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

i wouldn't max out a light controller either. but i think you can put closer to 90-95% of their rated load on them. i just have my lights, inline fans, and Co2 generator on mine. everything else in my room isn't on a timer so they are plugged directly into an outlet. i'd definitely upgrade to a 60amp breaker if you are gonna run 6+ lights. you may have to upgrade the wiring as well. i don't know anything about the titan models; never worked with them. the power box ones are badass though. twice the price though. i think titan makes a reliable product from what i've heard.

fwiw, one should never put more than 80% load on any electrical circuit, and imho, that includes any devices that are helping distribute the electricity.

-spek

Thank you! Very much Appreciated

hey man i have a full bedroom as my garden and i have a 600 watt light going rite now with a 60 watt air pump and a fan.what im trying to find out is what are the chances that i can run a 2nd 600 watt light in that room. also the room is all on its own breaker 2nd would running a ex cord from the room next to the garden room for a new 600 watt be ok (i know its got to be a 14 gage cord but is that safe to do ? hope this made sence to you thanks man

i have an inline fan that doesnt have a speed control would a standard plug with a dimmer work to slow it down ?

ramie auto said:

i have an inline fan that doesnt have a speed control would a standard plug with a dimmer work to slow it down ?

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a speed controller is cheaper than a good dimmer switch http://www.hydroponics.net/i/132531

Will 12/2 around 40 ft long at the most more like 25-30 ft handle 30 amps on a 220 volt system?

Greenthumbskunk said:

Will 12/2 around 40 ft long at the most more like 25-30 ft handle 30 amps on a 220 volt system?

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12 gauge is rated for 25amps. Since it is 25amps per leg on 220v then yes it will handle it safely.

a useful tool I found. http://www.csgnetwork.com/wiresizecalc.html

What is the appropriate size breaker for a 6awg wire? I know a 50 will do but maybe a 60?

Can I use 2 220v power strips with my 4 light controller to be able to run 6 lights? How safe are extension cords or power strips like these?

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Joe isn't that for 12 volt systems as ina vehicle? I know that isn't correct for a home.

My 200 amp box as a 30 amp dual breaker with 6awg wire coming from it out to my shed. I'm replacing the screw in fuse box in my shop with a 100 amp square D. Shop is around 40 ft away so maybe 50 ft length of 6awg wire.
With a 100 amp box in the shed it will kick the breaker in the house first.

I was playing with this link and it says I could put a 100 amp breaker on a 6awg wire out to 50 foot.
http://www.csgnetwork.com/wiresizecalc.html


Alo a couple of pages back they were talking about controllers I guess like a Titan? Anyways I was looking at those and they have small 10 amp or 15 amp pull on em and only take group of connectors like all of em was on 110 or 220. I'd like to have one that has both so I could plug all my lights fans and anything else I want on my timer. Of course it would have to be both 110 and 220 in the same unit. Anybody manufacturer a product like that? I saw a link the other day where you can build your own controller that would operate off 220. I'll see if I can find it.

Here it is.... http://www.hydroponics.net/learn/grow-light-controller.asp

I use water heater/hot tub timer..although it doesnt have all the fancy gadgets some of the timers do. They are heavy built.The wire from the breaker goes to the timer.then the timer feeds outlets where the ballasts are located.You should be able to check a wire chart where you purchase your wire because im a stoner and cant remember off of hand what gauge wire will hold 40 amps.But i think its 8 gauge wire.Each 1000 watt ballasts at 220
will require around 5 amps to run it so that circuit should run 6 1000 without any problem.
For each watt of power coming out of these ballasts you will need 3.4 BTUs of cooling.A/C is normally sized in tons..12000 btu per ton of cooling.
Id say around 3 tons of cooling should be good.So there is another 20 amp breaker in the box to control the cooling unit unless one already exists you can divert to cool with.
Then you have a dehumidifier.The large dehumidifiers will pump some juice on 110 volts.They can run around 70 pints a day with a amp draw of around 12 amps by them selfs and often need a dedicated circuit.
Just with these items and no fans we are looking at around 65 amps..not including fans pumps or anything else.
Make sure your main breaker box is at least a 200 amp service.

Greenthumbskunk said:

Joe isn't that for 12 volt systems as ina vehicle? I know that isn't correct for a home.
yeh, that chart was wrong, I didn't notice @ first...I removed it.
My 200 amp box as a 30 amp dual breaker with 6awg wire coming from it out to my shed. I'm replacing the screw in fuse box in my shop with a 100 amp square D. Shop is around 40 ft away so maybe 50 ft length of 6awg wire.
With a 100 amp box in the shed it will kick the breaker in the house first.

I was playing with this link and it says I could put a 100 amp breaker on a 6awg wire out to 50 foot.
http://www.csgnetwork.com/wiresizecalc.html
.

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hmmm, that does seem thin to me. i'd go w/#4 for a 100amp box

or #2 aluminum

Max that is a sweet timer!

These timers are cheaper than any you will find at the hydro shop and very heavy built.You can go to any home depot and find them..or lowes..whatever.

steelheadguy said:

Can I use 2 220v power strips with my 4 light controller to be able to run 6 lights? How safe are extension cords or power strips like these?

Sent from my HTC One using Rollitup mobile app

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no, it might work but is not recommended to run any power strips on a light controller.

These are the gauge sizes and ampacity of 3 conductor under 2000 volts.
14 gauge will hold 20 amps.
12 AWG.25 AMPS
10 AWG 30 TO 40 amps depending on type of cable.
8 awg 40 to 50 amps
6 awg 55 to 75 amps.
4 awg 70 to 95
2 awg 95 to 130 amps
1 awg 110 to 150 amps
the 200 amp wire range would be 4/0range from 195 amps to 260 amps.
This info is obtained from the NEC.national electrical code conductors for general wiring.1999 addition. page 70-126.
The amps depend on the class of wire used,The lowest amp rating is in TW UF rated wire,Romex as we call it sometimes.
I am a certified master electrician.But i do not work in high voltage.Im a control electrician and senior mechanic.
I do not play with power outside of a building.I leave that for linemen.
Anything within a building or structure i can make it walk and talk and do whatever you want.