 watts and 13.5 amps. I can also limit my sound system usage to lights out only as well as my xbox that never really gets played any ways bringing it to 890 watts and 12.5 amps. My ballast shows 5 amps, but not sure what the startup amp surge would be. So is 12.5, or 13.5 amps plus the surge going to put me over the 16 amp max?

As far as the wiring- how much of a danger is it really not having grounded outlets? All of the electrical is off the floor and above the light in my tent with all the wires going out the top of the tent, and my ballast is hanging from the ceiling outside of the tent. I dont see any water danger there. And honestly if it wasn't for my surge protector telling me that my wiring is faulty then I would be running it like that anyways!!

So if the outlet is ungrounded, will the GFCI extension cord be effective or does it need a ground? And replacing an ungrounded (2 wires in the wall, not 3) with a GFCI outlet, will I need to run a ground or? I am looking for the easiest solution here. Finding the first outlet in the circuit? Well, there is only one outlet that is close enough to the closet that I want to use, without running extension cords all over the place...

Thanks again farmers!

sumthin doesn't add up..if your under in wattage..your under in amps, as they are directly related. If you're certain on those wattage numbersyou're doing pretty good. Especially if you are not using much at lights on for the ramp up.
GFCI's can be used without being grounded, they won't work with everything as they're meant to detect surges in power and will shut the connection down when that happens. I'm a little concerned that a magnetic ballast will trip it.
When you have no ground connection at the receptacles..the risk is that if you have a short or fault and the breaker or fuse doesn't trip..the wires can heat up to thepoint that they combust into an electric fire..the same goes for overloads.
Thta's why I'm stressing that you keep your draw on those outlets in check.

Jamz · Feb 6, 2015

Natural,

I will double check the watts. I read my laptop rating wrong, it is 1.6 amps not 5. Does 13.5 amps sound more like it?

Natural said:
GFCI's can be used without being grounded

Portable GFCI will still work ungrounded even though its plug is 3 prong?

Natural said:
When you have no ground connection at the receptacles..the risk is that if you have a short or fault and the breaker or fuse doesn't trip..the wires can heat up to thepoint that they combust into an electric fire..the same goes for overloads.

A portable GFCI will protect against this? Fire is my main concern.

Natural said:
Thta's why I'm stressing that you keep your draw on those outlets in check.

So if I am under the max watts for the circuit, you think it is safe with or without a GFCI?

My apologies for all the questions.

Natural · Feb 6, 2015

I think you'll be straight with a good surge protector power strip. Not sure how the portable gfci works ungrounded. wish I could be of more help there.

Amwar420 · Mar 8, 2015

I have two 600w gravitas that im tryin to hook up but the light keeps displaying Low Voltage. Do i get a electrician?

shortnWide · Apr 8, 2015

Ok......I had my electrical redone with a large panel and 150amp service. Now after a few years the hobby has to expand.
My question is can a 150 amp service run 1 x 5 ton AC, 1 x 3 ton AC, 18 x 600 watt ballasts, 5200 watts of T5's, 26 fans, 7 blowers, 2 burns, a bunch of pumps, couple controllers, a few small various home units (tv's, fridge, ect...) equalling no more then 1500 - 2000 watts?

I am also thinking of splitting the single 18 bulb HPS room into 2 x 9 bulb rooms and run them oposite each other to help on the heat, power and amps?

Thanks in advance, SnW.

Offdarips · Apr 8, 2015

I would definitely run it on a flip schedule. Rule of thumb is to run 80% of your 150 amp at one time which is 120 amps. Just in Ac & lights your at 105 amps.

shortnWide · Apr 8, 2015

Offdarips said:
I would definitely run it on a flip schedule. Rule of thumb is to run 80% of your 150 amp at one time which is 120 amps. Just in Ac & lights your at 105 amps.

Thanks for the reply. I was wondering around how many amps I'm looking at. After adding some watts from a person living there it's "no bueno" so I'll keep them opposite each other.

Lurkin4yrs · Apr 9, 2015

Does your panel have 2 150 amp main breakers or 1 150 amp breaker? Mabe pic of ur panel?

-lurkin

Offdarips · Apr 9, 2015

You also have to worry about blowing up your transformer outside some places share transformer with there neighbors & some have there own designated transformer. I had a friend who was sharing a transformer with his neighbor which was a 25 KVW when he fired up everything the transformer went up in smoke. No big deal if you live in a med state, they just come out and give you a transformer one size bigger.

shortnWide · Apr 9, 2015

Lurkin4yrs said:
Does your panel have 2 150 amp main breakers or 1 150 amp breaker? Mabe pic of ur panel?

