kingofqueen
Well-Known Member
This sounds really familiar . Mabey because he has been give a similar answer twice ?lamo
Grow room Electrical Safety Guidelines
- Thread starter kingofqueen
- Start date
kingofqueen
Well-Known Member
Who said it was hot? can u qoute that from the guy ?
NewClosetGrower
Well-Known Member
lol yeah its always funny to see an apprentice think they know everything about electrical after a year or 2 of school.
kingofqueen
Well-Known Member
Yeah hate that shit .Almost as bad as ppl who read the thread title then skip to the last page to answer not knowing if what they are answering with has already been used . Ignorance is bliss .
NewClosetGrower
Well-Known Member
i would have to agree bro, do you do commercial or residential?
kingofqueen
Well-Known Member
I have done it all throughout my career started of in residential ,then commercial,and eventually industrial . I'm a pipe guy . Give me a rack of conduit to run leave me alone and i,m happy. I,ve run it all emt,rigid,pvc coated rigid, aluminum, stainless steel , it sucks when u get to that age where they have to invent a new product for you to actually see something new nothing really thrills me anymore about electrical work .
NewClosetGrower
Well-Known Member
i hear ya man, im starting to get a little bored myself. I have been a foreman for my company for about a year now. im getting really sick of what seems like babysitting even though my company doesnt fuck around and fire someone on the spot. but sitting in the trailer checking print after print order material...whatever you get it....its getting old. i want to go back out and work but i know i will regret that in a few years...it is fun to step in when i have a chance and run some pipe...matter of fact i made a wire cart out of pipe to run the ded. circuit to my grow closet...yeah running pipe and pulling circuits is about the only thing i still somewhat enjoy about being an electrician...im running an 8 story Marriott hotel right now (8 with the roof) and when its done im hoping they will move me to this 7 year hospital job we just started and let me just run a floor or 2 so i can get my hands dirty again and not have to paper push
kingofqueen
Well-Known Member
Are you in colorado ? Denver area?
NewClosetGrower
Well-Known Member
kingofqueen
Well-Known Member
bump bump bump
NewClosetGrower
Well-Known Member
king, whats going on stranger...how have you been?
kingofqueen
Well-Known Member
Been doing alright hanging in there . Just about 4 weeks into flowering now so it,s getting interesting.How u doing ?
NewClosetGrower
Well-Known Member
doing alright man, im about a week into flower myself
PeterJTown
Member
Hello gentlemen
In the name of safety I have a couple of setup questions for you.
I have a new space that I am setting up and it is time to make some electrical decisions. I have two rooms and have already run the wire for the aux lights (green bulbs) and the many outlets throughout the two rooms. I have divided the outlets and lights into 6 circuits that I plan on connecting to 6 30a breakers. I think this is overkill but I have the supplies and I figure why not. How does this part sound?
My real questions come with wiring the main lights. I want to wire the lights for each room through their own timer. (I was thinking an Intermatic outdoor 40a timer, but I am open to what you think will work best) I want to run two wires from the breaker to the 2 timers and then up to the roof where the ballasts will be. My max loads will be 2000w and 5000w, so 8.33a and 20.83a in each room. I was planning on putting each of these on 50a breakers. Which is plenty givin the 80% continues load rule. So my questions are…
1) I should definitely go 240 over 120? Will this save me money?
2) Is it possible/how would I connect up to 5 lights to a timer? There’s no 240v splitters, can I just make one?
We’ll start with those two for now, I know I will think of more as we get rollin.
I appreciate your time and advice, thx.
In the name of safety I have a couple of setup questions for you.
I have a new space that I am setting up and it is time to make some electrical decisions. I have two rooms and have already run the wire for the aux lights (green bulbs) and the many outlets throughout the two rooms. I have divided the outlets and lights into 6 circuits that I plan on connecting to 6 30a breakers. I think this is overkill but I have the supplies and I figure why not. How does this part sound?
