This isn't exactly regarding anything electrical really, but let's say I'm just going to work with that 15 amps.
1kw flower on a flip, so I' have 2 rooms. Or...
2x400w flower each on a flip as well.
Okay, okay, I'll get on that. I do have something I'm slightly concerned about, though. Maybe I should do some reading, but I consider this a safety issue
My breaker box is rated for 200 amps... my my calculations its already running over 200 amps in breakers.
The left side alone is using either 175 or 225 amps alone. Not sure which because the 240v breaker has a 50 stamped on each one of the two sections. I'm not sure if that's 50 or 100.
Is this even safe?
Hey mad Thanks for the advice so far! I think I've read over this thread three different times in order to figure this out.
I decided to eliminate a 30A single pole breaker that services the washer & dryer and an unused 15A single pole circuit(receptacles) in the basement.
I plan on reusing the 15A breaker off the basement circuit and purchased another QO Open D 15A breaker. Any install tips specific to the type of breaker?
Female plug for what? You mean a male plug because your going to use some of that 12/2 as an extension cord? Ummm... A 250ft roll of 12/2 should only run you 60 or 70 bucks if I'm not mistaken. You must have bought other stuff....The wire run from the main panel in the basement to the receptacles is about 75ft with a about 8ft running in the attic. In order to run two circuits I had to buy a 250ft roll of romex! $175 trip for wiring and I still need a female plug for a frankenstien cord.
Yea, the 12/2 was a good idea considering the distance (voltage drop) plus the excessive heat it will encounter in that portion of the attic (derating). But if you ever swap out the 15A breakers with 20A ones and draw more current, then you've negated those advantages. Try to remember 12A for a continuous load on a 15A breaker and 16A continuous load on a 20A breaker. Doesn't matter that your using 12/2 20A rated wire. Your still using a 15A breaker therefore it's still a 15A run.Given the length of the run and 8ft in the attic I decided to go with 12-2. I'm starting to think this apartment might go grow specific at some point and the ability to jump up to 20A Breakers is appealing. I would have the ability to pull back the wiring and redirect it wherever needed in the future(closet is about as far away from the panel as it can get)
I bought a ten pack of 15A spec grade receptacles(they would need to be changed if I ever jumped to 20A) and will use them throughout.
Your a little confused there. In that instance, each leg of a 10/3 30A run has the potential to see 30A. That's because it would be hooked up to a 30A Double Pole breaker. Double pole breakers and 240v circuits work different than a 120v circuit. Read the link in my sig about 240v circuits and MWBC's. It will show you how current flows in that instance.Would I have been/be better off running a 30A double pole breaker with 10-3 and run a 15A MWBC? If so would I still use 15A receptacles? Makes sense seeing that receptacle itself will never see more than 15A off of one of the 30A legs.
NEC said:410.62(C)(2) Electric-discharge luminaires provided with mogul base, screw shell lampholders shall be permitted to be connected to branch circuits of 50 amperes or less by cords complying with 240.5. Receptacles and attachment plugs shall be permitted to be of a lower ampere rating than the branch circuit but not less than 125 percent of the luminaire full-load current.
Well MP I hooked up the panel yesterday and only sparking on one circuit Seriously though...... the first hot's that I crimped and taped got about half the tape as the others. A single copper strand was poking against the tape and it was enough to short it to the metal handy box.
Fixed that.
Rubbed my hand across one of the top edges of those metal cover plates and it sliced my finger to the point of needing stitches but I just glued it shut after the bleeding stopped.
I am finding that some fans etc, have to have an extension cord to reach the power board.
No cords on the floor is priceless.
Thanks for all your help
Smiley
1) i'm installing one of the intermatic t103 timers like you described how to wire up many pages ago... my question is this, would i be better off using a 12/3 ext cord and plugging into an outlet for my line wire?? this would enable me to shutoff power to timer w/o disconnecting breaker. i know how u feel about ext cords so i plan on hardwiring depending on ur reply..
You'll be OK using a regular timer. If you have to use an extension cord for this, I would use atleast a #14 extension cord, if not a #12.... Just stay away from the #16 brown extension cords. Those are complete junk. I know the "Heavy Duty" 12/3 extension cords run about $25 bucks but why risk it? I know money is hard to come buy but just bite the bullet and go overkill. Just the piece of mind alone is worth it.2)i have a 200w cfl for my mother, do i need a real heavy duty timer for this and a fan or would it be ok to use a regular digital (cheap $15) to control this and my circ fan?
Again, if they are the Heavy Duty industrial powerstrips and you are only using low draw stuff on them so that each powerstrip pulls no more than... oh.... 10A? I don't know. Personally, I'd overkill and do away with the powerstrips and wire it up like GeorgeSmiley did his... You really can't beat the internals of a spec grade 20A receptacle and THHN wire feeding them. Again.... All that costs money but the piece of mind you will get by knowing that your shit is overkill will be well worth the hole left in your pocket book.3)i have built a power board for my room but designed it by using hd power strips with built in 15a breakers so i have all my smaller wattage (<200w ) plugged into these... btw, i have 2-120v 20a circuits in this room... would u recommend doing away with power strips and simply wiring up several boxes attached to power board??
NP. Ask away if your still unsure about anything.thanks so much for any answers, sorry so effin long, i have lots of questions i guess... again thanks...
One question I had before reading your thread was regarding only having a 100amp panel and the necessity of upgrading to 200amp service. I won't be needing to do this since I have a relatively small grow (1 1k light, some fans, a couple blowers, no pumps) and very few big appliances. My total load at any given time is nothing near 100amps, so there is no need to upgrade...yet.
Ummm.... Do you have both neutrals and grounds terminated to the same bus bar in your panel? If you have a Main disconnect Breaker that has 100 on it up top in your panel and there is no outside disconnect, then you terminate all your neutrals and bare ground wires to the same bus bar.The other question I had that you answered for me was why the main panel in my house has the wire coming from the earth ground term'd to both the panel itself and the neutral bus bar. I was worried, because I was adding a dedicated 20 amp breaker (and another dedicated 15 amp for fans) for a new space I'm building in the garage.
I didn't know I could terminate the ground from the 12/2 MC cable to the neutral bus bar along with the ground from the outlet. I was going to term the ground from the outlet to the earth ground at the main, but I see now that I can just put it on the neutral bus bar (I know, I know, basic stuff for a guy with your knowledge).
So much info! This is probably the most useful thread on this site by far.
You're the man and I just wanted to say thanks.
---Hemphrey