first time/ppk

[leadbyexample52]

I am starting my own thing for the first time,I've only been involved in/ran some of my family's gros.......still a newbie........I've been blessed with a free room/bed/much love and two new dogs for my boy to play with.......anyhow.....I was told I could use the upstairs but I don't think that will be the case(not complaining) the basement will be my spot, I fear mold and cold temps.....I'm in Michigan.....I used some ugl dry lock to paint the floors and the corners ......the space that I'm starting with is about 18 by 13.... what I want to do is split it in half two 8 by 12 s .....also was thinking of using space under stairs for babies/clones I have two ballests 1000s only one hps.....I still need to figure how I will run everything cuz the owner of the house doesn't have many outlets down there......

 

[LSWM]

I wouldn't run 1000 watt lights on standard 15 amp sockets/circuits. A 20 amp dryer socket, especially if its 220 volt, would be ideal. That or run a dedicated circuit to the grow. Also, I wouldn't use cheap timers with a 1k either. Only thing I trust to flip mine would be a home made relay or a t101 or t104 timer from intermatic.

 

[leadbyexample52]

Ok thanks man.......yeah I ran an extension cord from upstairs so it would be just for the ballasts...only gonna start with one...not sure how to build my own to flip with but......should learn........any other brands you could recommend cuz the hydro shop is limited....I have no credit card.... thanks again

 

[leadbyexample52]

Ok you mean titan......duh.........

 

[LSWM]

No intermatic is the brand t101 or t104. Extension cords are no good either. If you aren't going to get a dedicated circuit in there, I'd stay safe and run 600's. Ballasts are considered a constant load, and a 1000 watt ballast is pulling basically 10 amps. I'd be extremely weary running that on a 15 amp circuit.

Do you have a dryer socket around? If you go check the grow safety forums there a a few stickies there I'd advise you to read before proceeding.

 

[leadbyexample52]

Thanks I will for sure......there is a dryer outlet.....I just hooked up my ro filter....my tap was like 350....so I still have a long way to go....I have to paint the whole basement first....then make the room....then the system....then the lights.....I still need to figure my environment out before I put my lights.....but thanks alot for your advice ....I'm trying to learn as much as I can on here.....I'm know a few things but still have a ways to go......bless

 

[Permacultuure]

They make prewired outlet boxes that have a relay in them so you can run a small timer to control your lights. Its really easy to wire them up to drier outlets.....

http://growershouse.com/autopilot-h...hyMhGBxSn3q0W-m_lHoyaRwJRfEvE92MwTD0BAzPw_wcB

Its well worth the money and makes wiring up lights a breeze. You can buy an appliance cord with open ends that will fit your drier socket, that means you'd only have to secure three wires, the two hots and a ground....

Much love LBE! You Got This!!

 

[leadbyexample52]

They make prewired outlet boxes that have a relay in them so you can run a small timer to control your lights. Its really easy to wire them up to drier outlets.....

http://growershouse.com/autopilot-h...hyMhGBxSn3q0W-m_lHoyaRwJRfEvE92MwTD0BAzPw_wcB

Its well worth the money and makes wiring up lights a breeze. You can buy an appliance cord with open ends that will fit your drier socket, that means you'd only have to secure three wires, the two hots and a ground....

Much love LBE! You Got This!!

https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=54380&pictureid=1268884

 

[Permacultuure]

Nice bro!! Slowing piecing it together! Is that the dryer outlet you were talking about? If so its not a dryer outlet, they are usually 240v and much larger. The breaker panel pic sucks, if you can get one that is larger or more clear I'm sure we could find some space

Wheres HL??? Maybe this will bring D9 out from the green hills of wherever he may be ; )

 

[LSWM]

That's is a 15 amp 120v outlet. Not suitable for running more than a single ballast. I'd be weary running a single 1000 off of it.

 

[Ttystikk]

That's is a 15 amp 120v outlet. Not suitable for running more than a single ballast. I'd be weary running a single 1000 off of it.

