I want to start a small growin in my closet using two plastic storage bins. There is a pull string light that I want to use to power my lights and fan. What I found online is these socket to outlet converters. I was wondering if you think that it would be safe to use one of those converters and use an extension cord or power strip to power about 2 - 4 cfls and a fan and not start a fire or short circuit or anything. I just don't want to set me house on fire. Advice or comments are greatly appreciated. Thanks.
I agree with smokey... but in the end if you had to use the socket converter make sure you check watt ratings on the converter so you don't overload
(1) Make sure you identify the breaker feeding the socket if you plan to do anything more than just adding the socket converter. Needs to be turned off if replacing light socket with receptacle! (2) Its important to know the wattage rating of the existing socket. You should not exceed this with anything plugged into it. If you do not know, it would be best to replace it with a receptacle.
[quote name='"brotherjericho"'](1) Make sure you identify the breaker feeding the socket if you plan to do anything more than just adding the socket converter. Needs to be turned off if replacing light socket with receptacle! (2) Its important to know the wattage rating of the existing socket. You should not exceed this with anything plugged into it. If you do not know, it would be best to replace it with a receptacle.[/quote] I found the breaker for it and on the switch it says 15 does that have anything to do with the wattages??
15 Amps, standard lighting circuit. Means it will theoretically support up to 1800w on the circuit (not your socket).
You have many things to consider. You have a theoretical 1800 watts on that circuit -- so you have to know what else is on that circuit. If you flip that breaker off, what loses power? Surely not just the closet, probably one or more entire rooms. Identify them and find out what else electrical will be drawing off that circuit. Reality is you don't have 1800 watts to work with. USA current is 120/110 volts, and amps*volts=watts. So at 120v yes, 1800 is the theoretical limit. But in reality you may be supplied closer to 110v, and you never want to push an electrical circuit to the limit in any event, so I would calculate 15 amps * 110v * 90% for a cushion = 1485 watts realistic max load on that entire circuit. A few household CFLs probably will total 100 watts. Fan depends on what kind of fan you're talking about. You need to make sure that not only the entire circuit can meet the needs of everything plugged in on that circuit, including your grow, but you also need to make sure that the total of what you want to run off that one light socket doesn't exceed the rated load of either the socket or the adapter you're looking at. But you have a bigger risk of fire wanting to run electrical appliances enclosed in plastic bins, which is then enclosed in a closet that I'm guessing has other stuff in it. It can be done without anything bad happening. way too many who try end up with a problem, a small fire that doesn't burn the whole house down so doesn't make the news, dead plants, etc. There also are many who do it and don't have a disaster, and they tend to think that is "proof" that it's safe, but many of these setups are not. You need good ventilation -- true removal of warm air and intake of cool fresh air -- and materials that won't melt or burn up easily from lights. Be careful.
[quote name='"toastybiz"']You have many things to consider. You have a theoretical 1800 watts on that circuit -- so you have to know what else is on that circuit. If you flip that breaker off, what loses power? Surely not just the closet, probably one or more entire rooms. Identify them and find out what else electrical will be drawing off that circuit. Reality is you don't have 1800 watts to work with. USA current is 120/110 volts, and amps*volts=watts. So at 120v yes, 1800 is the theoretical limit. But in reality you may be supplied closer to 110v, and you never want to push an electrical circuit to the limit in any event, so I would calculate 15 amps * 110v * 90% for a cushion = 1485 watts realistic max load on that entire circuit. A few household CFLs probably will total 100 watts. Fan depends on what kind of fan you're talking about. You need to make sure that not only the entire circuit can meet the needs of everything plugged in on that circuit, including your grow, but you also need to make sure that the total of what you want to run off that one light socket doesn't exceed the rated load of either the socket or the adapter you're looking at. But you have a bigger risk of fire wanting to run electrical appliances enclosed in plastic bins, which is then enclosed in a closet that I'm guessing has other stuff in it. It can be done without anything bad happening. way too many who try end up with a problem, a small fire that doesn't burn the whole house down so doesn't make the news, dead plants, etc. There also are many who do it and don't have a disaster, and they tend to think that is "proof" that it's safe, but many of these setups are not. You need good ventilation -- true removal of warm air and intake of cool fresh air -- and materials that won't melt or burn up easily from lights. Be careful.[/quote] I used a volt meter and it said it was 113 then I tested it and it worked. But there is no ground wire. And the breaker turns off that and all the other outlets in the room
Does the breaker turn off anything else in the house? Other rooms, bathrooms, halls, etc? Just make sure you catalog the full draw on that circuit and then see how much you can add to it. No ground wire isn't necessarily a problem, as long as none of the equipment you are using has a 3-prong plug. Fixtures for CFLs and a small fan can be found with 2 prongs. But definitely do not bypass a 3rd pole, if a cord has 3 prongs then you need a 3-prong grounded outlet.
Change the socket is very nice idea to make you safe. If you aware of certain things then you can easily change your socket, You just need to know that What kind of voltage it has and When you remove socket the light should be turned off. Might be it becomes a problem through some issues.
