Hello eveyone. As stated above im a newbie when it comes to doing things myself. I've been running my 1k hps bulbs on 12 gauge extention cords. Ive come to realize this can be very dangours since extention cords should not be used as perm wiring. They are both on theyre own extention cords with each plug going directly into the outlet. Now with the summer i need to use a portable ac unit to keep things cool. Basically i need a ton of electricy in my grow room. Id like to run a 220 and 110 line into the room to make dedicated lines for just that room. Can someone help me come up with a shopping list of tools and materials i will need to acomplish this? I will check my breaker box tonight to see what connections i have available. Any help is greatly appricated. Thanks! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Grasscity Forum mobile app
Depending on distance and ease of pulling wire you may find it more cost effective in the long run to run a feed for a subpanel in the grow room. Then you can pull power from the subpanel as required. Whats your total load calculation? Sent from my SM-N900V using Grasscity Forum mobile app
For my set up, I have a DPST timer that runs to a dryer plug with a 10Ga 4 wire cable. It allows me to have both 120V and 240V both running from my 30A dryer plug. I have one 120V outlet in the room that is not part of this, for the things I want to run when the lights are off. It seems to work great for me.
Your setup lacks properly sized overcurrent protection for your 120v receptacles. They and their supported loads aren't rated for 30 amps. If there was a short circuit, excessive current would be available to melt insulation and make a real mess of things. Sent from my SM-N900V using Grasscity Forum mobile app
Im running 2 1000 watt balasts @ 10 amps each. 11000 brltu portable ac 11 amps. Standing fan and exhaust fan. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Grasscity Forum mobile app
a sub-panel probably makes most sense, that way you would have more power available for future additions. However, that is not a job for a do it yourselfer without electrical experience. find someone who knows what they are doing to help you
As we all know here the less people know the safer we are. I need to tackle this by myself. Honestly im coming up on my 3rd grow and i dont have any plans to add anything in the future. With the items i listed could someone give me some advise for what kind of lines i should run? Im a noob to electrical work but i was a noob at all this to begin with and ive come so far... frammed and hang dry wall. Mud and painting. Ventilation. Setting up all the equipment to the point ive been running for almost a year with no programs..... trust me i want to have someone help me but i domt want anyome to kno damn it... lol Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Grasscity Forum mobile app
Just walk into your local hardware store and start asking questions man. They'll help you out with better answers than this and you can get all you need right there.
Your right medicine man. I was just hoping to get some answers as far as the kind of outlet ill need to run 220 off my ballasts. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Grasscity Forum mobile app
Ya but the plug has a odd end on it. As ive been searching for the proper equipment i found many types of 220 outlets but i beed an out let that looks like -.- Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Grasscity Forum mobile app
This is what im working with. Looks like i only have the 30 amp to work with. This is great tho because i should be able to split all my amps in half over the two circuts! Can you run a 220 and 110 out of a sub box? Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Grasscity Forum mobile app
How is this coming along? I would like to provide some input but need a bit more info as to what you have available. Where the city power comes to the residence there should be a meter and a breaker to feed your main panel. Usually there are two spaces available for 2 pole breakers. If you provide a picture make sure to blur out any info on the meter(barcodes,provider,manufacturer,numbers, etc.) if it happens to be in the picture. 1 or 2 spaces on that panel? If no space is available I would move to the distribution panel. How much are you willing to spend? Would you like the install clean and safe or quick, dirty and safe? I'll sub to get notifications.
For reference. I have 2 4k watt light controllers. Each on their own 2 pole 30 amp breaker 220 wired with 50 feet of 10 gauge wire. You wont regret running the 220. I ran 110 for a day while transitioning tents and was sweating bullets over how hot the ballasts got. With 220 my ballasts barely get warm Sent from my SCH-I535 using Grasscity Forum mobile app
Thank you red pill for taking the time to help me. From what i can tell on my breaker box i either have 3 spots or 1 spot available. Pretty sure its 3, but i have a 220 30 amp 2 pole breaker not being used. Im thinking ill run a 220 from the 30 amp breaker and install a 20 amp 110 line. Run both those to my room. Use the 220 line to run my ballast and if theres a way to run my ac unit on the 220. Bring the 110 in to run the fans. What do you think? Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Grasscity Forum mobile app
At 220 your 1000w ballasts should draw much less than 10 amps each, probably half that. The 30/220 circuit should be fine for the ac/lights. If it were me: 1. I would replace the 30 amp 2 pole and 20 single with a 50 amp 2 pole rewired with #8 to a 50 amp sub-panel with 6 slots. Then put the lights on a 20/2 pole and add 15 amp breakers for the rest of the stuff wired with #14 to 15 amp receptacles. You could jump up one step to 20 amp breakers with #12 and 20 amp receptacles, lower is cheaper. 2. Use the 30 amp 2 pole circuit just for the lights. You could power the ac as well with one of the legs but just because you can doesn't mean its right or safe. You really want your 220 circuit to stay a 220 circuit with equal amounts of draw on each leg. Run the 20 amp circuit with #12 to 20 amp receptacles and power the ac as well as fans. It should be good.