Experienced Electrician! Here to Answer Any and All Growroom Electrical Questions

Djreed57

Member
Hey Brick thank you in advance for reply was only an electrician for one year haha. I assume I am okay since nothing has tripped for couple years but just want to make sure. I have a 20 amp circuit that I run (2) 1000 watt lights a 6" exhaust blower and a 16" oscillating fan on. I KNOW this is cutting it close to 20 amps am I safe or could this start a fire one day? I tried running an extension cord from another circuit to take the load of one of the lights but the cord and the timer burnt and melted together, was hard to get them apart so that made me nervous. Was this just because the timer shouldn't be on an extension cord (12 gauge). Thank you -Dan
 

trickyricky22

New Member
Hi folks, I'd like to replace the panel in my apartment while its hot and am looking for some expertise.

posted the long story here. thanks for any help!
 

SnapsProvolone

Well-Known Member
Hi folks, I'd like to replace the panel in my apartment while its hot and am looking for some expertise.

posted the long story here. thanks for any help!
No. You need a licensed electrician and a permit to rewire a multiple occupancy dwelling. No DYI. Puts other occupants at risk.
 

JSJ

Well-Known Member
Question, or problem, for the experts.

My daughter plugged her iPad charger into an outlet in her room. Meanwhile, upstairs in the attic, an off lightbulb starts flickering. I had her unplug the charger, in her room, and the lightbulb, in the attic, goes back off.

I am competent in fixing wiring, but I don't know where to start here.

Thanx for all help guys
 

oakley1984

Well-Known Member
lets see if anyone here can answer this... as im not 100% sure on it

we all know watts = voltage x amperage

now heres the q... i have a connector i need to use to hookup a 1000w ballast so i dont have to do a fuckload of rewiring.

the connector is rated at 250v 10a, this should be equiv to 125v @ 20a correct?

just dont want to overload the connector!
 

Stevie51

Active Member
lets see if anyone here can answer this... as im not 100% sure on it

we all know watts = voltage x amperage

now heres the q... i have a connector i need to use to hookup a 1000w ballast so i dont have to do a fuckload of rewiring.

the connector is rated at 250v 10a, this should be equiv to 125v @ 20a correct?

just dont want to overload the connector!
The connector is rated to be used for voltages up to 250 volts. The connector is rated for a maximum ampacity (the maximum amount of electrical current) of 10 amps. Regardless if you are using 120 volts or 240 volts, you are not allowed to exceed 10 amps through the connector. Wattage is best described as "the amount of electrical energy being consumed by the appliance" govern by the resistance, and/or impedance, of the appliance at a given voltage.
 
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glockdoc

Well-Known Member
i have 1 12/2 cable going to a breaker with 2 20amp services, whats the max watts i can use on that in terms of lighting?! plz and thanks
 

spek9

Well-Known Member
i have 1 12/2 cable going to a breaker with 2 20amp services, whats the max watts i can use on that in terms of lighting?! plz and thanks
Using the 80% max load rule and 120v:

120v x 20A * 0.8 (80% rule) = 1920W per leg (or 3840W total if wiring them together in a 240v configuration).

-spek
 

glockdoc

Well-Known Member
thanks!!!
does it matter if that 2 20 amp legs go into a fuse box instead of breakers that contain 2 15 amp fuses and 2 30 amp fuses...and does those 2 20 amp legs run of them fuses?!?!
 

spek9

Well-Known Member
thanks!!!
does it matter if that 2 20 amp legs go into a fuse box instead of breakers that contain 2 15 amp fuses and 2 30 amp fuses...and does those 2 20 amp legs run of them fuses?!?!
I don't quite know what you're getting at, but the 12/2 *has* to be connected to 20A fuses/breakers. If you connect it to anything larger, a fire could and likely will result. Too little, and you'll be tripping them all the time.

Also, to run a 240v, each wire of the 12/2 cable has to be connected to the opposite bar in the panel. Dual-pole breakers are designed to do this without any trickery.

Take a pic of your panel and put it here, explaining what you're wanting to do.

-spek
 

glockdoc

Well-Known Member
I don't quite know what you're getting at, but the 12/2 *has* to be connected to 20A fuses/breakers. If you connect it to anything larger, a fire could and likely will result. Too little, and you'll be tripping them all the time.

Also, to run a 240v, each wire of the 12/2 cable has to be connected to the opposite bar in the panel. Dual-pole breakers are designed to do this without any trickery.

Take a pic of your panel and put it here, explaining what you're wanting to do.

-spek
i sure will give me some time.. thank you so much god bless u and yours!
 

jwizzle22

Active Member
Hey I'm setting up my first in door grow room... I want to ip the anti with my light I currently have 1 400w hps light with a 120v hook up in the shed. I want to go up to 1000w can I do this on the 15 amp breaker it's currently on or do I need a different power source? Also I was interested in keep the cops from being suspicious with the light bill n all.. how can you help me with that?

Thank alot
 

glockdoc

Well-Known Member
i just want to know if i can run 1620w in lighting on this.. 1 1000w 8amps right? 1 400 3.3 amps and then 4 55w t5s....
as long as i have the 1k and 400 turn on separate im good right?
 
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