My light just cut off and I seen a few sparks

spencer2121

spencer2121

Well-Known Member
I was just in my tent taking a few cuttings from my nirvana ice and.. I turn around and my 1000 watt mh light went out.. I've got it plugged directly into the wall (on a 15 amp breaker) I go to look at my timer and I see that the plug was a little loose so I went to plug it back in and seen a few archs ( not really sparks!) someone explain what that was? Obviously my timer is rated for 20 amps it's a hydro farm timer and it's fine for this set up. Maybe I just seen it ground out?? Since Im terrified of electric I unplugged it from the wall and took a powerstrip with a reset switch, plugged that into the wall and plugged the timer into that. As I type this everything seems fine but I just wanna get some advice before I go to sleep!
 
spencer2121

spencer2121

Well-Known Member
The only other thing running at the current time on this particular breaker is a small cfl for clones and a small 4 inch inline fan cooling the light so I'm guessing 12 amps at the most?
 
VX420

VX420

Active Member
Arcs and Sparks are different.. Arcs are normaly Ok, Sparks are normaly bad. What Arced? the power plug or the light.. what sparked the light, the power strip or the wall..
 
Geronimo420

Geronimo420

Well-Known Member
The light most likely went off because of the loose plug. You were not supposed to replug it immediately, you got to wait 15-20 minutes or it will fuck your light spectrum & longevity
 
spencer2121

spencer2121

Well-Known Member
VX420 said:
Arcs and Sparks are different.. Arcs are normaly Ok, Sparks are normaly bad. What Arced? the power plug or the light.. what sparked the light, the power strip or the wall..
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The timers power plug arched.. The light never sparked it just went out. I woke up today at 6 am and the power strip tripped so I'm gonna go get a better one that I have in storage. Hopefully this isn't going to be an issue
 
colonuggs

colonuggs

Well-Known Member
dont use the 15 amp timers like they sell in home depot....they will catch fire in time drawing a constant 1000 watt....I've had wall plug in timers almost catch on fire....the timers plugin melted


build a relay with a trip switch for the timer http://www.hydroponics.net/learn/grow-light-controller.

A relay works like a light switch, it connects and disconnects two wires. The difference is that instead of flipping the switch with your finger, a relay has a coil that when power is applied, it makes the connection. The advantage of this is that the coil requires only minimal current. The one I am using draws 85 milliamps. That means I can control quite a few of these relays with one 15 amp timer. 15 amps / .085 (85 milliamps) = 176, or 176 four light controllers. I don't know if anyone has 704, 1000 watt lights, but if you did you could turn them all on with a $10 Home Depot timer! One problem though, you still need 176 different 30 amp circuits.....
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stoendpirate

stoendpirate

Member
(im level 1 electrician)

You need that light on a heavy duty timer, they are those giant metal ones with a door. You should also make sure the receptacle you're using is tight (screws that the black and white conductors).

Or use a relay


Also this circuit youre using, are you sure its a dedicated 2-wire at the panel? It may be a 3-wire circuit sharing a neutral(white) then the double pole 15 would trip. If the breaker youre using has a black and red wire coming from it then find out where they are.

In the canadian electrical code for residence any HID has to be on its own 40A breaker. 30-104(d)(i)
 
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