Great link to sub panel wiring

I found this little gem

I am still awaiting panhead's write up on sub panel wiring, but I couldn't wait and i found this 3 part how to guide, which is very detailed

Adding New Electrical Circuits - Installing A Sub-Panel - An Overview

Sweet. Was looking for something similar cos all I got is a light bulb socket in my attic. Was gonna do a SWAG method electrical job, but this looks safer.

(SWAG means Scientific Wild Ass Guess. Normally used in conjunction with the fine adjustment tool. i.e. big heavy hammer)

There is also a lot of other ways to get the power you need without adding a subpanel, duplex breakers for 1, hardwired timer boxes are another way.

Anyone be interested in a step by step tutorial for working with wiring? What about building timer boxes? Reason I ask is I do freelance work for a agricultural supply store and do this kind of work daily.

I'm sure that everyone on this forum would love a step by step guide. I know i personally would, as they are extremely helpful for some of us less knowledgeable people.

i agree i`m in the middle of reading up on that for my next stealth box and want it wired correctly.my house wiring is all over the place.i think they had some morron eddy electron do it.

Iridium said:

There is also a lot of other ways to get the power you need without adding a subpanel, duplex breakers for 1, hardwired timer boxes are another way.

Anyone be interested in a step by step tutorial for working with wiring? What about building timer boxes? Reason I ask is I do freelance work for a agricultural supply store and do this kind of work daily.

Click to expand...

Panhead started a thread for it and he was going to write up a tutorial, but he's got stuff going on at home and hasn't been able to do it. Someone else was saying they were going to do the write-up, but, well.. yeah. So, anyone who actually does it will be a little ahead.

Will or can you address UBC?

Okay, I have a few different jobs coming up in the next few weeks, some huge (8,000 watts) some small (1200 watts) plus I'll be adding a few 120v outlets and branches so I'll take as many detailed pictures as possible (depending on the people I'm working for anyways) and write a few different tutorials for the different jobs. I also have to build a 30amp timer box (4 1000's + 2 120v) as well as a 50 amp Box (8 1000's + 2 120v) plus I can do a schematic of even larger systems up to 12-16 1000's, how to wire/re-wire ballasts/Nu-Wave's/Tek's etc for 120/240v. Just tell me what you guys want to see and I'll do my best to write up a detailed tutorial. Probably be a bit slow since I work 12-16hrs a day but I'll do my best.

Seamaiden said:

Will or can you address UBC?

Click to expand...

Not sure what you mean by UBC?

this sounds cool.when i`m ready for my next set up i would definately let you know

I'm about 1/2 way through my write up on how to build a 6 light, 30amp 240v timer box, it's super detailed with a ton of pictures, a materials list along with part numbers for the harder to locate items as well as an online suppliers list to buy the parts dirt cheap. With this write up you'll be able to save a good $250+ on building a box yourself vs buying one pre-made and the quality will be twice as good as the current Sunlight Supply boxes.

Basically I'm going to turn this giant pile of parts, as well a couple not shown (240v outlets) into a working, reliable and SAFE timer box to power anywhere from 1-6, 240v ballasts at any wattage you choose! Full write up will be up in a few days.

sound good buddy. you said 240 volt can we still use 110. or is 240 usable with 220. just like a 110 light-wall outlet acualy 120.

220 is 240

bonz said:

sound good buddy. you said 240 volt can we still use 110. or is 240 usable with 220. just like a 110 light-wall outlet acualy 120.

Click to expand...

Well the box is setup to run 240v (220 actual) volt ballasts but wiring the box for 120v (110 actual) ballast outlets is basically just a few small changes. I'll pick up a few 120v outlets and add a subsection to the write up on how to build/wire it up for 120v outlets.

i`ll be watching for this one.

Parts List for upcoming write up, seems like a lot but its really not, total for everything should run around $100-$130 total, I buy my parts in large bulk quantities so its always more expensive for me, it'll also be cheaper if your box has smaller power requirements or more expensive if your running a huge setup like 9-12 lights. Sorry the write up is taking so long, chopping and marking 40+ pics plus writing it all down is takin longer than I thought! Tool list is coming too, no biggie just hand tools, a drill and 2 drill bits are all it takes.

