air conditioner flipping breaker

sunandsky

sunandsky

Well-Known Member
So i just got this 9000btu a/c that works really well. its an indoor portable a/c. power consumption is 1100watts... and I live in a small apartment. I use a 400watt HPS system, with a 190fmc 4 inch fan, humidifier, and a normal house fan in the tent. I also had my kitchen lights, tv, and computer on.

I guess what I'm trying to figure out is how i can avoid the breaker flip. How much wattage can a normal breaker handle before it flips like that?
 
sunandsky

sunandsky

Well-Known Member
Jaybodankly said:
You might need a heavy duty extension cord to pull power from an underused socket. Since the A/C is the heavy user leave that and run lights on the extension cord.
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weird thing is the breaker for the entire apartment flipped, making me think that maybe it doesn't matter where i plug it in. My old place would just flip separate breakers, then again i don't know much about electrical work so idk wtf I'm doing really. It only flipped the breaker after I had the thing running on high for like 30 mins. I rigged it up now with some ducting so it blows the cold air right into my grow tent. works quite well on the lowest setting.
 
sunandsky

sunandsky

Well-Known Member
any other advice would be appreciated. always good to learn about these sorts of things when you come across them
 
Carolina Dream'n

Carolina Dream'n

Well-Known Member
Jaybodankly said:
You might need a heavy duty extension cord to pull power from an underused socket. Since the A/C is the heavy user leave that and run lights on the extension cord.
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No. Please don't.
sunandsky said:
any other advice would be appreciated. always good to learn about these sorts of things when you come across them
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Apartments aren't wired for large power consumption. Especially if you don't have a washer n dryer. Also air conditioners pull more power then stated when first turning on.
 
Jaybodankly

Jaybodankly

Well-Known Member
Nothing wrong with a proper gauge extension cord. 400W is not a lot on a cord on a short run. 12 gauge extension cords are heavier than a lot wire you have running in your walls.
 
Dr. Who

Dr. Who

Well-Known Member
Carolina Dream'n said:
No. Please don't.

Apartments aren't wired for large power consumption. Especially if you don't have a washer n dryer. Also air conditioners pull more power then stated when first turning on.
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He's pulling to many amps! That current heats the breaker and it trips when it's too hot.....Whole aprt. breaker? Your pretty well screwed here.....Unless you don't run other things when the AC is running..

Have your lights on or run, when you are asleep......Set timers to run when you use the least amount of power.....I trust you watch TV at night? Don't run them then. See what I'm getting at? That's about all you can try....
 
sunandsky

sunandsky

Well-Known Member
Dr. Who said:
He's pulling to many amps! That current heats the breaker and it trips when it's too hot.....Whole aprt. breaker? Your pretty well screwed here.....Unless you don't run other things when the AC is running..

Have your lights on or run, when you are asleep......Set timers to run when you use the least amount of power.....I trust you watch TV at night? Don't run them then. See what I'm getting at? That's about all you can try....
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I have a washer and dryer. So there is a certain amount of wattage I can pull I guess. Hmm so that's how a breaker trips eh? heat? Makes sense because sometimes it will run for a while before it trips. Last night after lights were out i ran the a/c and it didn't trip the breaker. So I was thinking maybe today I'll run an extension cord to a different room for the hps light. I doubt it will help though because the main breaker for the entire apartment tripped. I guess my only option is just to get a smaller a/c. This thing is 9000btu, more than i need that's for sure! Right now i got soem ducting taped to the a/c and then it goes directly into the tent, so it cools down quite fast. I can get some cooling done before it trips the breaker
 
thumper60

thumper60

Well-Known Member
sunandsky said:
I have a washer and dryer. So there is a certain amount of wattage I can pull I guess. Hmm so that's how a breaker trips eh? heat? Makes sense because sometimes it will run for a while before it trips. Last night after lights were out i ran the a/c and it didn't trip the breaker. So I was thinking maybe today I'll run an extension cord to a different room for the hps light. I doubt it will help though because the main breaker for the entire apartment tripped. I guess my only option is just to get a smaller a/c. This thing is 9000btu, more than i need that's for sure! Right now i got soem ducting taped to the a/c and then it goes directly into the tent, so it cools down quite fast. I can get some cooling done before it trips the breaker
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that last sentence is pretty scary,gotta think about the other folks that live there
 
kratos015

kratos015

Well-Known Member
You need to take a look at the amount of amps your AC uses. My 15k uses 11 amps, so your 9k is probably 7, maybe 8 amp? Your AC will tell you for sure. Point is, your room that has the tent in it is likely only wired for 15 amps.

Duct fan, house fan, and humidifier take an amp each I'm sure, so combine that with your AC and you're at 10 amps. Add the light into the mix and you're at 14 amps. And that's just for your tent's electric use, doesn't include any other appliances that are plugged in.

Take a look at your breaker box and figure out how many breakers you have and how many amps they all are. You'll need to power the AC on one breaker and the light on another breaker. You can in fact use an extension cord for the light, but for the love of God make sure it's 14 gauge at a minimum. I only use 12 gauge personally because I'd much rather be safe than sorry.

Take a picture of your breaker box for us and we can help better, I doubt your apartment is only wired for 15 amps.

When you grow, you should have at least a basic understanding of amps/watts etc. I'm no electrician but even I understand it. It's crucial that you do because otherwise you run the risk of fire or worse.
 
