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

Mrlyjammn420

Mrlyjammn420

Active Member
Hey brick got a few questions for you. I know people say you need to install a new circuit breaker or something like that for what i want to install. I am going to be running 4 600w ballasts, water heater, water pump, air pump, air conditioner, tds/ph/temp meter, dehumidifier, 2 6" vortext fans, 2 thermostats and 2 to 3 oscillating fans. also possibly some timers if i dont use the simple plug in. I am thinking i might have forgotten some things but what is the best way i could do this and also a SAFE way. That is my main concern SAFETY cant eat "tomatoes" if they burn down right? But if you could help me i would appreciate it!
 
chunkymunkey33

chunkymunkey33

Well-Known Member
VictorVIcious said:
The rating for the receptacle is on the receptacle.
Click to expand...
I looked on the receptacle and it is 250. I took the face plate off yesterday to look at the wiring and it has the 2 hots connected to it but nothing on the ground screw, is this because it's grounded by being screwed into the box? Shouldn't there be more wires than this? Also, since there is only the 2 wires running to it can I hook one up to the neutral bar and use it as a neutral and the other as a hot, switch the 2 pole to a single pole 15 and put a regular recepticle on there? Is it that easy?
 
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LakeShowGrow24

Member
all the input is very much appreciated Cap. to be honest, im not sure if the ballast is designed to run on 1 pole or two. If anyone else does (Galaxy 1000w 240v digital ballast, mfct. date Jan 08) please chime in. I called Sun Supply today and a tech there told me theyve been running the lumatek 240v 1000w (very similar ballast, same company) on a step up/down transfomer with no problems (didnt say how long tho). Actually, he took my number down, did some research and called me back, twice. Gotta say some of the bet customer/ technical service ive ever experienced. Still, for some reason im still wary, guess im not sure if he understood the electrical setup of my garage (to be honest, not confidant I understand it well either), so I'm leaning towards putting it on craigslist and getting a SS10 or harvestpro. gonna try to find a voltmeter to borrow or have a local electrician come by. thanks again CapETan
 
sup@baked

sup@baked

Well-Known Member
OK we just got our first room up and running . I am a General Contractor and have some understanding of what is going on with electricity but not total comprehension . We have a storage area and our power comes from a extension cord , to a power strip , then a splice to romex . I have wired a 2 outlet box and we are up and running . Now my question is how important is grounding ? We obviously aren't grounded now and are running fine . I guess I could go buy a grounding rod , drive it into the ground and run a wire to our outlet but is it that important ? How would I check it when I was done ? The inspectors have this little device they plug in and if it trips you are grounded . Could I do this test with my wet saw ? It has a GFI trip switch on the plug . I am thinking if I install the grounding rod , hook it up and plug in my saw and it works I am grounded .
 
Captn

Captn

Well-Known Member
The ground is a safety feature. Electricity wants to get to ground, and it will follow the path of least resistance. The ground wire ensures that path is not through your body. In that sense, it is the most important part of an electrical system, especially since there is a lot of water in a grow room.
 
sup@baked

sup@baked

Well-Known Member
So if it were your room , you would drive a grounding rod and wire it up ? Thanx for the help . And will my test with the wet saw tell me if I am grounded or not ?
 
Captn

Captn

Well-Known Member
Ya a ground rod should do it...there is a small chance of creating a grounding loop, since you won't be connected to the service ground, but its unlikely...just drive all eight feet of rod, and if it goes in real easy, drive two...as for testing with your saw, im not sure...maybe one of the other electricians can tell you
 
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by1969

Well-Known Member
Here's a question to the electricians. Currently I'm running 2 1000w Metal halides with the convertible ballasts for HPS. This setup is on a large closet in the garage. I had to run one one extension cord for a short distance into another circuit because I quickly found out that 1 circuit couldn't handle it.
Now I want to run 3, preferably 4 lights in a bedroom instead of in that closet. The bedroom circuit is 15 amps, and the circuit actually goes to 2 bedrooms adjacent to each other, so I can't just run a cord underneath the house and into the other room. Above the hallway ceiling in the attic is an electrical circuit that goes to the 2 hallway lights and 2 small bathrooms. Can I tie an outlet into that for the second light?
I'm gonna go back up there and hopefully find the circuit that goes to the master bedroom. If that is easily accessible, hopefully above the hallway in the attic, I'd like to put an outlet into that also for a 3rd light. Further research required for the 4th light.
By breaker box does not have any vacant spaces. Thanks for your input.
 