'Weary' means tired. 'Leery' means concerned or worried, which is the word you may be looking for.

A single thouie on an old magnetic ballast- worst case- pulls about 1200W, due to low ballast efficiency. A safe continuous load on a household circuit is 80% of the rated maximum load. This applies to every breaker other than the main breaker TO your home.

1200W / 120V = 10A or ten amps.

10A load / 15A capacity = .67, or well below the .8 maximum.

You're fine to run a single thouie on a 15A breaker. Just don't run anything ELSE on that same circuit.

 

[Permacultuure]

Yeah what he said ^^

I'd be neither weary nor leery running a thousand off of that.....

 

[leadbyexample52]

'Weary' means tired. 'Leery' means concerned or worried, which is the word you may be looking for.

A single thouie on an old magnetic ballast- worst case- pulls about 1200W, due to low ballast efficiency. A safe continuous load on a household circuit is 80% of the rated maximum load. This applies to every breaker other than the main breaker TO your home.

1200W / 120V = 10A or ten amps.

10A load / 15A capacity = .67, or well below the .8 maximum.

You're fine to run a single thouie on a 15A breaker. Just don't run anything ELSE on that same circuit.

Thanks bro...yeah I'm gonna run of an outlet in my room...then maybe put my pumps on that...but no that wasn't the dryer out let.....I'm way slow.....I will try to take some more perma...it's just hard with my kindle cuz it only does selfies.....I put some cardbord insulation up.....meh...don't really think it's worth it right now just gonna run a dehumidifier 24/7 stretch some panda....I need to get started before it gets to cold down there....thanks for all the love brothers and sisters

 

[LSWM]

'Weary' means tired. 'Leery' means concerned or worried, which is the word you may be looking for.

A single thouie on an old magnetic ballast- worst case- pulls about 1200W, due to low ballast efficiency. A safe continuous load on a household circuit is 80% of the rated maximum load. This applies to every breaker other than the main breaker TO your home.

1200W / 120V = 10A or ten amps.

10A load / 15A capacity = .67, or well below the .8 maximum.

You're fine to run a single thouie on a 15A breaker. Just don't run anything ELSE on that same circuit.

Thanks for the vocab lesson. Not being sarcastic.

As for the ballast only consuming 10 amps... Until he has a kill a watt showing such I don't believe that is a enough of a derating factor.

Also assuming that those plugs are brand new, and haven't been backstabbed or used in a wet location and therefore haven't corroded increasing resistance, sure 67% load is fine to run continually on a 15 amp circuit.

The OP is in a new location, and due to the above, aforementioned issues I wouldn't do it. Also I believe he mentions it being the only socket down there... I could be wrong.

If you are planning anything larger than 1k, such as a 600 for veg, I would strongly recommend against the use of extension cords and would strongly recommend getting an electrician to run a dedicated circuit. Power draw stacks up real quick in a grow after fans, dehueys, ac, and lights, especially in a multi kW grow.

With all the grow ops with fires, and people posting here about close calls, I believe oversizing electrical to be the only safe way to proceed.

 

[LSWM]

Hey LBE! I posted this over in the extension cord safety forum, as I saw this info was missing from the sticky. I figured it would be of use to you here as well.

Another issue with extension cords is that you are adding a length of wire to wire already in the wall coming from the main panel.

If you have a 50 foot run from the panel to the socket, then use a 50 foot extension cord, you are now pushing a 100 foot run and the gauge wiring will need to be bumped up to accommodate for voltage drop. If you use a 100' extension cable this will certainly be the case.

It becomes rather obvious that if you are trying to run 12 amps off a 15 amp socket, using a 100' extension cord, that this is going to create problems, no matter how large of gauge extension cord you run. The wiring in the wall from the panel needs to be bumped up to accommodate the longer run if you desire running a full load on that circuit.

Stay safe bud, and happy growing!

