Wiring Multiple 120v Lights?
- Thread starter Max44
- Start date
E
EvilTwin
Hi Max,
You probably won't be able to just plug into the wall. And that's not always safe either (depending on age of building). It's fairly easy to extract 120v from your dryer outlet.
How far away from the grow room is the dryer outlet?
You can find commercial units that will plug into 240v and provide 120v OR you could go to an electricians shop and ask them to make you up a plug that will go into your socket (draw them a picture) and tell them that need 110V. They should be able to wire something up that will give you as many 120v outlets as you need since there will be two 120v legs connected to the dryer socket.
Have a decent cover story ready and you may be able to get by with no actual electician visit.
ET
You probably won't be able to just plug into the wall. And that's not always safe either (depending on age of building). It's fairly easy to extract 120v from your dryer outlet.
How far away from the grow room is the dryer outlet?
You can find commercial units that will plug into 240v and provide 120v OR you could go to an electricians shop and ask them to make you up a plug that will go into your socket (draw them a picture) and tell them that need 110V. They should be able to wire something up that will give you as many 120v outlets as you need since there will be two 120v legs connected to the dryer socket.
Have a decent cover story ready and you may be able to get by with no actual electician visit.
ET
A-Loc
mofuckin farmer smurf
so could a plug be made to go 220v to 4 110v plugs to power 4 1000 watters or is that too much? or could you just find a commerical plug that does that?
edit: googles and found this, looks pretty sweet http://refreshyourhome.com/new-steamer-windows/220-110V-CONVERTER.html
edit: googles and found this, looks pretty sweet http://refreshyourhome.com/new-steamer-windows/220-110V-CONVERTER.html
S
StealthyStalks
A 240 consist of two hot and a ground. If you measured the voltage between the two hot wires you will have 240v. If you measure the voltage between either one of the hot wires and ground you will get 120v. Get a VOM and figure out which two are the hot wires (don't trust the wire colors!). Then hook up two separate outlets using one hot leg on each and the ground - one for your two 1K's and one for your three 300w to try and balance the load going through the 240v breaker. It would be a good idea to replace the 240v breaker with two 20 amp 120v breakers for safety if you have #12 wire, you can go 30 amp if you have #10 wire (Which is probably is).
madpenguin
Member
Where is the neutral going to come from? If it's just 2 hots and a ground, then you have to switch things around back in the panel to get 120v
Actually, it could be potentially fatal to switch out a double pole with 2 single poles. 210.4(B)
trichburner
Member
To expand the origional question , would wiring the ballast in a series circuit work ? The 400W MH's at the factory I work at are all connected to a bus bar . I don't see why a series wouldn't work .
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StealthyStalks
You are correct. But he does have 120v right there at the receptacle between one of the hots and the neutral/ground; however, he would be lacking a seperate ground. You are also right in that he can't use the neutral in common with both phases. I shouldn't give advice when stoned!
So then the easiest solution for him to be just to use one of the existing wires for hot, one for neutral, one for ground and change it back at the panel through a 30 amp breaker????
I am not sure what you're getting at here? Pulling out the double pole and using the space to throw in two single poles for two seperate circuits shouldn't be a hazard.
madpenguin
Member
Well, if the dryer is fed with 10/3 and the ground isn't snipped off, then he could use the neutral along with both hots plus a ground. It would just be a MWBC at that point.
If it's fed with 10/2, then modifications would have to be made back at the panel. The white would need to be pulled from the breaker and terminated to the neutral bus and the DP breaker switched out with a SP.
Yea, if it's fed with 10/2..
When working with a 10/3 as 2 separate circuits using a shared neutral, both ungrounded conductors need to be simultaneously disconnected in the case of a short, fault or overload. It poses a danger for servicing personnel if you still have a hot conductor in a MWBC box. Whether that be a junction box or an outlet box... whatever.
Eh... It's code. NEC 210.4(B)
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StealthyStalks
I understand that. I thought you were saying something different. Thanks for taking the time!
madpenguin
Member
No.... It's strictly a hazard for servicing personnel, not an actual fire hazard.
10/3 dryer runs are great for grows. You can make a timer box/light controller that will run both 240 and 120v appliances such as the DIY one I just posted in the growroom electricity & wiring sticky up top.
10/3 dryer runs are great for grows. You can make a timer box/light controller that will run both 240 and 120v appliances such as the DIY one I just posted in the growroom electricity & wiring sticky up top.
junior_grower
Active member
A simple pony panel can be made, a small 4 breaker breaker box is wired up to feed 4 new circuits all protected with there own breakers. This pony panel plugs into the dryer plug. I use them all day long on sites, I have 5 made now and am having another 5 made up by the electrician.
madpenguin
Member
Yea. Don't buy one. It's a complete rip off. If you really want to buy one, I'll sell you one for 149.95....
I can tell you how to make one in short order if your at all interested. You would need some ratchet terminal crimpers tho. Those can be had for $20 online. $30 with shipping. $20 for the cord. Maybe $20 for the rest of the parts. $70 dollars to make your own plus you get a ratchet crimper as a souvenir..
madpenguin
Member
Yea. These are nice to use. Never heard the term pony panel tho (I like it). Call em' spider boxes in the field. Very easy to make as well.