My real questions come with wiring the main lights. I want to wire the lights for each room through their own timer. (I was thinking an Intermatic outdoor 40a timer, but I am open to what you think will work best) I want to run two wires from the breaker to the 2 timers and then up to the roof where the ballasts will be. My max loads will be 2000w and 5000w, so 8.33a and 20.83a in each room. I was planning on putting each of these on 50a breakers. Which is plenty givin the 80% continues load rule. So my questions are…
1) I should definitely go 240 over 120? Will this save me money?
2) Is it possible/how would I connect up to 5 lights to a timer? There’s no 240v splitters, can I just make one?
We’ll start with those two for now, I know I will think of more as we get rollin.
I appreciate your time and advice, thx.
kingofqueen
Well-Known Member
Hello and welcome ! For your 2 questions, 8.3 a is fine on one 120v circuit . You will not save money going 240 v the load will be the same but split over two hots instead of one with 120v.240 v breakers and parts cost more.
Splitters?How many lights you planning on running off one ballast?Most people run an individual cable for each light back to the corresponding ballst .
The rest is unclear what you mean , I,ll explain this though for an example.
Your lighting is always powered on a dedicated circuit with no power outlets running off it just the lights.You dont want something you have plugged to trip the brk and your lights go out in the middle of a cycle.1 20a 120v line will provide all the power you need for 8.3 a of lighting .
Your power outlet circuits would normally be either 15 or 20 amp . #14 for the 15a cir or #12 for the 20. . 1 circuit for each room is plenty.Sounds like your just trying to overkill everything instead off adding up your total loads lighting and power then base your circuits off of that.
So in conclusion what size wire did you run?Because that determines your breaker size.Yes 6 circuits is way plenty.Run your lights individually 1 light 1 cable one ballast .A 40a timer is fine although it only has to be rated for what circuit size your using ie a timer rated for 20 amps is fine.Did I clear anything up?
Splitters?How many lights you planning on running off one ballast?Most people run an individual cable for each light back to the corresponding ballst .
The rest is unclear what you mean , I,ll explain this though for an example.
Your lighting is always powered on a dedicated circuit with no power outlets running off it just the lights.You dont want something you have plugged to trip the brk and your lights go out in the middle of a cycle.1 20a 120v line will provide all the power you need for 8.3 a of lighting .
Your power outlet circuits would normally be either 15 or 20 amp . #14 for the 15a cir or #12 for the 20. . 1 circuit for each room is plenty.Sounds like your just trying to overkill everything instead off adding up your total loads lighting and power then base your circuits off of that.
So in conclusion what size wire did you run?Because that determines your breaker size.Yes 6 circuits is way plenty.Run your lights individually 1 light 1 cable one ballast .A 40a timer is fine although it only has to be rated for what circuit size your using ie a timer rated for 20 amps is fine.Did I clear anything up?
PeterJTown
Member
Thanks for the response!
Ok, I’m going to take a second shot at explaining myself clearly. Thanks for the patience.
I have 2 rooms and have wired 10 outlets and 2 lights between them. The 2 lights will be 30w green cfls to be able to light the room when the “main” lights are out. I have wired these outlets and lights with 12-2 Romex and split them into 6 circuits. I will probably use 15-20a like you suggested because these outlets will have a light load. (pumps, circulation fans, etc.) 6 circuits is overkill but it’s already installed that way based on someone else’s advice.
Now for the main lights, at my max load the rooms will have 2000 and 5000 watts. I was going to use 10-2 Romex for this. I will just go over the wiring of the 5000w room to keep things clear. The way I see it, I will run the 10-2 from the breaker to the timer, (hardwired) then out of the timer to the roof of the 5000w room. Here is where my issues arise and the comment about the splitter comes in. I now have a wire coming from the timer and 5 lights, 5 ballasts, and 5 plugs.
1) If I do go 240v, how do I connect the 5 plugs from the lights to the Romex coming from the timer?
2) Since I’m not going to save money should I even mess with going 240v for the lights? What’s the benefit of 240v? Is it safer to lower the current?
If I kept it 120v then I would put a female plug on the end of the Romex coming from the timer, plug in a surge protector or splitter, and then plug the lights into the sp or splitter.
