Too much power? Fire?

Since my last post my setup has gotten a little bit more intense. I'm now running a 500w dehumidifier, a 1000w AC, a CHHC-4 controller, CO2 regulator, a 400w MH, a 600w HPS, 2 vortex fans, and a bunch of other small fans to blow on the canopy. This is all in my apartment closet with dimensions of about 3x8x8. I couldn't run everything from the same outlet or the power goes out so I ran an extension cord into my bathroom through a little incision in the wall. I managed to blow a pretty much brand new 600w bulb the other day and it flipped a couple circuits shutting down the power to my room. I woke up this morning, and my water heater isn't working. It's not even on the same circuit. I've been learning in a class I'm taking that piggybacking electrical outlets and using an extension cord is dangerous... Why is that? Am I going to die in my sleep in a house fire running all this shit on 1 or 2 circuits? Also, what's the likelihood that I'll get flagged by the electrical company and investigated for running all that power in an apartment complex with only 2 residents? I have my medical card but it's definitely against my lease to be running a setup like this.

dang isnt this making your electric bill high? if you rent instead of own, wont the landlord get suspicious? dont you get random alarm checks from landlord? you think just wondering , hopefully a electrician can help you

i bought what its called the worlds safest surge strip from walmart $15 bucks and its 14AMP circuit breaker provides protection against overloads, a monitoring system built in continuously monitors for insulation breakdown or broken/frayed conductor

1350 joules, built-in cord Fire Protection
$25,000 Connected Equipment Warranty!

Says its the only strip to prevent Cord Fires, Surges, Overloads

125v/15A/1,875 Watts
Maximum Surge 6000 Volts

better safe then sorry!

I run more power than you and my bill not that crazy.My total wattage veg and flower is 2800watts and my electric bill in a 1200 sq.ft.house was 160$ this month...I dont know what yours was before but Ive gradually raised my usage...peace

Extension cords are not meant for a continous load. They're really meant for contractors...... or an 8 hour work day. They are made of stranded wire to allow flexibility unlike household wiring which is solid for lower resistance. You'd be taking a step in the right direction by spreading the load out across multiple circuits, but it sounds like you're running way too much stuff. Apartments generally aren't wired with the same load demands in mind. Often times rooms will share circuits so just have the extension cord to another room doesn't necessarily mean it's on a different circuit. You've just lowered the load across one strand of wire.

Mr.Therapy Man said:

I run more power than you and my bill not that crazy.My total wattage veg and flower is 2800watts and my electric bill in a 1200 sq.ft.house was 160$ this month...I dont know what yours was before but Ive gradually raised my usage...peace

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It was normally around $120 with just a 600, I haven't got a bill yet to see what my new costs are going to be. I have a 37" LCD on my wall as my desktop computer monitor (on 24/7 to record video surveillance of my bedroom) and my room mate has a 32" LCD with a desktop computer that's always on. We have a projector downstairs and surround sound, so they all probably add a lot to our electricity bill.

As far as the landlord goes, I'm a college student and live in a student apartment complex right down the street from my school. They squeeze a bunch of us in here so I've never actually met my landlord/knnow who that might be.

whiteflour said:

Extension cords are not meant for a continous load. They're really meant for contractors...... or an 8 hour work day. They are made of stranded wire to allow flexibility unlike household wiring which is solid for lower resistance. You'd be taking a step in the right direction by spreading the load out across multiple circuits, but it sounds like you're running way too much stuff. Apartments generally aren't wired with the same load demands in mind. Often times rooms will share circuits so just have the extension cord to another room doesn't necessarily mean it's on a different circuit. You've just lowered the load across one strand of wire.

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Well it's only on for 12/12. What could eventually happen having my wiring like this? Fire?

A picture of your breaker box and sketch of your apartment layout would provide a lot more information on what you need to do to safely run what you want. My advice until you know that would be to shut everything off.

Since your in an apartment you need to keep your setup as simple as possible. It sounds like you have way too much going on. Work on a better way to exhaust and you might not need the a/c or the de humidifier.