From led to hps.... Safety concerns?

Andyroo

Member
I have just purchased a 400 watt hps to replace my 180watt led. It has a magnetic ballast that I have raised off the ground and cool with a small fan. I am paranoid about fire as this was not an issue with my last setup. Will my house safety switch kick in if there are any problems? Is there anything I should be concerned about? Any help would be awesome! Cheers
 

match box

Well-Known Member
I'm going to guess that electrical barkers work the same all over the world so yes it should flip the barker if any thing goes wrong but you should have no problem. You may need a exhaust fan as well as a fan for circulation. There have been a couple of houses where I live catch on fire trying to go around the electric meter. Your thinking about things ahead of time thats good. Good luck
 

Figong

Well-Known Member
If you work the math out for your circuit (everything that is on that specific breaker) and it works out to 80% total of the Amperage as it's marked.. you'll be just fine (This assumes that the wiring was run properly the first time, is in good condition, etc)
 

navyfighter04

Active Member
To be safe. Get a timer for you lights that has a built in breaker or with surge protection. The timer will throw its breaker instead of your house breaker. That way all you have to do is reset the breaker or surge protector in the grow tent. Its an added stage of security and will make you have some peace of mind. But as long as your grow light and ballast are in good shape you shouldnt have any problems. Its only a 400 watt light not a 1000 watt or more.....
 

prosperian

Well-Known Member
Throw a smoke alarm up in your grow room. If you are really paranoid you can set up a fire extinguisher system too. Better to be safe, ya know.

A trip to your breaker box to identify the grow room circuit should rest your fears. Flip the breaker off make sure the outlet you want to use is dead by plugging in a lamp or something. Then turn it back on and label it clearly in the breaker box. The breaker should be marked with the load rating. Apply the math that Figong suggests above to prevent overloading the circuit. You should be good to go.

Any doubt, hire an electrician to test things out. Let him know you are installing a tanning bed, fish aquarium, stereo equipment, proabably shouldn't mention it's growing equipment. :wink:
 

Andyroo

Member
Thanks everyone appreciate the advice! I have checked it all out as suggested and I am pretty comfortable with running it now. I fired it up last nite and bloody hell it is unbelievable compared to my crappy led. Look forward to some solid nugs! Cheers
 
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