Captn

Captn

Well-Known Member
Well, you need to allow 9 amps for each 1000w 120v light, so you can do what you're describing. You'll have to be careful, though, to avoid tripping the circuit the bathrooms are on; bathrooms can use a fair amount of power with hairdryers and such. If you can access your service panel from the attic, just get yourself some tandem breakers. Those are breakers that only take half the space of a normal breaker. So replace 4 of your current breakers with tandems, and you will have 4 empty breakers. Or better yet, use tandems to make room for a 2-pole 60 amp, and run a #6 romex to a subpanel in ur growroom. Then you'll have plenty of power for your ventilation, pumps, heaters, whatever. Thats what I'm doing, though mine is only a 30 amp subpanel. In fact, I'm almost done...I'll post a picture of my electrical station in a little while. Mines all mounted on a plywood backboard, so I can take it when I move my growroom.
 
Syriuslydelyrius

Syriuslydelyrius

Well-Known Member
by1969 said:
Here's a question to the electricians. Currently I'm running 2 1000w Metal halides with the convertible ballasts for HPS. This setup is on a large closet in the garage. I had to run one one extension cord for a short distance into another circuit because I quickly found out that 1 circuit couldn't handle it.
Now I want to run 3, preferably 4 lights in a bedroom instead of in that closet. The bedroom circuit is 15 amps, and the circuit actually goes to 2 bedrooms adjacent to each other, so I can't just run a cord underneath the house and into the other room. Above the hallway ceiling in the attic is an electrical circuit that goes to the 2 hallway lights and 2 small bathrooms. Can I tie an outlet into that for the second light?
I'm gonna go back up there and hopefully find the circuit that goes to the master bedroom. If that is easily accessible, hopefully above the hallway in the attic, I'd like to put an outlet into that also for a 3rd light. Further research required for the 4th light.
By breaker box does not have any vacant spaces. Thanks for your input.
Click to expand...
If your going to run multiple lamps then your going to either have to have them set up of differant breakers/seperate timers Or the other option is to run a 220 wire over there and use a high amp relay.

You can buy an expensive light controller that you plumb that 220 line into or you could build one of your own. http://www.hydroponics.net/learn/grow-light-controller.asp

I built mine and I split that 220 line and turn it into 120 inside my box so that I can use my 120v lights. If you were to use the 220 lights you could have more lamps per breaker but a relay will do the trick.

All of which require running wires so your going to have to figure a way to run them.
 
Captn

Captn

Well-Known Member
Syriuslydelyrius said:
If your going to run multiple lamps then your going to either have to have them set up of differant breakers/seperate timers Or the other option is to run a 220 wire over there and use a high amp relay.

You can buy an expensive light controller that you plumb that 220 line into or you could build one of your own. http://www.hydroponics.net/learn/grow-light-controller.asp

I built mine and I split that 220 line and turn it into 120 inside my box so that I can use my 120v lights. If you were to use the 220 lights you could have more lamps per breaker but a relay will do the trick.

All of which require running wires so your going to have to figure a way to run them.
Click to expand...

Ya for that much stuff a feeder to a panel really is best, with the lights all running off one timer. I'm using a 40a single pole (120v) timer from home depot $45
 
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by1969

Well-Known Member
So Captn and Syrius, thanks for the replies. Confusing but I'm learning. If I want to do the above, i'm gonna need to run a 220 line to my breaker right?
 
Captn

Captn

Well-Known Member
so here is my electrical panel...only took me about an hour and a half...of course, i'm an electrician, it will take a layman a lot longer...the box on the left is an intermatic 40amp 120v timer feeding 2 20amp receptacles...im going to replace one receptacle on each circuit with a GFI since so much water is used in a growroom.
 

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by1969

Well-Known Member
Captn said:
so here is my electrical panel...only took me about an hour and a half...of course, i'm an electrician, it will take a layman a lot longer...the box on the left is an intermatic 40amp 120v timer feeding 2 20amp receptacles...im going to replace one receptacle on each circuit with a GFI since so much water is used in a growroom.
Click to expand...
So that's in your grow room, and a 220 line from that goes to your main box? If I don't have a vacant spot on my main box, it's impossible right?
 
