Electricity usage, wiring, saftey, and YOU!

[RobertDowneyJr]

Great post!!

I can't stress enough the importance of proper wiring!!
Junction Boxes and wire caps people!

[13ronin]

Amen. Keep it clean! Btw... love your handle and avatar man. Made me chuckle!

[greaterthings]

DO NOT MAX OUT YOUR BREAKER!!! Figure out the maximum wattage and only put 80% of the watts. 2400W x .80 = 1920W.

The 20 Amp mark is the "NON-CONTINUOUS LOAD" The CONTINUOUS load (ie lights on for more then 20-30 minutes) is only supposed to be 80% of the breakers rating. Going for long periods of time with more then 80% but less then 100% (between 1900-2400W) may NOT POP THE BREAKER... but slowely burn it up... resulting in everybody in the house dying.

find Exhibit 210.22 in the electricians national electrical code book to understand more.


(I'm a 2nd year electrical engineering student trying to build my own hps ballasts... and mounts/reflectors... from scratch. Can anybody give me direction>>>>>>>>>>>

[13ronin]

Originally Posted by greaterthings

DO NOT MAX OUT YOUR BREAKER!!! Figure out the maximum wattage and only put 80% of the watts. 2400W x .80 = 1920W.

The 20 Amp mark is the "NON-CONTINUOUS LOAD" The CONTINUOUS load (ie lights on for more then 20-30 minutes) is only supposed to be 80% of the breakers rating. Going for long periods of time with more then 80% but less then 100% (between 1900-2400W) may NOT POP THE BREAKER... but slowely burn it up... resulting in everybody in the house dying.

find Exhibit 210.22 in the electricians national electrical code book to understand more.


(I'm a 2nd year electrical engineering student trying to build my own hps ballasts... and mounts/reflectors... from scratch. Can anybody give me direction>>>>>>>>>>>

can't help with your work, but that's great to know! Thanks for the info. Filed in my brain for permanent storage! + rep

[Buhdtyme]

so if my extension cord and power bar are rated for 15 amps. Thats 120 x 15. they can handle 1800 watts less 20% to be safe. Or is that 15 amps they advertise safe to run at 1800 watts.

[1of1]

Good Post!

[RobertDowneyJr]

Originally Posted by greaterthings

(I'm a 2nd year electrical engineering student trying to build my own hps ballasts... and mounts/reflectors... from scratch. Can anybody give me direction>>>>>>>>>>>

Very cool man!! Good Luck!!

[13ronin]

Originally Posted by Buhdtyme

so if my extension cord and power bar are rated for 15 amps. Thats 120 x 15. they can handle 1800 watts less 20% to be safe. Or is that 15 amps they advertise safe to run at 1800 watts.

I think a 20% reduction in its use is a wise precaution. That would still leave with a touch over 1400 watts, which is a lot of power! I always like to be on the safe side. Fire scares the shit outta me...

What our friend above was talking about though was 20% less power for a breaker not a cord, just so you know. But like I said, I prefer to be cautious.

[AugustWest]

stickied!

thanks for the time you put into this man..

[13ronin]

Thank you sir! I'll keep comin back and editing to add info as time goes on. Thanks AW!

[AugustWest]

Originally Posted by 13ronin

Thank you sir! I'll keep comin back and editing to add info as time goes on. Thanks AW!

ok.. that and answering all of our silly electric questions!

[13ronin]

Originally Posted by AugustWest

ok.. that and answering all of our silly electric questions!

oh ya.... that too....

Excellent info, bro. Sometimes people (myself included) don't realize they need to know something, until they read about it. Right now, I'm kicking myself for never having learned about electricity, when it's probably the most important part of indoor grows. Bravo, sir! Let me just add, that since were also talking about fire danger, everyone in our growing family here at GC needs to have a smoke detector near their grow for safety reasons. If you do have a fire, it's more important that everyone gets out safe, than saving the garden.

[13ronin]

Originally Posted by lizzardGizzard

Excellent info, bro. Sometimes people (myself included) don't realize they need to know something, until they read about it. Right now, I'm kicking myself for never having learned about electricity, when it's probably the most important part of indoor grows. Bravo, sir! Let me just add, that since were also talking about fire danger, everyone in our growing family here at GC needs to have a smoke detector near their grow for safety reasons. If you do have a fire, it's more important that everyone gets out safe, than saving the garden.

That is a great point Lizzard. +rep. Although, getting everyone out safely is more important than saving the garden, it would be nice to know about a fire before it spreads so you can control it. If the Fire dept shows up and finds your grow, you might be in deep trouble. So to take it a step further, a small fire extinguisher might not be a bad idea. You know, one of those 30 dollar ones at walmart would be fine. Just make sure its ABC rated so it can put out electrical fires as well and anything else you'll come across... I say this because its not a bad idea to have one around the house anyway, not just for growing. You never know!

You're reading my mind, ronin! I just logged on to add to this thread about a fire extinguisher. I keep one in a closet next to my grow room for easy access. I figure if the room catches on fire, you don't want the extinguisher in there where you can't get to it. Also, I made sure and showed my wife where it is, just in case I wasn't home when it happened. Please, everyone remember, that if you do have a fire, make sure and shut off the electricity to the room, via breaker box. I know this is hard to remember, especially if you're in a panic, but I have run a few "test exercises" so that maybe it will be second nature for me to do in such an emergency. Fire starts, I run for the breaker box, grab the extinguisher, then touch the door for heat (don't open a door to a fire without checking for heat), open room and put out fire. As a grower, you can never be too careful. Stay safe everyone!