Experienced Electrician! Here to Answer Any and All Growroom Electrical Questions

**snow4aaron** · 07-02-2009, 07:16 PM

Hello
I have 2 65w Lights of America flood lights with the screw in type bulb. I wired them up to power cord but I can't seem to get them to work at the same time. Any ideas? Thanks!

**dogtato** · 07-02-2009, 09:16 PM

Originally Posted by VictorVIcious

The maximum watts is based on the heat from the type of bulb it was designed for, one of the first lights I used for seedling was a desk lamp, the one with the four tube floro's.
If the bulbs you have are 65 watt, not 65 watt equivalent, you might consider getting better sockets and using 12 wire with a 20 amp breaker for just those 4 lights. Most actual 65 watt cfl's have a mogul base, so I am guessing you have 65 watt equivalent bulbs, and in that case all of what you are considering should be fine. You might want to protect the cords and plugs from spilled water. I appreciate the support, that is funny. VV

They're 300w equivalent (I think they might be 68 watt?) but fit in a regular socket. Got them at Home Depot for $15 each.

I was thinking of mounting them to the wall so I wouldn't have to worry about them getting wet and because there's not much space amidst a SOG setup for desk lamps.

**DMC65** · 07-06-2009, 10:27 PM

[quote=Ap0c0leS;2680365]Nope, No concern at all about the light. Actually it is a brand new 250W Digital electronics ballast and cord set. I also have an air sealed/cooled glass reflector. I just figured there would be some simple attachment i could get to hook up to my light plug that will turn it off if it gets to a certain temperature. I have no idea about wireing and i wouldnt know where to begin to install a thermal switch.. is there a noob thermal switch where i can just place what i want plugged into it and have those shut off in the event that the temperature reaches 150 degrees or whatever. Also i will have PLENTY of ventilation as i have the tents exaust and the lights exaust competly seperate from eachother so i should be able to get that light RIGHT DOWN THERE BABY.. WOOO.. anyway is there any nooby thermal switches or does noone bother>?

Kinda like the fan control speed things, only a heat senor and circuit breaker instead.. make sence?[/quote

I agreewith VV you won't need the thermal shut off switch but if you hve an extra $100 burnin a hole in you pocket you could buy this:

CAP HLC-3e High Temp Shut-Down W/15 Minute ON Delay
[199848]

$89.90

CAP HLC-3e High Temperature Shut-Down with 15 Minute ON Delay

HLC-3e combines the functions of HLC-1 and HLC-2 to protect your lights from hot starts and your garden from high temperatures
A high temperature shutdown provides insurance from crop damage due to high heat from ventilation and cooling problems
HLC-3e senses a power interruption and will start a 15-minute delay to keep the light from trying to re-fire during the cool down period
Rated for 15 amps at 120 volts
Includes 3 ft remote temperature sensor

**Ap0c0leS** · 07-07-2009, 05:59 PM

Well im back again for another Question.. I believe i have two 12v PC fans that i would like to connect together somehow.. im guessing to a 12 volt adapter so i can plug them into a normal electrical outlet. Do you know what im saying? One of the fans is about 2 inchs around and the other is about 7". the larger fan has a 3 speed control switch, this fan is called an antec 3 speed fan and has a 3 speed control .. L M H.. How do i connect these fans together and adapt them to a power source to plug them into the wall.. the small fan says DC12V 1.0W (model N5010B2) ...

Small fan has 3 cords.. one red one black one yellow...... small pc hookup on the end
Large fan has 2 cords .. black and red and it goes into a regluar pc power adapter slot that you would plug into a hard drive or that would fit into one of the power supply cords

**VictorVIcious** · 07-08-2009, 05:59 AM

Originally Posted by Ap0c0leS

Well im back again for another Question.. I believe i have two 12v PC fans that i would like to connect together somehow.. im guessing to a 12 volt adapter so i can plug them into a normal electrical outlet. Do you know what im saying? One of the fans is about 2 inchs around and the other is about 7". the larger fan has a 3 speed control switch, this fan is called an antec 3 speed fan and has a 3 speed control .. L M H.. How do i connect these fans together and adapt them to a power source to plug them into the wall.. the small fan says DC12V 1.0W (model N5010B2) ...

Small fan has 3 cords.. one red one black one yellow...... small pc hookup on the end
Large fan has 2 cords .. black and red and it goes into a regluar pc power adapter slot that you would plug into a hard drive or that would fit into one of the power supply cords

They 12 volt converter in the cpu can be removed and used.

VV

**phishmonster** · 07-08-2009, 06:22 AM

How many amp circuit do I need to run four 1k hps and two 400 hps bulbs? Can I use say the exsisting cicuit for the four 1K in the bedroom coming fro the service which is a 20 amp circuit? And use another 20 amp circuit for the other two 400hps? What is the best way to wire this to a service? Thanks!

**warehousemouse** · 07-08-2009, 07:27 AM

Okay. I got myself some seeds that I germinated, and I'll need to plant them tomorrow. I got a light fixture CFL's.

Black/White > Negative/Positive? How do I wire that to a plug to plug into an outlet? Just cut the chord off something? Then how do I know what to wire to what? Thanks.

**VictorVIcious** · 07-09-2009, 08:20 PM

Originally Posted by bugsrnme

ok, i have a switchable 1000w ballast that was a 110v and the previous owner opened it up and switched some wires around and presto....220.
but i only have 110 and need to open it up and switch it back. is there any hope for me or am i gonna have to pay someone to do this? i wired the op and some of the house so i have a decent understanding of electricity but i have never opened up a ballast or anything like that.

All of the wires in a ballast are marked. As long as your neutrals all stay connected and you only disconnect one Hot wire you should be fine. There could be two or 3 parts in there, Mh has a capacitor and the ballast, the hps has a starter as well. All of the items you would be concerned about should be clearly marked. VV

**VictorVIcious** · 07-09-2009, 08:25 PM

Originally Posted by phishmonster

How many amp circuit do I need to run four 1k hps and two 400 hps bulbs? Can I use say the exsisting cicuit for the four 1K in the bedroom coming fro the service which is a 20 amp circuit? And use another 20 amp circuit for the other two 400hps? What is the best way to wire this to a service? Thanks!

the formula is volts x amps = watts. Divide watts by volts it will give you amps. For an operation like that, you would want to install much more than a couple of 20 amp circuits. I have 8 circuits dedicated to my op and I only have 3-1000 watt lights. VV

**VictorVIcious** · 07-09-2009, 08:31 PM

Originally Posted by warehousemouse

Okay. I got myself some seeds that I germinated, and I'll need to plant them tomorrow. I got a light fixture CFL's.

Black/White > Negative/Positive? How do I wire that to a plug to plug into an outlet? Just cut the chord off something? Then how do I know what to wire to what? Thanks.

This may help. The colors of the wires and screws will be the same in the fixture. You should use wire nuts and seal those off with electric tape.

VV