 

[Ttystikk]

Thanks for the vocab lesson. Not being sarcastic.

As for the ballast only consuming 10 amps... Until he has a kill a watt showing such I don't believe that is a enough of a derating factor.

Also assuming that those plugs are brand new, and haven't been backstabbed or used in a wet location and therefore haven't corroded increasing resistance, sure 67% load is fine to run continually on a 15 amp circuit.

The OP is in a new location, and due to the above, aforementioned issues I wouldn't do it. Also I believe he mentions it being the only socket down there... I could be wrong.

If you are planning anything larger than 1k, such as a 600 for veg, I would strongly recommend against the use of extension cords and would strongly recommend getting an electrician to run a dedicated circuit. Power draw stacks up real quick in a grow after fans, dehueys, ac, and lights, especially in a multi kW grow.

With all the grow ops with fires, and people posting here about close calls, I believe oversizing electrical to be the only safe way to proceed.

You're very welcome, no sarcasm was the spirit in which it was meant.

I'll stand by my math in a good location with no issues such as the list you wrote above. With issues like those, I'd get them fixed before running more than a night light.

As strange as it may sound, grabbing ahold of one of the lines to determine its temperature can be enlightening. Be safe; Do not do it while standing in water, with wet hands, near a nick in the wire, etc, etc. If the wire is too hot to continuously hold onto, it's carrying too much amperage and is a fire hazard. Wires should never get more than 'warm'.

If all these comments add up to sounding like you should not do what you're thinking of, it's time to call an electrician.

If part of this thread is to help the OP determine what lighting to get, I'd strongly recommend you get 600W lights on digital ballasts. They aren't as tough on your wiring, they're more forgiving to your plants- and your wallet- and they are more efficient than thouies in many ways, including lumens per watt.

 

[leadbyexample52]

 

[leadbyexample52]

I got a six hun today so might just run....that instead.....it's only a 25 foot extension cord....but I don't know...I think I'm gonna get some one to help me wire so I can have some more outlets.....thanks for all the info and help.....I can't risk puting the house at risk cuz it ain't mine....I'm gonna have to run my pumps on a different outlet....also gonna have to run a dehumidifier 24/7 it's like 80% hum down there...only like 2fans....Maybe an out take and that's it.....well see

 

[LSWM]

Strange as it may sound, grabbing ahold of one of the lines to determine its temperature can be enlightening. Be safe; Do not do it while standing in water, with wet hands, near a nick in the wire, etc, etc. If the wire is too hot to continuously hold onto, it's carrying too much amperage and is a fire hazard.

It can be very enlightening. I've picked up an extension cord that was coiled up and not only was it to hot to touch but it had turned into a big melted fire hazzard. That set me strain on electrical safety.

[URL=https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=54454&pictureid=1270677&thumb=1]View Image[/url] [URL=https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=54454&pictureid=1270680&thumb=1]View Image[/url] [URL=https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=54454&pictureid=1270676&thumb=1]View Image[/url] [URL=https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=54454&pictureid=1270679&thumb=1]View Image[/url]

That's the dryer socket! Should be at least 20 amps @ 240v. That's enough to run 3 1000s if you use 220 instead of 110.

I got a six hun today so might just run....that instead.....it's only a 25 foot extension cord....but I don't know...I think I'm gonna get some one to help me wire so I can have some more outlets.....thanks for all the info and help.....I can't risk puting the house at risk cuz it ain't mine....I'm gonna have to run my pumps on a different outlet....also gonna have to run a dehumidifier 24/7 it's like 80% hum down there...only like 2fans....Maybe an out take and that's it.....well see

If you are only planning on running 1k flower + 600 veg you could easily get away with the dryer circuit + the other circuit you posted previously, that's including a dehuey + fans.

Anymore than that and I'd get someone in to help you wire up a new circuit.

 

[Ttystikk]

Yup yup. What he said. Scary as Fuck, about grabbing the hot melted coil of extension cord!