Xcoregamerskillz

Xcoregamerskillz

Well-Known Member
Post a picture of your breaker box and tell me exactly what's tripping. If you're tripping the main, that doesn't make much sense, unless you ha e less than a 100A service, which is possible, but unlilely. Where do you live, and how old is your wiring? This all plays a part in how a system will load. Breakers don't last forever either, your main might need replacing. Consider asking a LICENSED electrician, or a 3rd or 4th year registered apprentice for help.
 
greasemonkeymann

greasemonkeymann

Well-Known Member
sunandsky said:
any other advice would be appreciated. always good to learn about these sorts of things when you come across them
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two things worth mentioning
1. WHAT is the amperage of the main breaker?
2. A 400 w usually won't need an AC system anyways, get a 4" vortex fan and a air-cooled light, enclosed.

I never run an AC, and I run two 600s in CA where it can be 90 or higher in the summer, the key is to run the lights at night, and to set up a really good ventilation system.

one thing is for certain.

you need to understand electricity.

You can burn your house down or worse if you don't know what you are doing.
and blowing breakers is the ONLY warning that you'll get before something real bad happens.
Electrical isn't that hard to understand, it's very similar to plumbing.
 
sunandsky

sunandsky

Well-Known Member
thumper60 said:
that last sentence is pretty scary,gotta think about the other folks that live there
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Elaborating on this would help. Kinda feel like that was a semi insulting comment, not sure though, never know these days, everyones got an inflated ego it seems

kratos015 said:
You need to take a look at the amount of amps your AC uses. My 15k uses 11 amps, so your 9k is probably 7, maybe 8 amp? Your AC will tell you for sure. Point is, your room that has the tent in it is likely only wired for 15 amps.

Duct fan, house fan, and humidifier take an amp each I'm sure, so combine that with your AC and you're at 10 amps. Add the light into the mix and you're at 14 amps. And that's just for your tent's electric use, doesn't include any other appliances that are plugged in.

Take a look at your breaker box and figure out how many breakers you have and how many amps they all are. You'll need to power the AC on one breaker and the light on another breaker. You can in fact use an extension cord for the light, but for the love of God make sure it's 14 gauge at a minimum. I only use 12 gauge personally because I'd much rather be safe than sorry.

Take a picture of your breaker box for us and we can help better, I doubt your apartment is only wired for 15 amps.

When you grow, you should have at least a basic understanding of amps/watts etc. I'm no electrician but even I understand it. It's crucial that you do because otherwise you run the risk of fire or worse.
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Okay, thanks for the knowledge first of all, second, i've taken pics, ill attach them. third, a basic understanding is what im currently achieving, thanks :D

Xcoregamerskillz said:
Post a picture of your breaker box and tell me exactly what's tripping. If you're tripping the main, that doesn't make much sense, unless you ha e less than a 100A service, which is possible, but unlilely. Where do you live, and how old is your wiring? This all plays a part in how a system will load. Breakers don't last forever either, your main might need replacing. Consider asking a LICENSED electrician, or a 3rd or 4th year registered apprentice for help.
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I live in a single strip apartment building, 7 units, all small apartments. Older building. Electricity is included in the cost of rent so it's likely I could have 100A service idk. posted pics, looks like i've got 125.

To answer other questions: 1-my humidifier heats up the tent a lot, and i am waiting for ducting/filter in the mail. Haven't set up a venting system going out of the room yet. I'm also hesitant to vent that stinky air out the window and into the bible thumping nostrils in my jesus cult small town. In the summer I will also want to have an air conditioner. No way am I living another year without one. fuck no. So I might as well address this problem now. I don't want to have my lights on during the night. this makes no sense to me because I can't check on them that often and feeding/watering/inspecting all has a small window. Due to illness i am always home and I enjoy having lights on during the day.
 

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Xcoregamerskillz

Xcoregamerskillz

Well-Known Member
sunandsky said:
Elaborating on this would help. Kinda feel like that was a semi insulting comment, not sure though, never know these days, everyones got an inflated ego it seems


Okay, thanks for the knowledge first of all, second, i've taken pics, ill attach them. third, a basic understanding is what im currently achieving, thanks :D


I live in a single strip apartment building, 7 units, all small apartments. Older building. Electricity is included in the cost of rent so it's likely I could have 100A service idk. posted pics, looks like i've got 125.

To answer other questions: 1-my humidifier heats up the tent a lot, and i am waiting for ducting/filter in the mail. Haven't set up a venting system going out of the room yet. I'm also hesitant to vent that stinky air out the window and into the bible thumping nostrils in my jesus cult small town. In the summer I will also want to have an air conditioner. No way am I living another year without one. fuck no. So I might as well address this problem now. I don't want to have my lights on during the night. this makes no sense to me because I can't check on them that often and feeding/watering/inspecting all has a small window. Due to illness i am always home and I enjoy having lights on during the day.
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Ok, your panel is rated for 125A max, but I still don't have a picture of the main. Please take a pic of the entire panel, open and closed. Also, I'm assuming you live in the US, you didn't really answer. Again, I'm trying to gather as much info as possible before I give you an answer here.

Also, please don't relate electricity to plumbing. Analogies can be made to plumbing, but only in the most basic of senses, and those analogies go out the window as soon as we start introducing inductance and capacitance.
 
brewbeer

brewbeer

Well-Known Member
Does the breaker box shown serve only your apartment, or other apartments too?

Do you have an electric stove?

Do you have electric heat?

Do you have an electric dryer? Do you have a washing machine?
 
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