Clarification - How can i safely run 4kw?

[ItIsTime]

My last question was about having a 240v circuit ran, but I think I jumped the gun and didn't ask the proper questions clear enough so to clarify and grab the attention of posters...

I live in a residential home, 120v system. I have an attic I am going to convert to a grow room, but obviously when you begin upping the wattage you need to make sure your electrical system and wiring can handle it (duh)

Anyway...knowing that..

The room is on a 30amp circuit. I want to run 2 x 1000w ballasts, and 1 x 400w ballast. Factor in an air conditioner + fans, I can be well over 4kw with continuous loads.

Questions:

1.) What upgrades are necessary for me to run that much wattage out of 1 room if it's on a 30amp circuit?

2.) Is it simply the wiring at the receptacles that need upgraded, or do i need to have much larger upgrades done?

3.) Do I have to go 240v to pull that much power?

Help!

 

[Nicoli]

Answers:

1.) You say it has a 30amp circuit, either build or buy a 30amp timer box. Which.. will handle 4 1k lights @ 240v and also will handle 10amps worth of 120v for your fans and accessories. Cost = $200-300 retail, or $160'ish home-made.

2.) See Answer #1.

3.) Yes for the lights I would, see Answer #1.

Questions:

1.) How many amps does your A/C Run? Assuming it operates close to 10amps.. you may have to use another 120v circuit for your fans and accessories.

 

[ItIsTime]

Answers:

1.) You say it has a 30amp circuit, either build or buy a 30amp timer box. Which.. will handle 4 1k lights @ 240v and also will handle 10amps worth of 120v for your fans and accessories. Cost = $200-300 retail, or $160'ish home-made.

2.) See Answer #1.

3.) Yes for the lights I would, see Answer #1.

Questions:

1.) How many amps does your A/C Run? Assuming it operates close to 10amps.. you may have to use another 120v circuit for your fans and accessories.

So basically I need to have a 240v circuit ran to the attic? Is it possible to have both a 240v circuit and 120v circuit in the same room?

 

[9240GrnMachine]

do you have another circuit in the attic?? meaning, do you have an outlet thats running off a different breaker?? if so, make the 30 amp line a 240 and use the other breaker for 120. you will be missing your neutral wire if you make that 30 amp line a 240... so you cant make a box for 240 and 120... unless you have 3 wire into the attic.. meaning 3 wires plus a copper ground (usually black white red and copper) if you are going to make this a permanent thing in your attic, for that system i would run 50 amp (240) 3 wire up to a sub panel, from your breaker box. then up in the attic you have endless opportunities.

 

[ItIsTime]

do you have another circuit in the attic?? meaning, do you have an outlet thats running off a different breaker?? if so, make the 30 amp line a 240 and use the other breaker for 120. you will be missing your neutral wire if you make that 30 amp line a 240... so you cant make a box for 240 and 120... unless you have 3 wire into the attic.. meaning 3 wires plus a copper ground (usually black white red and copper) if you are going to make this a permanent thing in your attic, for that system i would run 50 amp (240) 3 wire up to a sub panel, from your breaker box. then up in the attic you have endless opportunities.

actually being the attic has a back-room with all kind of junk in it, we cleaned it out and found what seems to be a sub panel? it's a small metal box with wiring and 3 switches just as the ones in the breaker in our basement.

sounds like i just need to get the electrician in here...

when i do call the electrician for an estimate, what should i ask to have done specifically? my cover is going to be that i made a website and am going to be housing a website server & gaming server, both of which have 1000w power supplies...

 

[DevilWeed]

I've seen many people recommend running a 3 wire 240 then splitting a 120 off it. If it's a 30amp circuit, that's a bad idea. Standard 120v plugs and the things that plug into them are not rated to 30amps. If you have a short in that leg, you could end up with trouble. The only time I'd do this is on a 20amp or lower circuit.

Good idea on the electrician! I didn't see you mention, are your ballasts 120 or 240, or both? Best way to do it but most expensive would be to have a subpanel run to the room, or close to it. Then the circuits are all short runs from there and you have easy access to the breakers. Budget way would be to have a 20amp 240 run along with a 20amp 120. If you have any thoughts of going bigger light wise, up the 240 to 30amps.

 

[ItIsTime]

well, thing is all of the equipment i have now is 120v. nothing is 240v. so essentially if i had a 240v circuit ran, i would have to buy ballasts with a 240v cord. but i still need a 120v line because of the a/c, the 400 watt ballast i have, etc.

if that is the subpanel that i found, it's only 10 feet away from the room i'll be growing in and should make for an easy job for the electrician...thank god!

 

[StrictlyGateway]

actually being the attic has a back-room with all kind of junk in it, we cleaned it out and found what seems to be a sub panel? it's a small metal box with wiring and 3 switches just as the ones in the breaker in our basement.

too bad you don't know the person who used to grow in your attic?


a dedicated subpanel is always the best bet. either a light controller which will run your lights and run everything else on the existing 30 amp, or a subpanel with outlets and amperage enough for everything.

 

[ItIsTime]

haha! nah, it's a unique situation. i grew up in this house, but my parents moved to a new house and i moved back in here and i never really had the ability to delve deep into the house or try to understand the electrical system...it's a 110 year old farm house which has been remodeled roughly 15-20 years ago, so it's aging...but in this day and age i'm happy to be able to live in a HOUSE! lol

yeah i'm just going to talk to the electrician and explain that i need to have 2 outlets installed which will operate on a 240v circuit, and then make sure i have enough power on the 120v circuit to run the 400 watt along with the A/C, etc. i've got it all laid out...once i get things organized i'm going to leave empty computer cases, PCI cards, cabling laying around everywhere which will re-iterate that the upgrades i need done aren't anything suspicious....because to me, if i was an electrician and a young dude looking to pull 4kw in 1 room would sound to me like a grow op i'm pretty good at lying, sad to say, so I doubt the dude will have any concerns.

i'm going all out, getting a GrowLab GL 145L. being i don't have much startup cash and no grow currently, i'm starting out from seed and maybe on my 3rd harvest i start cloning and having a sep. veg room, etc. for now though i'm going to buy 2-400w ballasts/CMH for veg, and for flowering switch to the 2-1000w ballasts/HPS.

 

[9240GrnMachine]

devilweed, not trying to give youa hard time. but what you are worrying about, doesnt make sense. just because you have a 30 amp circuit, doesnt mean their is a constant 30 amps being "pushed" through the line.... its a "draw" action...

 

[Tilt]

Its cool you got the room to do this. I would like to offer a suggestion on how I would wire it up.
I would divide my space up into 3 sections.
2 flower rooms. 1 1000 watt light each hooded and ducted. 1 room is on 1rst 12 hour block 2nd room is on 2nd 12 hour block. Like a timer controlled flip flop (has potential to seal and use co2)

1 nursery room 24/7 with the ac acting as the lung room venting and return air for the flower rooms

I could wire all this with 2 20 amp circuits. 1 for the ac and 400 watter and 1 for 1000 watters and accessories.

If you dont want to do that tell the sparky you want 3 20amp 120v circuits dedicated quad outlets up there off the sub panel for your computers and ups power supply. No need for 240v for your setup