The Most Dangerous Grow Room Component

Definitely use GFCI outlets wherever required. --Like wet locations. But I don't bother to use them in non-required applications just for "extra safety". They can be prone to nuisance tripping.

Also, I've seen gfci outlets burn up too. So they aren't exactly the definitive answer to electrical safety.




And I wouldn't worry about running fans constantly in the grow room any more then I would worry about running anything else unattended. Most of the fans I see fail go out with a whimper, not a bang.

WestSide Ukiah said:

Definitely use GFCI outlets wherever required. --Like wet locations. But I don't bother to use them in non-required applications just for "extra safety". They can be prone to nuisance tripping.

Also, I've seen gfci outlets burn up too. So they aren't exactly the definitive answer to electrical safety.

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And I wouldn't worry about running fans constantly in the grow room any more then I would worry about running anything else unattended. Most of the fans I see fail go out with a whimper, not a bang.

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Only one gfci per circuit. Multiple on the same circuit will fight each other. 1 will protect everything in Line after it

tusseltussel said:

Only one gfci per circuit. Multiple on the same circuit will fight each other. 1 will protect everything in Line after it

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It's true that you don't typically use additional gfci receptacles on the LOAD side of a gfci receptacle. But not all circuits are wired in a fashion that allows simply putting in ONE gfci receptacle and daisy-chaining the rest of the receptacles on the circuit.

You might have a circuit from the panel coming into a j-box and THEN splitting left and right to feed a chain of receptacles. You wouldn't make all those receptacles GFCI's with one gfci receptacle. The first receptacle to the right, and the first receptacle to the left would each be a gfci. And sometimes you don't want every receptacle on a circuit GFCI protected.

So you can feed multiple GFCI receptacles with a single circuit for many reasons. And sometimes it makes more sense to just use a GFCI Breaker... The scenarios are endless.

Im no electric junky so i have a question u guys may think is stupid lol so here it goes...Im doing my first cfl grow for one plant...I plan on using a serge protector(power bar) with six outlets...all the outlets will be used for light receptical clamps and lamp reflectors...in each of the six cord light outlets i will insert Y adapters so one plug in will hold 2 lights. I will have 12 26watt 27k cfl's all together running from one power bar.....is this ok?

Bear33 said:

I have free access to 10 Sodium halihde lamps with built in balast for 400 watt bulbs designed for outdoor parking lot use. Are they dangerous, do they use too much elec, and are they to hot. They are free?

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Low bay shop fixtures or self-contained with ballast. I have 2 I converted to remote ballast operation. However, by you simply asking you indicate a general lack of knowledge on the subject. Learning on the job or firsthand is fine except with things like electricity, open heart surgery, nuclear reactors etc.

I have a serge protector power bar with 6 3prong plugin outlets...is it ok if i use all six with 2prong cord attachments to power 12 26watt cfl's?

i am going to be runniing 4 600 watt HPS bulbs in my flower room, can they all be on a single 20 amp circuit or do i need to split them between two circuits? i have seperate circuits for the fans and pumps so this is strictly the lights.

thanks alot

smoke and coke said:

the HPS is nowhere near as bad as an MH bulb when it shatters. i have seen an MH take out the safety glass in a fixture in a papermill i worked at.

my circ. fan runs 24 hours a day.


keep the electricians busy with work. please call them and get it done the right way. and while he is there, ask for an estimate for a generator. seems like for the last year or so, generators are the best thing since sliced bread.

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So I'm assuming having a hps or mh in an air cooled hood wouldn't be totally safe. I always thought the danger would be minimized b/c of the bulb being in the hood. Sounds like the glass could break and there could be fire.

Edgar9 said:

So I'm assuming having a hps or mh in an air cooled hood wouldn't be totally safe. I always thought the danger would be minimized b/c of the bulb being in the hood. Sounds like the glass could break and there could be fire.

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i use an open fixture with an hps bulb.

a mh bulb should be used in an enclosed fixture with a glass lens.

but you can also buy a mh bulb with an arc protected sheild so it can be used in an open fixture.

using an air cooled hood should be fine for either bulb.

Extension cords and overloading circuits are the main cause of fires, not just in grow rooms. A little bit of math to figure out amps will go a long way to making sure your not overloading certain breakers.

1000 watts is almost 10 amps on 110v and about 5 amps on 220v. One light and an exhaust fan run on 110v is the limit for a 15 amp breaker. 2-3 amps should be the buffer, in other words 12-13 amps should be the max load for a 15 amper.


Play Safe.

I always keep a redneck fire alarm in my room

Myles117 said:

i am going to be runniing 4 600 watt HPS bulbs in my flower room, can they all be on a single 20 amp circuit or do i need to split them between two circuits? i have seperate circuits for the fans and pumps so this is strictly the lights.

thanks alot

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You can get away with the 20amp breaker at 240vac.

its 120v.

i think ill use 2 lights per circuit and play it safe. i just wanted them alll on the same timer

209 Cali closet grower said:

I always keep a redneck fire alarm in my room

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lol how old is that wallpaper. j/k

Myles117 said:

its 120v.

i think ill use 2 lights per circuit and play it safe. i just wanted them alll on the same timer

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I use relays rated for the amps needed and are all activated by a small wall timer. In my circuit the relays have 28vac coils and employ a 120vac induction coil for start-up which are very low amperage and are pluged into the timer. The contacts of the relays are rated at 15amp/120/240vac. I run my HID's 240vac because I can get away with less wiring and I feel it's safer. If you don't understand this stuff you should either study or find someone that does. Plugging HID lighting directly into a wall timer can cause a fire.

this type of stuff interests me so little.... ill talk to my electrician about it. Aprreciate the time spent to guide my dumb ass

With hydro, GFI circuit breakers, are needed. And I think the most dangerous component is me, by far.

My thing is turning my back on pumping water and let Mr. Murphy push the hose output onto the floor.

Doer said:

And I think the most dangerous component is me, by far.

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spot on...

20V and .1A can kill you!

Here is a great resource for anyone who cares:
Electrical Safety - http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_1/chpt_3/1.html

Im new to the board and happen to be a licensed electrician. If needed i can anwser questions and remember don't be scared of electricity just respect it.