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

EmeraldBuddah

EmeraldBuddah

Member
Danielsgb said:
You need a 240v line from the Main Panel. So you need space in the panel for the new breaker for the line. How many A.'s is the Main? Usually 100A, or 150A or maybe 200A. How full is it? Pic if you could would help. Someone on here might be able to line you out to DIY but it's not simple.
Sounds like a job for a pro. You could say you want a 240v in the garage for a welder.. They use high loads. Are you in a Med. state? If the garage is full of plants maybe not as easy too. Hope that helps.
Daniels:eyesmoke:
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I am in a Med state and yes there are plants in the garage but black sheeting seperates the grow room, but i would want the lighting controller to be in the garage, i guess it wouldnt matter if it was in the actually grow room..i would just have to run extension cords that run from the lighting controller to the ballast...as for the main panel i will take pics tomorrow and post them and try to get any information on it...i also would like to know how people run the cords from the ballast and other electrical devices to the lighting controller without having cords everywhere! thanks for the help all!
 
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Plebscrubber

Active Member
I have a lot of extension cords running between balasts and timers and fans, all neatly secured to the rails on the roof that also support the lights
I have a small desk that holds all the power boards and timers and each power lead is labeled so i know where it goes
Everything is tied up with cable ties
All electrical leads and gear is kept 2 foot above floor level incase of leaking water/flooding
 
hairpulledout

hairpulledout

Member
Hello, I just decided to take on an extra patient and grow 12 plants for them, as well as the 12 I am allowed by law here in Michigan. Before I begin I am trying to beef up my infra-structure. I want to install a seperate breaker, and run an dedicated wire down into my basement to give me enough juice so I won't trip the breaker. My question is:
How many amps should my breaker be, if I am using a 430 hps for veg, a 1000 hps for flower, a fluoro for clones, 4-8 submersible water pumps(I do aero-ponics), 3-4 air pumps, and 2-3 fans to circulate air? Also, I am pretty sure I will be adding another 1000 hps to the mix. Also what type of wire should I run down to my grow room for this purpose?
I would like to have an electrical station that will take care of it all. It would be cool to have like multiple 4-plug outlets, but I want to stay as affordable as possible, yet still be safe. I was a life-long carpenter, rough framing, and I had to do plenty of rough electrical, when our other jobs were slow, so I know a little, but I'm not what I would consider an electrical expert.
Any help you could offer would be greatly appreciated. You could also e-mail me at [email protected] if you'd like. I want to start asap. Thanks for any info you can share.
 
Danielsgb

Danielsgb

Well-Known Member
hairpulledout said:
Hello, I just decided to take on an extra patient and grow 12 plants for them, as well as the 12 I am allowed by law here in Michigan. Before I begin I am trying to beef up my infra-structure. I want to install a seperate breaker, and run an dedicated wire down into my basement to give me enough juice so I won't trip the breaker. My question is:
How many amps should my breaker be, if I am using a 430 hps for veg, a 1000 hps for flower, a fluoro for clones, 4-8 submersible water pumps(I do aero-ponics), 3-4 air pumps, and 2-3 fans to circulate air? Also, I am pretty sure I will be adding another 1000 hps to the mix. Also what type of wire should I run down to my grow room for this purpose?
I would like to have an electrical station that will take care of it all. It would be cool to have like multiple 4-plug outlets, but I want to stay as affordable as possible, yet still be safe. I was a life-long carpenter, rough framing, and I had to do plenty of rough electrical, when our other jobs were slow, so I know a little, but I'm not what I would consider an electrical expert.
Any help you could offer would be greatly appreciated. You could also e-mail me at [email protected] if you'd like. I want to start asap. Thanks for any info you can share.
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Here is some info from IAm5toned. You have to add up everything's Watts to decide what breakers you need. Hope that helps.
Danielsbongsmilie
BTW putting your e-mail isn't a good idea IMHO
IAm5toned said:
I've done the work for you. as far as tips on saving energy, to be brutally honest there really are not any that will make a big savings magically appear on your bill. the best trick, is running your lights @ nightime when at all possible, its easier for a/c to cool the grow @ night then it is during the day in the summer, and in the winter, it helps with your heating bill. if you plan on pulling some serious wattage, like greater than 2kw, then you can have the lights running on opposite phases (saw 1kw on blk phase one, and 1 kw on red phase 2) running large parallel loads on opposite phases can save you 5-8%, but like i said, it only works on large loads.
all you really have to worry about is how your going to pay for his services. :D

common continuous duty grow operation wattages based on voltage, with breaker and wire sizes. all wire sizes are based on thwn-2/thhn Cu conductors with a max run of 300'
breaker size----volts------ max wattage allowed ----smallest wire size allowed

