Help 100amp service will this be safe

Sebassst

Active Member
So I am setting up a new grow in my basement I will have around 10 gavita leds in flower room and maybe 6 sunsystem the light will be connected to a titan 8 light controller 315 cmh in veg and a 155 or 165 quest Dehumidifier couple of carbon filters couple of 16 inch wall fans and a couple other things that don’t use that much power my question will my 100 amps be enough I have 4 empty spots in my breaker box I just want to make sure it will be safe or will it even work
 

rmax

Well-Known Member
I googled.

"How many watts make an amp? At 120V, 120 watts make 1 amp. That means that 1 amp = 120 watts. "

Add-up the wattage of all the devices in your building. Tell us the sum.
 

Sebassst

Active Member
I googled.

"How many watts make an amp? At 120V, 120 watts make 1 amp. That means that 1 amp = 120 watts. "

Add-up the wattage of all the devices in your building. Tell us the sum.
Ok so each gavita leds are 645 whatts at 240 will use 2.67 amps I’m doing 10 the 6 veg lights are 315 whatts use 1.42 amps each Ac 1520 whatts uses 11.8 amps and dehumidifier at 240 will take 3.4 whatts and the filters use 2.1 amps I’m using 3 I’m prickly gonna do 240v if possible to use less amps
 

MustGro

Well-Known Member
Your 100 amp panel multiplied by 120 volts is 12000 watts for the whole house. If you don't have a big draw on your supply already then 240 is a big step. Are the LEDs available with a 240 volt plug?
 

rmax

Well-Known Member
Ok so each gavita leds are 645 whatts at 240 will use 2.67 amps I’m doing 10 the 6 veg lights are 315 whatts use 1.42 amps each Ac 1520 whatts uses 11.8 amps and dehumidifier at 240 will take 3.4 whatts and the filters use 2.1 amps I’m using 3 I’m prickly gonna do 240v if possible to use less amps
I think you have to have a 240v panel to operate 240v equipment. If your panel is 120v, are you going to need an electrician for an upgrade to 240v?

MustGro is right. You'll also have to add-in the other stuff on the panel, bathroom fan, washer/dryer/stove/refrigerator, etc. to determine total load.
 

osowhom

Well-Known Member
Ok so each gavita leds are 645 whatts at 240 will use 2.67 amps I’m doing 10 the 6 veg lights are 315 whatts use 1.42 amps each Ac 1520 whatts uses 11.8 amps and dehumidifier at 240 will take 3.4 whatts and the filters use 2.1 amps I’m using 3 I’m prickly gonna do 240v if possible to use less amps
240 is less per leg same amps sorry to break it to you
 

osowhom

Well-Known Member
100 amp subpanel will be plenty of juice
I think you have to have a 240v panel to operate 240v equipment. If your panel is 120v, are you going to need an electrician for an upgrade to 240v?

MustGro is right. You'll also have to add-in the other stuff on the panel, bathroom fan, washer/dryer/stove/refrigerator, etc. to determine total load.
all panels are 240 uless you live in a 100 year old house lol
 

MustGro

Well-Known Member
I just had an electrician in to add some capacity to my room. Only a 100 amp service but he added 80 amps to my room with a "pony panel". I think that's what @osowhom means when he says subpanel, right. I could have wired the subpanel 240 and used half the amps but all my equipment is 120 volt already and I grow in water so 240 is a bigger danger with pumps in reservoirs and such.
The first pic is the panel mounted below my cabinet that holds my 100 amp service. He ran the 12 gauge wire up the wall and out to the receptacles. It was easy because the panel is in my grow room. Second pic is a close up of the panel. There are four 20 amp breakers each attached to about 25 feet of 12 gauge wire with one 4 position receptacle box on the end of each run.
The third pic is a 600 watt HPS on a rain-tite intermatic timer plugged into one of the receptacles. The AC is plugged in and running on the same 20 amp circuit. The fourth pic is a close up of the same receptacle. I mounted it on a piece of 2x6 and used two 3 inch wood screws to attach the unit to a wall stud, but you can move them anywhere. After years of running extension cords; it's pretty cool.
I can post pics of the wiring if you're that brave, but I recommend finding a pro like I did.
 

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osowhom

Well-Known Member
I just had an electrician in to add some capacity to my room. Only a 100 amp service but he added 80 amps to my room with a "pony panel". I think that's what @osowhom means when he says subpanel, right. I could have wired the subpanel 240 and used half the amps but all my equipment is 120 volt already and I grow in water so 240 is a bigger danger with pumps in reservoirs and such.
The first pic is the panel mounted below my cabinet that holds my 100 amp service. He ran the 12 gauge wire up the wall and out to the receptacles. It was easy because the panel is in my grow room. Second pic is a close up of the panel. There are four 20 amp breakers each attached to about 25 feet of 12 gauge wire with one 4 position receptacle box on the end of each run.
The third pic is a 600 watt HPS on a rain-tite intermatic timer plugged into one of the receptacles. The AC is plugged in and running on the same 20 amp circuit. The fourth pic is a close up of the same receptacle. I mounted it on a piece of 2x6 and used two 3 inch wood screws to attach the unit to a wall stud, but you can move them anywhere. After years of running extension cords; it's pretty cool.
I can post pics of the wiring if you'
 

osowhom

Well-Known Member
I just had an electrician in to add some capacity to my room. Only a 100 amp service but he added 80 amps to my room with a "pony panel". I think that's what @osowhom means when he says subpanel, right. I could have wired the subpanel 240 and used half the amps but all my equipment is 120 volt already and I grow in water so 240 is a bigger danger with pumps in reservoirs and such.
The first pic is the panel mounted below my cabinet that holds my 100 amp service. He ran the 12 gauge wire up the wall and out to the receptacles. It was easy because the panel is in my grow room. Second pic is a close up of the panel. There are four 20 amp breakers each attached to about 25 feet of 12 gauge wire with one 4 position receptacle box on the end of each run.
The third pic is a 600 watt HPS on a rain-tite intermatic timer plugged into one of the receptacles. The AC is plugged in and running on the same 20 amp circuit. The fourth pic is a close up of the same receptacle. I mounted it on a piece of 2x6 and used two 3 inch wood screws to attach the unit to a wall stud, but you can move them anywhere. After years of running extension cords; it's pretty cool.
I can post pics of the wiring if you're that brave, but I recommend finding a pro like I did.
is that wire rated for AC with a ground i never saw red wire like that it looks like speaker wire
 

MustGro

Well-Known Member
is that wire rated for AC with a ground i never saw red wire like that it looks like speaker wire
For sure. Bought it at Home Depot and it's 12/2 wire. So 12 gauge with two wires in their own sheaths. The ground is bare inside the red outer coating. It's made for 240 volt though. No neutral return in there; just a red and black with the ground. The electrician said black is black and red is white for my setup.
 

osowhom

Well-Known Member
For sure. Bought it at Home Depot and it's 12/2 wire. So 12 gauge with two wires in their own sheaths. The ground is bare inside the red outer coating. It's made for 240 volt though. No neutral return in there; just a red and black with the ground. The electrician said black is black and red is white for my setup.
thats fine electricity is color blind and 12/2 with a ground is perfect but to call it proffesional when theres not even a cover plate on the receptacle lol is a stretch
 
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