A Burning Question ..

water your options?

Active Member
After reading a ton of useful information on these forums, I have been stalled dead in my tracks with a tricky question.

I'm considering a setup with multiple 42w CFL lights running through a Clamp Light. Now, my idea was to use a socket splitter so I could plug in 2 of the CFLs into one Clamp Light, in total having 4 bulbs, 2 Clamp Lights and 2 socket splitters.

One problem: I'm worried about starting a fire! I'm no electrical wizard and was wondering if I would be able to do this. I would hate to burn down my house!

Basically I would like to have all of these plugged into one another and the Clamp Lights plugged into a multi-outlet.

I'd be using:
HTML:
http://www.buylighting.com/42-Watt-Compact-Fluorescent-2800K-Warm-White-p/b509542.htm
for CFLs

HTML:
http://test.deerso.com/1TO2_SOCKET_ADAPTER515561-details.aspx
for the socket adapters

and
HTML:
http://www.goodmart.com/products/1117916.htm
something like this for the light.

Now here is where my question comes in I guess. The Clamp Light itself is rated for 75w/120v. Will the socket adapter with TWO 42w CFLs cause a problem? And what about plugging this kind of setup into a multi-outlet?

Is this advisable? If not, are there any alternatives other than upgrading to a HPS (which I would like to avoid for now)? If anyone is curious, it'd be going over the top of a Bubble Bucket.
 

Mortloch

Well-Known Member
get a book on electrical wiring at Home Depot, its not hard but you have to make sure you don't over load the circuit but if the wires are all at least 14 gauge then on a 15 amp you will be fine up to about 80% max load, after that you might flip it off.
 

Drgreenz

Well-Known Member
also check out some pet stores, they sell clamp style sockets rated for extreme wattages(some up to 450w, yes for growing 450w is not much but in the average "real world" it is lol) then you should be fine i have seen 4 sets of 2-200w cfl replacements run on one outlet with no problems.
 

water your options?

Active Member
Alright, I'll have to run around and look for a couple of those Clamp Light fixtures at the pet stores in town.

After that, it should be safe to plug two of these guys into a multi-outlet without causing a fire, right?

[Considering the type of place this is, I was expecting a Reply maybe a day or two from now! bongsmilie]
 

Drgreenz

Well-Known Member
lol no man a few setups like that will only be pulling a couple hundred watts you should be fine barring any faulty wiring lol. newer(2000+) houses in the us have to have a least 14guage wiring if i remember correctly which can handle quite a bit of wattage.
 
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