50 amp timer box circuit breaker trips. Please help!

S

slikhik

Active Member
Hi I have a 50 amp timer box from sunlight systems along with a 15 amp dial timer that came with it. I only have 5 1000 watt lights plugged in but it says it can handle 8 1000 watt lights. At least once a week, I walk into the room to find the circuit has tripped and two or three lights are off.

Is the 15 amp dial timer not strong enough? If so what kind of timer can I use to handle my load. I want to be able to plug in another light or two in the future.

Thanks in advance.
 
E

extae

Member
I don't understand. What do you have connected to the 15 amp timer? (each 1000W lamp is going to pull about 9 amps)
 
legallyflying

legallyflying

Well-Known Member
watts/volts = amps. 5000/ 110 = 45 amps Add a little extra amps in there for ballast inefficiency...pop. your popping your breaker.

It COULD handle 8 1000 watt light....if it was wired 220.

Circuit breakers pop when there is too much load on the circuit. Your timer doesn't really load the circuit. If your timer had too much juice running to it, it would just melt or catch fire. The point being that under rated appliances don't cause circuit breakers to pop.

Just to be sure I wasn't full of shit (like many a poster), I googled your timer. If it is this one: http://www.hydrofanatics.com/50-amp-timer-box-p-332.html

then you have it wired wrong. You need to run 220 to it. Nice fucking timer though. I like how it has 220 for the lights and 110 for the accessories. Recheck how you wired it. I am willing to bet its just a function of you not wiring it correctly. Both the black and white wires should come off the breaker..the white one does NOT go to the common bar like most of the other circuits. Look at your junction box and see how the washer, heater, or other 220 circuit is wired.

Easy fix, you just need a 220 volt breaker.
 
M

midwestfunkmaster

Member
legallyflying said:
watts/volts = amps. 5000/ 110 = 45 amps Add a little extra amps in there for ballast inefficiency...pop. your popping your breaker.

It COULD handle 8 1000 watt light....if it was wired 220.

Circuit breakers pop when there is too much load on the circuit. Your timer doesn't really load the circuit. If your timer had too much juice running to it, it would just melt or catch fire. The point being that under rated appliances don't cause circuit breakers to pop.

Just to be sure I wasn't full of shit (like many a poster), I googled your timer. If it is this one: http://www.hydrofanatics.com/50-amp-timer-box-p-332.html

then you have it wired wrong. You need to run 220 to it. Nice fucking timer though. I like how it has 220 for the lights and 110 for the accessories. Recheck how you wired it. I am willing to bet its just a function of you not wiring it correctly. Both the black and white wires should come off the breaker..the white one does NOT go to the common bar like most of the other circuits. Look at your junction box and see how the washer, heater, or other 220 circuit is wired.

Easy fix, you just need a 220 volt breaker.
Click to expand...
Hmmm....interesting.
 
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