Home Depot/Lowes/Hardware Store etc.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Seimens 125amp subpanel (4 slots)
(1) Siemens Dual 240v dual pole breaker (4 240v outlets or greater)
** Size depends on amp use, see below for requirements**
--OR--
(1) Siemens Single 240v dual pole breaker (4 240v outlets or less)
** Size depends on amp use, see below for requirements**
(1) Siemens 15amp 120v single pole breaker (for 120v outlet)
(2) Galvanized metal gang boxes
(2) Galvanized metal box covers (design will depend on # of outlets)
(1) 15amp 120v duplex receptacle
(1) Non metallic liquid tight strain relief (for 120v trigger cord)
(1) 3/4" strain relief (for 240v cord)
(1) 40 or 50amp range/dryer cord (3 wire for 30/40amp, 4 wire for 50amp or greater)
(1) 6/10/12/15ft extension cord (used as trigger cable for box, size is your choice)
(1) pack 50ct stud sz 8-10 ring connectors (I use yellow, blue is also acceptable)
(1) pack 4 ct female spade connectors sz #14-#16
(4) ft each of red/black 12gauge thhn stranded wire
(3) ft each of green/white 12gauge thhn stranded wire
(1) package #8x 3/8" sheet metal screws
(2) 1/2" x 1" rigid conduit nipple's
(4) 1/2" metal lockrings for above nipples


Order Online or Find local to you using part numbers
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contactor; (will depend on total amp load 120v+240v, i.e. 30/40/50/60/70amp)
Siemens 42BF35AF Contactor 30 Amp 3 Pole 120V Coil
Siemens 42CF35AF Contactor 40 Amp 3 Pole 120V Coil
Siemens 42DF35AF Contactor 50 Amp 3 Pole 120V Coil
Siemens 42EF35AF Contactor 60 Amp 3 Pole 120V Coil
**NOTE: MUST use 120V coil or WILL NOT WORK!!!!**
**Amp rating is 10 more for each listed i.e. 30amp rated for 40, 60amp rated for 70**
**Best price found here, ordered dozens, no problems and absolute best price**
Siemens Furmas Contactors: All Thermal Supply

Leviton 5028-1 duplex outlets
**divide # of ballasts by 2 for your requirements, 8 ballasts requires 4 outlets, 3 requires 2 etc**
**Find local at electrical supply stores (Platt/Taylor)**
--OR--
**Order online here, best prices and fast shipping**
Leviton Side Wired 15Amp 250V Duplex Receptacle - Leviton 5028
5028-I 6-15R Duplex Receptacle Commercial - Ivory

Are you by any chance forgetting NM wire???

Cause I saw you listed only 8 feet of it???

Or what about the wire into the subpanel the 6/3?
Cause that stuff is $3 a foot, and to hit the sub panel from the main you need at least 10 feet, unless your grow op is directly behind your main panel???

Please elaborate on how it only costs you $130 to run a subpanel and all outlets to your growroom.

Cause I spent $175 in UF wire alone to get 4 15 amp 120v outlets to my room???

You go girl--------very interesting reads. I like the idea of a 50amp sub pan. I was at lowes today trying to get some ideas---thanks for the posts and plus +rep to all ----electrical seems straight forward----the only thing that sucks for me is my Main is outside and my neighbors are hella trying to be in my bus if you know what I mean.

ganjagoddess said:

Are you by any chance forgetting NM wire???

Cause I saw you listed only 8 feet of it???

Or what about the wire into the subpanel the 6/3?
Cause that stuff is $3 a foot, and to hit the sub panel from the main you need at least 10 feet, unless your grow op is directly behind your main panel???

Please elaborate on how it only costs you $130 to run a subpanel and all outlets to your growroom.

Cause I spent $175 in UF wire alone to get 4 15 amp 120v outlets to my room???

Click to expand...

Tried to give you some +rep but the robot told me I had to spread the love around befor I could give you some more---WTF!!!

I know what you mean, the neighboors were all over me asking what I was doing..

I just told em running new outlets to my garage to power a welder and a fridge...

We had to run the UF wire along side the house and into the garage, then into the basement from the garage because the hole into the house behind the MAin Panel was packed with wires and they Yellow foamed it shut.

WTF!?

So we just ran 4 14 AWG UF wires into the main panel, buried it under the rock, into the garage, the through a Junction box to the basement spilced to NM wire, then to 4 outlets to the room.

It was crazy, but its all up an running and I have had all three lights running for 8 hours now to test it all out....

DR. VonDankenstine said:

Tried to give you some +rep but the robot told me I had to spread the love around befor I could give you some more---WTF!!!

Click to expand...

Yeah It wont let me give you any more either