Let’s talk power strips

So my grow room only has one single duplex electrical socket available. Right now I’m relying on power strips and it’s making me uncomfortable. I do have a fire sprinkler system but still, the last thing I want to do is soak my entire setup in the event of a fire emergency. I’m also not sure i trust that old sprinkler! My room has its own sub panel separate from the house. I’m trying to figure out what my options are. Is a hardwired power strip just as safe as installing multiple duplex outlets on the same breaker? My lights are on their own separate 240v circuit but I’ve still got AC, fans, humidifiers, an air pump, etc all hooked up to power strips. I’m constantly checking the strips and power cords for heat and haven’t noticed any but it still bothers me. Can extension cords safely be plugged into these hardwired power strips or should I just install a bunch of standard duplex outlets?

sf_frankie said:

My room has its own sub panel separate from the house.

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Ok, a subpanel is fed from a breaker in your main panel. What size is that breaker? Do you have pictures of the sub panel?

I would seriously ditch the idea of power strips, you will still be limited to the ampacity of that one receptacle. Running additional circuit/s is the way to go. Put receptacles wherever you need them. Surface mount with conduit or metal clad would likely make it easy.

Renfro said:

Ok, a subpanel is fed from a breaker in your main panel. What size is that breaker? Do you have pictures of the sub panel?

I would seriously ditch the idea of power strips, you will still be limited to the ampacity of that one receptacle. Running additional circuit/s is the way to go. Put receptacles wherever you need them. Surface mount with conduit or metal clad would likely make it easy.

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I can snap pics tomorrow. Sub panel is fed from the main breaker off a 100amp switch. The sub panel has two 15amp/120v circuits and a 30amp/240v circuit (two 120s bridged together). I don’t think the sub panel has any more space for additional circuits but I could be wrong. Think it just has the four. I can look tomorrow. Sorry if I’m not using the correct terminology. I’ve a decent understanding of everything and have done my share of wiring, just never paid attention to the names of different components.

Are hardwired power strips not the same idea as sockets and conduit wrapped up in a tidy package? I thought they had the proper gauge wire inside of them between outlets I could be misunderstanding what they are.

This is what I’m talking about. I know we have them in my shop at work with loads of high power stuff plugged in at all times.

Tripp Lite 12 Outlet Bench & Cabinet Power Strip, 36 in. Length, 20A, Hardwired Input (PS3612-20HW) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006B820/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_13f8EbF5KAEME

Or do you mean adding new circuits to either the sub panel or main breaker and giving each outlet it’s own circuit?

sf_frankie said:

I don’t think the sub panel has any more space for additional circuits but I could be wrong.

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Yeah let me see the panel, if you can get a shot of the inside where the tag with the part # is I may have a fix. Space saver breakers (tandem) can be used on some panels to pop two circuits in one panel space.

sf_frankie said:

Or do you mean adding new circuits to either the sub panel or main breaker and giving each outlet it’s own circuit?

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They don't have to be dedicated receptacles. I like to run dedicated's for heavy loads like dehumidifier, AC. The other fans, pumps and whatnot can generally share a circuit.

I just dislike power strips except as a last resort.

Renfro said:

Yeah let me see the panel, if you can get a shot of the inside where the tag with the part # is I may have a fix. Space saver breakers (tandem) can be used on some panels to pop two circuits in one panel space.

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Will do. I don’t think I need more than 30amps for the whole room. The single plug in there is on a 15amp breaker. The other 15amp in the panel goes to a single unused plug in a small room on the other side of the wall. I was thinking of just punching thru to the other side of the wall and adding a gfci outlet. I’ve got a box of them in the garage for some reason. No clue how they got there.

I guess i could also just add another sub panel. I’m gonna have to run wires from the main breaker out to the room for my minisplit next week anyway. That probably makes the most sense no? I assume I can just pull those wires thru the same buried conduit that the existing wires are run thru, right?

Here’s the only thing that looks like a part number I was wrong, they’re 20a breakers for the 120v

sf_frankie said:

Here’s the only thing that looks like a part number I was wrong, they’re 20a breakers for the 120vView attachment 4602509View attachment 4602510

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Damn, it's already tandemed out lol.

One good thing is the 120v feeds are on 20 amp breakers and therefore it should be #12 wire. If thats the case then make sure the receptacle is rated for 20 amps so it's not the weak link. Then If you use a 20 amp rated commercial grade power strip you should be ok.

Here is a duplex 20 amp 120 v receptacle (NEMA 5-20R Duplex)



Just confirm that #12 wire was used on those two 20 amp 120v circuits.

If you wanted to add more receptacles to the circuit in other locations you can do that. How is the existing receptacle installed? Surface mount metal box?

sf_frankie said:

Will do. I don’t think I need more than 30amps for the whole room. The single plug in there is on a 15amp breaker. The other 15amp in the panel goes to a single unused plug in a small room on the other side of the wall. I was thinking of just punching thru to the other side of the wall and adding a gfci outlet. I’ve got a box of them in the garage for some reason. No clue how they got there.

I guess i could also just add another sub panel. I’m gonna have to run wires from the main breaker out to the room for my minisplit next week anyway. That probably makes the most sense no? I assume I can just pull those wires thru the same buried conduit that the existing wires are run thru, right?

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Wait, do you mean you have another sub panel off that one already and that one is in the grow room?

sf_frankie said:

I assume I can just pull those wires thru the same buried conduit that the existing wires are run thru, right?

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Fill calculations would need to be done.

Honestly I am having a hard time picturing the whole wiring setup from your main panel (the first one after the meter) all the way to where your grow room is. I would need to go over that in detail to say what is good to go. It sounds like something that a qualified sparky needs to look at if you are gonna need more power for a mini. The right way would likely be to change out the small 2 space 100 amp panel for one with more spaces so all 100 amps (80) can be used directly from there.

Renfro said:

Honestly I am having a hard time picturing the whole wiring setup from your main panel (the first one after the meter) all the way to where your grow room is. I would need to go over that in detail to say what is good to go. It sounds like something that a qualified sparky needs to look at if you are gonna need more power for a mini. The right way would likely be to change out the small 2 space 100 amp panel for one with more spaces so all 100 amps (80) can be used directly from there.

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Whoever used to own this house before was growing and I’m 90% sure he got high and did the wiring for the room himself. The main box after the meter has a 100amp switch that I believe runs directly to the sub panel in the picture. My plan was to add a circuit to the main box and run new wires out to the grow room for the mini. Was just going to run a dedicated line direct to the mini but thought perhaps I could add another box similar to the one pictured and split power to the mini and then two 120v circuits wired to new outlets in the grow room. Does that make sense? I’ll likely just get a qualified sparky since I really don’t like dealing with electricity.

Renfro said:

If you wanted to add more receptacles to the circuit in other locations you can do that. How is the existing receptacle installed? Surface mount metal box?

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Boxes are inside the wall, not surface mount. I can add more to the existing circuit in other location using old-work boxes. I’ll try and remember to shoot you some pics when I’m home from work. The wiring in this place is goofy. I’ve got 4 separate small structures on this small property all built at different times and they were likely DIY’d by previous owners. My grow room was likely purpose built back in the day.