3) Can I combine the 6 circuits into 3? (combine them into pairs)
Thanks again for your responses, it’s a big help.
Ok, I’m going to take a second shot at explaining myself clearly. Thanks for the patience.
I have 2 rooms and have wired 10 outlets and 2 lights between them. The 2 lights will be 30w green cfls to be able to light the room when the “main” lights are out. I have wired these outlets and lights with 12-2 Romex and split them into 6 circuits. I will probably use 15-20a like you suggested because these outlets will have a light load. (pumps, circulation fans, etc.) 6 circuits is overkill but it’s already installed that way based on someone else’s advice.
Now for the main lights, at my max load the rooms will have 2000 and 5000 watts. I was going to use 10-2 Romex for this. I will just go over the wiring of the 5000w room to keep things clear. The way I see it, I will run the 10-2 from the breaker to the timer, (hardwired) then out of the timer to the roof of the 5000w room. Here is where my issues arise and the comment about the splitter comes in. I now have a wire coming from the timer and 5 lights, 5 ballasts, and 5 plugs.
1) If I do go 240v, how do I connect the 5 plugs from the lights to the Romex coming from the timer?
2) Since I’m not going to save money should I even mess with going 240v for the lights? What’s the benefit of 240v? Is it safer to lower the current?
If I kept it 120v then I would put a female plug on the end of the Romex coming from the timer, plug in a surge protector or splitter, and then plug the lights into the sp or splitter.
3) Can I combine the 6 circuits into 3? (combine them into pairs)
Thanks again for your responses, it’s a big help.
kingofqueen
Well-Known Member
#1 Your timer runs the ballasts . 1 LIGHT ,1 CABLE RUN TO YOUR BALLAST , YOUR TIMERS CONTROLS the ballasts . Have you ever wired anything I must ask because your asking basic questions and I'm uncomfortable giving advice to someone inexperianced with electricity.
#2 dont bother with 240v lighting its unnessary .
#3 yes just double up on your breaker .
#2 dont bother with 240v lighting its unnessary .
#3 yes just double up on your breaker .
PeterJTown
Member
Yes, I have some experiance with wiring and electricity. I'm missing the part in my questions where I sound like an idiot. lol
What it sounds like you are suggesting is if I have 5 lights then I'm going to have 5 timers and 5 runs of wire to each ballast. I'm trying to avoid this.
I had mentioned in my last post that "If I kept it 120v then I would put a female plug on the end of the Romex coming from the timer, plug in a surge protector or splitter, and then plug the lights into the sp or splitter." I know this works and could wire it this way and call it a day.
I just wanted to know the best way to do this same hook up with 240v?
As you suggested, I might just stick to 120v as I have experiance and am comfortable with it. However, I still hear about how 240v is the way to go because it provides cleaner power and easier start ups for the ballasts.
What it sounds like you are suggesting is if I have 5 lights then I'm going to have 5 timers and 5 runs of wire to each ballast. I'm trying to avoid this.
I had mentioned in my last post that "If I kept it 120v then I would put a female plug on the end of the Romex coming from the timer, plug in a surge protector or splitter, and then plug the lights into the sp or splitter." I know this works and could wire it this way and call it a day.
I just wanted to know the best way to do this same hook up with 240v?
As you suggested, I might just stick to 120v as I have experiance and am comfortable with it. However, I still hear about how 240v is the way to go because it provides cleaner power and easier start ups for the ballasts.
kingofqueen
Well-Known Member
Ofcourse you can run more than one ballast on one timer .Just like you said above . As long as you dont exceed the max load on the timer . Put all your veg ballasts on one timer and all your flower lights on another timer . Neither of those loads are too much for one timer . 240v ballasts do start up easier but now we are splitting hairs it's not worth it stick with 120 . The only ballasts that are "cleaner" and more efficent are electronic ballasts ,but they are not good for longevity . I often here people say they fail prematurely and they are more expensive . I use all standard magnetic core ballasts and caps .
PeterJTown
Member
alright then it's settled, I'll go with 120.
Thanks for your time and knowledge!
Thanks for your time and knowledge!