electrcians please help

[eddie torres]

i have a mechanical time switch. i was going to wire it the way some one i know did theirs. 30amp breaker 10 gauge wire to the timer. from the timer he used 12 gauge wire to a four in sq w duplex receptacles. to plug in the lights. I noticed on the side of the timer box in small print that the timer is not recommened for receptacles. warning of fire. the directions tell me that i should be hardwiring the lights to the timer. But i dont really want to cut up my cords. Any journeymen electricans tell me what i should do here? i really dont want to buy an of these very expensive timers @ the grow store or the shitty digital timers that you can only run one 1000w light. So heres the deal. I am moving into a new house soon. i will be running 2000w lights i was thinking 20 amp double pole breaker. 12 gauge or 10gauge. I dont know what to do about a timer. then a 15 amp breaker. 12 gauge wire for the fans and pumps.

 

[rives]

30amp breaker 10 gauge wire to the timer. from the timer he used 12 gauge wire to a four in sq w duplex receptacles. to plug in the lights. I So heres the deal. I am moving into a new house soon. i will be running 2000w lights i was thinking 20 amp double pole breaker. 12 gauge or 10gauge. I dont know what to do about a timer. then a 15 amp breaker. 12 gauge wire for the fans and pumps.

The 30 amp breaker and the 10 gauge wire is correct, at least. Everything in the circuit should be rated at or above the circuit breaker rating (otherwise they are protecting the breaker - fail). Standard 120v or 240v receptacles are either rated at 15 or 20 amps. If the timer has double-pole switching, then you could run 240v to your lights and still be under 10 amps. You could then use a 15 amp double pole breaker, 12 gauge wire, 6-15R receptacles, etc. I always use a minimum of 12 gauge wire, and remember to stay under 80% of the breaker rating for continuous usage (anything over 3 hours duration).

If your timer only has a single-pole switch or you are married to the idea of feeding your lights with 120v, then things get a little more difficult. A 20 amp circuit is too light for 2000 watts, and feeding it at 30 amps gets you back having the receptacles and cord sets unprotected. You could always feed the timer with 30 amps and protect individual receptacles with some intermediate fusing at 15 or 20 amps.

The following links are for supplementary fusing or breakers - use these with a piece of DIN rail (for the breakers, anyway) and a small enclosure, and you've got it done cleanly.

http://www.automationdirect.com/adc/Shopping/Catalog/Circuit_Protection_-z-_Fuses_-z-_Disconnects/UL_1077_Rated_Supplementary_Protectors/Single_Pole_Supplementary_Protectors_(0.5A-63A,_WMZS1_Series)/B_Curve_(6A-63A,_WMZS1Bxx)/WMZS1B15

http://www.automationdirect.com/adc/Shopping/Catalog/Circuit_Protection_-z-_Fuses_-z-_Disconnects/Fuses_-a-_Fuse_Holders/Fuse_Holders,_Fuse_Blocks_-a-_Accessories/Class_J_Fuse_Holders,_Fuse_Blocks,_-a-_Accessories/J60030-2P

 

[Hammerhead]

oh goodie some electric talk lol.

rives Cant he install a relay and use that timer as the trigger? He would need to make a powerbox to....just looks cleaner to me..

 

[rives]

oh goodie some electric talk lol.

rives Cant he install a relay and use that timer as the trigger? He would need to make a powerbox to....just looks cleaner to me..

Yes, he could control a relay with the timer, but that still leaves him with the issue of protecting the downstream circuitry if his feeder is too heavy. I'm assuming that the timer is something like an Intermatic T-101 (possibly a shitty assumption, but if he wants to feed it with #10......), which already has very heavy contacts. Usually you would use a relay to increase the ampacity of the circuit with a light-duty timer to avoid burning it up.

 

[Hammerhead]

30a feed to a powerbox that has 2 15a breakers and relay..

 

[rives]

30a feed to a powerbox that has 2 15a breakers and relay..

If the timer is comparable to the T-101 then the timer wouldn't be necessary. He could pick up a small sub-panel and use it like you are describing - get a main-lug only 4-circuit panel, set a couple of 15a breakers in it, feed it with the timer and set a couple of receptacles under it. Basically the same as what I was describing but probably with better local availability.

 

[Hammerhead]

yes thats a great idea..

 

[eddie torres]

thanks. i follow what you are saying. what i have for a timer is a GE outdoor mechanical time switch. single pole single or double throw. double pole single or double throw. got it at home depot.