  • 15 amp breaker @ 120v = 1440w(12 amps actual) max = #14 awg Cu wire, min
  • 20 amp breaker @ 120v = 1920w(16 amps actual) max = #12 awg Cu wire, min
  • 30 amp breaker @ 120v = 2880w(24 amps actual) max = #10 awg Cu wire, min
  • 40 amp breaker @ 120v = 3840w(32 amps actual) max = #8 awg Cu wire, min
  • 60 amp breaker @ 120v = 5760w(48 amps actual) max = #6 awg Cu wire, min
  • 100 amp breaker @ 120v = 9600w(80 amps actual) max = #3 awg Cu wire, min

  • 15 amp breaker @ 240v = 2880w(12 amps actual) max = #14 awg Cu wire, min
  • 20 amp breaker @ 240v = 3840w(16 amps actual) max = #12 awg Cu wire, min
  • 30 amp breaker @ 240v = 5760w(24 amps actual) max = #10 awg Cu wire, min
  • 40 amp breaker @ 240v = 7680w(32 amps actual) max = #8 awg Cu wire, min
  • 60 amp breaker @ 240v = 11520w(48 amps actual) max = #6 awg Cu wire, min
  • 100 amp breaker @ 240v= 19200w(80 amps actual) max = #3 awg Cu wire, min
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pushrod49

Member
HI Bricktown79 and thanks for the offer. I've got a 6x12 room in the basement, opposite end of house from electric panal (about 60'). Panel is an old ITE Pushmatic (?) but I have a DP-30amp breaker not being used. I'm going to run a 1000 watt HPS for flowering room and a 400 watt MH in growing room. Can I make two separate runs of say, 10-2 wire, from the 30amp breaker and run each to its' own outlet to power each of the ballasts? I have other outlets available on different circuits for fans and other small amp items but am most concerned about the two ballasts. Any suggestions and guidence will be appreicated.
 
sladeofdark

sladeofdark

New Member
awesome man! you are right on time. I need to hire you for your expertise or some advice, i have just posted my basement and i didnt ask in the post b/c i knew no one would know but i need to know how to add some power to the side of the basement where my
setup will be. I need to do EXACTLY what you just did and build a panel, but im not sure what electrical i can use or if i might overload something. thanks in advanced.. here is my post

https://www.rollitup.org/grow-room-design-setup/409769-help-needed-grow-room-design.html
 
meowth

meowth

Active Member
Can you use a universal power supply as a backup for a 600 watt lumatek ballast? I was looking at one that says it handles 900 watts for about $170. I would only need a 10 minute max continuation of power.
 
withoutAchance

withoutAchance

Active Member
meowth said:
Can you use a universal power supply as a backup for a 600 watt lumatek ballast? I was looking at one that says it handles 900 watts for about $170. I would only need a 10 minute max continuation of power.
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yes ive set up casino surveilance rooms with ups just make sure its spec properly and your good to go.
 
withoutAchance

withoutAchance

Active Member
hohosr said:
My buddy lives out in the country and wants to go much bigger and maybe run 12-14 lights. He wants to avoid any problems on the power bill so he wants to get a natural gas generator to supply a bunch of the power but it seems confusing wiring it into the system. I know you have to get a switch to cut off power going into the line in case the power to the line goes down so you dont zap some lineman down the way. Can you hook this up directly to the system so the lights draw power from both sources at once? It would be wired in such that even if the lights were not on and the generator was going that it would actually be feeding electricity into the system and the power usage would be decreasing. This is the same way that solar panels or something like that would feed into the system wouldnt it be? He does not intend on buying a generator big enough to supply all of the power, just to take some of the burden off. 10k generator maybe.
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for solar you negoiate with the power company holding you hostage for a 2 way meter with a gen u cant u would just need to decide what u would want to run off the gen and split that stuff off the grid and put it on a panle able to switch over to the gen and possible back to the grid but be real sure about ur switch ratings and connections and what is what.
 
Honkeycorn

Honkeycorn

Well-Known Member
Hi Bricktown,

Thanks for the thread and a chance to talk to someone who knows what they`re doing.

