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How do I run 2000watts in One room Without Using an Electrician???

mtn121

Member
How can I run 2 1000 watt lights plus fans in one room without calling out a electrician. I have considered using a 30 amp timer box, but the dryer outlet is upstairs and I am in the basement. Is there a way to do it without overloading the circuit. Could I run one of the lights off of a outlet from the bedroom above where the grow is? Could I just drill a hole in the floor and run a quality drop coed. Ideas?? If I have to call an electrician what would you say? Thanks Guys
 

johnipedestran

1%
Veteran
does your circuit breaker have any extra space in it? if so, why don't you install a 30 or 40 amp circuit for your room?

if that sounds too confusing you better get a book on electricity and do some research

peace
jip
 

PharmaCan

Active member
Veteran
How many amps is the circuit you have now?

What size is the wire in that circuit?

What else is on that circuit?

Same questions about the circuit in the bedroom above the grow.

Is the breaker panel near the grow?

Besides the grow lights, what will all other electrical draw on that circuit be - fans, lamps, pumps, whatever?

PC
 

mtn121

Member
John-Are you saying that i can switch out the breaker for one that carries more amps?
I have no experience with electricity I can do the research though I have taught myself a lot with books and the internet.

Pharma- The specs on the house are hard to determine at this point.I am moving to a medi state and my friend checked out the house for me before I signed the lease he does not what I will be doing. I plan to buy my equip and take it with me so I need to try and buy what I think I might need before I leave. The only thing in the basement will be the grow. I will be running 2000 watts, 6 and 8in fan,3 oscillating fans, ezclone, and T5's. I need to figure out what my options are so that I can put it in my budget. I figure plan for the expensive route and hope its cheaper that way your covered either way.

Bakerman- Have you ever used a rated extension plug like that? Do you think I could run a 1000 watt light of a rated cord? But then I might need to run another for fans and such.

Any ideas on getting an electrician in safely? What if I have him come and ask him to put a washer and dryer outlet in would seem sketch since there is no water hookups right? What about saying its for a tanning bed or a band saw? I know electricians aren't stupid though. I can't risk anything that could breach my security.
 

mtn121

Member
How many lights on the cord? Is it safe or a fire risk? How did you run the cord? I was thinking drill a hole in the floor through to the basement. HAS ANYONE EVER RAN A 1000 WATT LIGHT ON A RATED EXTENSION CORD? Speak from experience only please? Thanks
 

Bulldog11

Active member
Veteran
DO NOT RUN AN EXTENSION CORD. That is all bad. Figure out how to run more power or don't run so much wattage, period. Don't be one of those dumbasses on the news that just burnt down his house and is in jail because of it. You might kill somebody in the process.

It is easy to run new circuits, you just have to know what you are doing. You may have to hire somebody because this seems over your head.

First thing I would do is check to see how many circuits are in the garage right now. To do this go to your main panel and shut off one at a time, then back on, till you find your garage circuits. Hopefully there are more than one.

Next, when you find what breaker feeds your garage, check to see how many amps that breaker can supply. There should be a 15 or a 20 on the switch on the breaker. A 15 am circuit can run only 12amps safely. 20 amp can run 16 amps safely. In order to run 2000w you would need 2 20amp feeds with almost nothing else powered off of it. No washer, no tv, no outdoor lights and so on. Also, make sure the garage circuit doesn't feed any plugs in the house, it should be dedicated to the garage but you never know.

Do all this and let us know.
 

Bulldog11

Active member
Veteran
BTW - I am an electrician in California with my journeyman card, so I do know what I am talking about.
 

ddrew

Active member
Veteran
One 1000watt Light on the heavy duty cord, nothing else.
Cord barely even gets warm.
Comes from another room through the back of a closet.
The wrong cord is a HUGE fire risk and I'm sure an electrician will stop by this thread sooner or later and tell you that ALL extension cords are risks, which they are, just some more then others IMO.
 

Bulldog11

Active member
Veteran
What's up ddrew. You are correct, ANY extension cord is not rated for continues use. As the 2009 California Electrical Code states, continues use is anything run for more than 3 hours at a time. So, the least time used would be in this situation is 12 hours, which is way to much. You are looking for a fire when using extension cords.

I would however agree that a heavy duty cord that is at least 12 gauge wire would work for a while, but I would NEVER recommend it. Just think of the consequences, your insurance wouldn't cover anything because of what you are using it for. Don't risk everything just because you don't want to call an electrician.
 

DiscoBiscuit

weed fiend
Veteran
If you have to use a cord, buy the rated cable by the foot. I usually buy one gauge bigger than the load requires. Add a heavy duty plug and socket. It's a little safer than manufactured ext cords.
 

hazy

Active member
Veteran
Popping in a couple 20 amp breakers and dropping a couple 12 guage wires and receptacles is not terribly hard. But if you are not comfortable doing that, call someone like bulldog. Just tell him where you want the plugs to be. You don't really have to tell why, maybe you just want to have extra places to plug in a bunch of home entertainment equipment.
I assume the basement already has power? There's your circuit for your extra stuff like fans.

Also, you spoke of dryer outlets. Are you going to get 240 volt ballasts? You can get ballasts that run on 110. Then you can use regular receptacles.
 

mtn121

Member
Bulldog- I am not at the house yet so I can't do that rented it from another state. Got any ideas for what to tell an electrician?

What can I tell an electrician its for so that it is wired to the capacity that I need? What have people told electricians? Has anyone brought in an electrician they don't know? Its a rental.
 

Maj.Cottonmouth

We are Farmers
Veteran
A network server needs separate redundant power supplies and they can suck some juice too but I doubt they would even think twice if you were just adding two 30 amp 110 volt circuits. I put two 30 amp outlets in my living room so that when I have 8-10 friends over for a computer gaming party I do not have any power issues.
 

medmaker420

The Aardvarks LED Grow Show
Veteran
Any ideas on getting an electrician in safely? What if I have him come and ask him to put a washer and dryer outlet in would seem sketch since there is no water hookups right? What about saying its for a tanning bed or a band saw? I know electricians aren't stupid though. I can't risk anything that could breach my security.

Tell him you are doing the electric part first and have a plumber coming in after to run the water as needed. I would suggest sticking with the washer/dryer setup thought.

Makes perfect sense for them being there anyways, we had them setup that way in one of my old houses.

Also don't tell him it is a rental. Let him assume it is your house and no questions need to be asked. The higher amps for you are for safety and just because. It's your money not his and he needs to do what you want AS CODE ALLOWS.
 

robbiedublu

Member
I always imagine that I can guess a posters approximate age from this kind of thread.... Don't tell the electrician anything except what you want and where you want it. It's none of his f....ing business what you will plug into them. It's legal to put as many electric outlets wherever you want inside your own house. There are plenty of electricians who need work right now. YOU DON'T HAVE TO EXPLAIN ANYTHING TO YOUR EMPLOYEE!!!
 

mtn121

Member
Your right I don't have to tell the electrician. But if he knows and comes back in the middle of the night or while I am at work and gets my door in what do you suggest then? Any ideas? I don't wanna get robbed!! I am gonna be in a medi state they are wise to this. I am thinking stick with washer and dryer and using a 30 amp timer box.

What about having a 240 outlet put in and saying its for a portable heater since it is in the basement? Then just use a 240 outlet timer for 4.
 
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