-lurkin

I believe only 1 breaker. There is one large black tap and one "150amp" sticker.

shortnWide · Apr 9, 2015

Offdarips said:
You also have to worry about blowing up your transformer outside some places share transformer with there neighbors & some have there own designated transformer. I had a friend who was sharing a transformer with his neighbor which was a 25 KVW when he fired up everything the transformer went up in smoke. No big deal if you live in a med state, they just come out and give you a transformer one size bigger.

I live in the burbs just outside of a big city. I think I'm good on the transformer thing but after looking outside I only notice them on every few poles here-n-there. Also lots of underground lines too so idk.

sixstring · Apr 9, 2015

add up your watts and divide by volts and you will get your amp use.big ticket items like a/c and your fridge will have the amps listed on them.like 1000w / 120v = 8.33 amps your 18 x 600w lights will use 45 amps alone if ran on 240v then you got 5200w of t5 which if run on 120 will use another 43 amps so your pushing almost 90 amps just in lighting alone.you,d be surprised what kind of amp draw things like your washer/dryer,fridge,wells flat screen tvs will use up.sound like you def need to flip flop 2 rooms to run all that stuff safely.plus if you split it up you can use less a/c and have it zoned.gl

shortnWide · Apr 10, 2015

sixstring said:
add up your watts and divide by volts and you will get your amp use.big ticket items like a/c and your fridge will have the amps listed on them.like 1000w / 120v = 8.33 amps your 18 x 600w lights will use 45 amps alone if ran on 240v then you got 5200w of t5 which if run on 120 will use another 43 amps so your pushing almost 90 amps just in lighting alone.you,d be surprised what kind of amp draw things like your washer/dryer,fridge,wells flat screen tvs will use up.sound like you def need to flip flop 2 rooms to run all that stuff safely.plus if you split it up you can use less a/c and have it zoned.gl

So you do think its feasible that 150 amps is safe to run 8 tons of AC with the rooms flipped?
Less AC is needed? Still have to run AC when lights off so accentually both finishing rooms need AC?

sixstring · Apr 10, 2015

idk cause im too lazy to add up all your equipment lol.the 5 ton a/c will need a dedicated 50 amp breaker then 30 amp breaker for the 3 ton a/c maybe 40 amp plus your 150 amp panel should only be pushed to 80% imo so your really only working with like 120 amps.why are you planning so many t5 for veg ? im using 1/3 that in t5 to feed a 12kw flower room and yours is only 10.8 kw.im cooling 15 x 600w and 4 x 750 gavita with a 4 ton a/c in michigans climate and using 2.5 ton for veg and my whole house.but i dont have 26 fans plus 7 blowers lol. i think i have 8 wall fans and 8 can fans for both rooms total.
i guess what you need to give us is room dims,location like is it upstairs or basement,well insulated.plus list the watts of all your fans and other equipment,maybe then someone will figure out all your details.
they make t5 in a 240volt version,that would save you alot of amps,but it will take up more slots in your panel.maybe your better off going with 1000w lights and spacing them out more to drop power idk.

IPlay4Keepz · Apr 13, 2015

this might seem like an easy question to answer, but idk shit about electrical.

i just moved to uruguay where all outlets run off of 220v at 50hz

this website shows all the types of plugs and sockets used in uruguay: http://www.power-plugs-sockets.com/uruguay/

i would like to run a few of these in a tent for veg: http://www.apollohorticulture.com/cfl-250w-r.html

how do i make this possible? are there cfls that run on 220v or do i use some kind of converter?

Lurkin4yrs · Apr 14, 2015

I'm guessing ud use sumin like this http://www.amazon.com/Simran-AC-200-Voltage-Converter-Transformer/dp/B004MPR3X6

Honestly I'd find sumin native to your power grid

-lurkin

sixstring · Apr 14, 2015

and from experience i would not run those bigass cfl'z in the horizontal position because it will sag and then fail.i did one like that in a hood and it took about 3 weeks for it to sag and then break/stop working.

Grow Room Electrical

Grow Room Electrical

Jamz

Natural

Jamz

Natural

Jamz

Natural

Amwar420

shortnWide

Offdarips

shortnWide

Lurkin4yrs

Offdarips

shortnWide

shortnWide

sixstring

shortnWide

sixstring

IPlay4Keepz

Lurkin4yrs

sixstring

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