I recently added 5x 40w CFLS and a 250w HPS in one room.

Is using all that on a regular house circuit too much? is there any wiring or boxes to add/install for that amout of power coming from one room?
 
Danielsgb

Danielsgb

Well-Known Member
Honkeycorn said:
Hi Bricktown,

Thanks for the thread and a chance to talk to someone who knows what they`re doing.

I recently added 5x 40w CFLS and a 250w HPS in one room.

Is using all that on a regular house circuit too much? is there any wiring or boxes to add/install for that amount of power coming from one room?
Click to expand...
Dude, that's only 450W, which from the chart above, smallest is a 15 amp breaker @ 120v = 1440w(12 amps actual) max
So you need to see what else is on the circuit & what the breaker is. But 450W on a outlet is OK. Hope that helps.
Daniels:weed:
 
Honkeycorn

Honkeycorn

Well-Known Member
Danielsgb said:
Dude, that's only 450W, which from the chart above, smallest is a 15 amp breaker @ 120v = 1440w(12 amps actual) max
So you need to see what else is on the circuit & what the breaker is. But 450W on a outlet is OK. Hope that helps.
Daniels:weed:
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Thanks Bud! thats what I thought, but good to be sure now. I also have my Gaming computer on it but thats it so I think im fine.

+Rep!
 
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Scroggsy

Active Member
Hi Daniel, I have a question for you.

I have run a 30amp double spur socket from a bedroom socket to the loft with 2.5mm twin and earth, the run is approximately 10 meters and does not run through any significant amount of insulation. How many watts can I safely hook up to this double socket?
 
Danielsgb

Danielsgb

Well-Known Member
Scroggsy said:
Hi Daniel, I have a question for you.

I have run a 30amp double spur socket from a bedroom socket to the loft with 2.5mm twin and earth, the run is approximately 10 meters and does not run through any significant amount of insulation. How many watts can I safely hook up to this double socket?
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I'm a long way from a expert on this stuff, but from IAm5toned's chart, it says 30 amp breaker @ 120v = 2880w(24 amps actual) max = #10 awg Cu wire, min
but I have no clue what 2.5mm twin & earth is. I looked it up and I think it compares to a #14 awg. This is for a 300' run from the chart. One question is, are you in the US or Europe, in other words is it 120v or 240v? Not sure what double spur socket is either. You quoted meters and used loft, so thinking you may be in England or Europe/240v so it's 30 amp breaker @ 240v = 5760w(24 amps actual) max = #10 awg Cu wire, min
It has #14 awg for 15A breakers in his charts too if you notice. Sorry I can't be more help.:weed:
 
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Scroggsy

Active Member
Danielsgb said:
I'm a long way from a expert on this stuff, but from IAm5toned's chart, it says 30 amp breaker @ 120v = 2880w(24 amps actual) max = #10 awg Cu wire, min
but I have no clue what 2.5mm twin & earth is. I looked it up and I think it compares to a #14 awg. This is for a 300' run from the chart. One question is, are you in the US or Europe, in other words is it 120v or 240v? Not sure what double spur socket is either. You quoted meters and used loft, so thinking you may be in England or Europe/240v so it's 30 amp breaker @ 240v = 5760w(24 amps actual) max = #10 awg Cu wire, min
It has #14 awg for 15A breakers in his charts too if you notice. Sorry I can't be more help.:weed:
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Hi, yes im in the UK so it's 240v. A spur socket is a socket that you add using the rear terminals of another socket in the ring or a 30amp junction box connected into the ring. 2.5mm (twin and earth) cable is the standard cable used for most domestic ring circuits for power sockets here.

Thanks for the reply.
 
Danielsgb

Danielsgb

Well-Known Member
Scroggsy said:
Hi, yes im in the UK so it's 240v. A spur socket is a socket that you add using the rear terminals of another socket in the ring or a 30amp junction box connected into the ring. 2.5mm (twin and earth) cable is the standard cable used for most domestic ring circuits for power sockets here.

Thanks for the reply.
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I know even less of European wiring. When I lived in London a decade ago it was about school not plugs & wires.:weed:
If the wire is comparable to a US #14 awg then chart says 2880W on the 15A beaker, but a 30A is double that, but in the US the wire would be heavier. I'm not sure how you can find out. Maybe ask a store selling a Welder since they run 240v and pull large loads.
Sorry I can't help more.
Daniels:bigjoint:
 
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