Captn

Captn

Well-Known Member
by1969 said:
So Captn and Syrius, thanks for the replies. Confusing but I'm learning. If I want to do the above, i'm gonna need to run a 220 line to my breaker right?
Click to expand...
Ya, go to an electrical supply house, and ask for a 60amp 2-pole breaker for your make of panel. The wire you'll need is either 6/3 romex (thats a copper wire that will have 3 conductors plus a ground) OR #4 SER (aluminum wire, a little cheaper, 3 conductors plus ground). Then talk to them about a panel, get something with at least 6 breaker spaces, along with breakers. You will need a 40amp 1-pole to power the timer, but a 40a 1-pole is going to be a special order item. It may very well be cheaper to get a 40a 2-pole and just use one side of it, which will be fine. u will need a short piece, 2 or 3 ft of #8 romex to feed the timer, then u come off the timer with 2 pieces of #12 going to 2 20a receptacles. That will give u 4 receptacles, one for each light. then put 2 15a 1-pole breakers in the panel each feeding 2 or 3 15a recpt. for your other equipment. while your at the supply house get the recpt with covers and ask for 5 or 6 "handy boxes". I'm suggesting a supply house, because the guy at the counter will know what hes doing, and can help you, whereas the guy at home depot probably won't have a clue.

In your panel, try to find 4 breakers in a row all of the same amperage. at the supply house get 2 tandems, which will hold 4 circuits. U put the 4 circuits on the tandems and viola u have 2 open spaces for the 60a. THE FOLLOWING IS VERY IMPORTANT. You need to open you panel and let me know if there are any red wires, if so then i need to give u more instructions, and things get more complicated. But you can do this, and it will be safer than tying into circuits in your attic.
 
Mrlyjammn420

Mrlyjammn420

Active Member
Captn said:
so here is my electrical panel...only took me about an hour and a half...of course, i'm an electrician, it will take a layman a lot longer...the box on the left is an intermatic 40amp 120v timer feeding 2 20amp receptacles...im going to replace one receptacle on each circuit with a GFI since so much water is used in a growroom.
Click to expand...
So what is used in your system. Its VERY clean looking and thats the way i want my grow in the making to look like. Is that whole system for your entire electric for your grow room?
 
Captn

Captn

Well-Known Member
Mrlyjammn420 said:
So what is used in your system. Its VERY clean looking and thats the way i want my grow in the making to look like. Is that whole system for your entire electric for your grow room?
Click to expand...
This is the only part of my room thats complete, lol, but ya it will power everything. the timer recpt. will power three 600w lights. the other things dont use that much power. 2 inline fans, oscilating fans, air and water pumps, etc. I'll use a plug strip if i need more receptacles.

this will be my first grow, i got all my equipment and will be building the room over the next wk or 2.
 
Mrlyjammn420

Mrlyjammn420

Active Member
Captn said:
This is the only part of my room thats complete, lol, but ya it will power everything. the timer recpt. will power three 600w lights. the other things dont use that much power. 2 inline fans, oscilating fans, air and water pumps, etc. I'll use a plug strip if i need more receptacles.

this will be my first grow, i got all my equipment and will be building the room over the next wk or 2.
Click to expand...
your using 3 600ws and i was wondering if your set up could still handle an extra 600w because i am going to be using 4 and i am very interested in your set up because its very clean and looks pretty simple to do. (prolly not though) I would really like to know details of what you did if you didnt mind:confused::mrgreen:
 
Captn

Captn

Well-Known Member
Captn said:
Ya, go to an electrical supply house, and ask for a 60amp 2-pole breaker for your make of panel. The wire you'll need is either 6/3 romex (thats a copper wire that will have 3 conductors plus a ground) OR #4 SER (aluminum wire, a little cheaper, 3 conductors plus ground). Then talk to them about a panel, get something with at least 6 breaker spaces, along with breakers. You will need a 40amp 1-pole to power the timer, but a 40a 1-pole is going to be a special order item. It may very well be cheaper to get a 40a 2-pole and just use one side of it, which will be fine. u will need a short piece, 2 or 3 ft of #8 romex to feed the timer, then u come off the timer with 2 pieces of #12 going to 2 20a receptacles. That will give u 4 receptacles, one for each light. then put 2 15a 1-pole breakers in the panel each feeding 2 or 3 15a recpt. for your other equipment. while your at the supply house get the recpt with covers and ask for 5 or 6 "handy boxes". I'm suggesting a supply house, because the guy at the counter will know what hes doing, and can help you, whereas the guy at home depot probably won't have a clue.

In your panel, try to find 4 breakers in a row all of the same amperage. at the supply house get 2 tandems, which will hold 4 circuits. U put the 4 circuits on the tandems and viola u have 2 open spaces for the 60a. THE FOLLOWING IS VERY IMPORTANT. You need to open you panel and let me know if there are any red wires, if so then i need to give u more instructions, and things get more complicated. But you can do this, and it will be safer than tying into circuits in your attic.
Click to expand...

You know 69 u can get the timer at the supply house as well, u want a 40amp single pole single throw. and the 4 breakers in a row i mentioned should be 15a or 20a
 
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