How can i tell how many lamps i can run? - Growroom Lighting - International Cannagraphic Magazine Forums

blunted · 03-13-2006, 05:01 AM

I am curious as to how many lamps can be run on my electrical system, i checked my fuse box it says 125 amps max but says it is a 100 amp system. my house is outfited with GFI outlets witht he test/reset buttons. The house is divided into 2-3 seperate fuses. (i apologize if i am using the wrong terminology to explain myself im unfamiliar with electrics) I am curious how many lamps i can run? can i atleast do 3000 watts?

GanjaJedi · 03-13-2006, 11:43 AM

I dunno by the looks of it maybe you should just run some flouros and turn em on and off at randoms times because "you can tell thats what the plant wants" but that's just what one of my friends suggested. Hope someone has some more usefull advice for you!

Tokin White Guy · 03-13-2006, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GanjaJedi

I dunno by the looks of it maybe you should just run some flouros and turn em on and off at randoms times because "you can tell thats what the plant wants" but that's just what one of my friends suggested.

WTF!?! What the hell are you talking about?!?

I dunno enough about electricity to give u sound advice on this, blunted, but i dunno wtf GanjaJedi is smoking, must be some heavy shit

NiteTiger · 03-13-2006, 12:03 PM

Sounds like your breaker panel has a 100 amp main, divided into 3 sub breakers. These are usually 15 amps each, it should say on the breaker. 1 15 amp breaker is generally good for one 1kw light, which draws ~9.5 amps.

The thing to keep in mind is most breakers aren't run to one outlet, they're run to rooms. So Every outlet and light socket in that room is likely run off 1 15 amp breaker. So you can't plug a 1kw per outlet, but per breaker. Also keep in mind that your other equipment (fans, air pumps, water pumps, etc.) are likely running off that same breaker, so you have to take that amp draw into consideration.

Speaking from experience, I've had no problem running a 1kw light, an 8" Fan, and air pump off one breaker. Dunno how much farther I'd push that though.

medicaluser420 · 03-13-2006, 06:41 PM

I aint no electrician either but I agree with NiteTiger and his principles cause they are the same for me I would not run more than a 1k light in any room cause by the time you add fan and other random shit there are not enough amps so go for a couple of 600 on a light rail or you might be able to use
3 x 1k lights one running off eack 15amp breaker. Good Luck

Blunt_69 · 03-13-2006, 06:53 PM

Of course if you run some direct lines from the breaker box, you can run 3 lights np. May need the help of an electrician for this.

Jnugg · 03-13-2006, 10:38 PM

This is what you do.Go to your breaker and start switching panels off to see which one(s) control the room(s) you plan on growing in.Once you have found that out you can move to the next step,How many amps is the fuse?

Once you have found the amperage of the fuse you can decide exactly how much electricity you can use on that fuse in that room.

to run 3,000 watts of light plus the exhuast fans you will need a 40 amps circuit that you can use 32 amps from safely.

Hre is a amperage overload chart.It displays the amps rating first then the available amperage and finally the overload amperage.

For example:A fuse rated at 15 amps will allow you to safely use 13 of those amps but the fuse will be overloade if you use 14 of those amps.

AMPERE OVERLOAD CHART

RATING AVAILABLE OVERLOAD

15 13 14

20 16 17

25 20 21

30 24 25

40 32 33
----------------------------------

To find out how many watts can be run from the save/available amount is simple.

POWER (WATTS) = VOLTS x AMPS.

Example:A room is powered by 20 AMPS at 120 volts
and we want to find out exactly how much power (watts) we can use safely without overloading the circuit.Remember that you can not use the whole amp but only a percentage of it (listed as available in the chart above),so with a 20 amp circuit we can safely use 16 of those amps.

16 amps x 120 volts =1920 watts total.If you go beyond the 1920 wattt limit you will overload a circuit and could possibly burn you house down.This 1920 watts is not just for lights but for the total wattage of the room.

To use
So we take the two knowns,the voltage and the amps and multiply them.

In you're case you want to use 3k watts of light but you need to be able to pull more power for the fans and any other electriconics to be in the grow room.

In your case you will need a 40 amp circuit and nothing less.

40 amp circuit has 32 amperes available and 33 amperes would be an overload.

so 32 safe amperes multiplyed by 120 volts = 3840 watts total power draw.This gives yu enough to run three 1k watt lights and a fan to ventilate the area plus some other things,just be sure you do not overdraw the circuit/amp or you can burn the house down.

Blunt_69 · 03-13-2006, 11:36 PM

Don't fuck around, run dedicated lines or a subpanel box.

peace. good info^^^^

Kiefer · 03-29-2006, 11:02 PM

very good and helpful info here, will be referreing to some of you more knowledgable electitians within the next week or two, as I'm setting up my first full room grow.

03-13-2006, 05:01 AM	#1
blunted New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 8	How can i tell how many lamps i can run? I am curious as to how many lamps can be run on my electrical system, i checked my fuse box it says 125 amps max but says it is a 100 amp system. my house is outfited with GFI outlets witht he test/reset buttons. The house is divided into 2-3 seperate fuses. (i apologize if i am using the wrong terminology to explain myself im unfamiliar with electrics) I am curious how many lamps i can run? can i atleast do 3000 watts?
	Quote

03-13-2006, 11:43 AM	#2
GanjaJedi Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 281	I dunno by the looks of it maybe you should just run some flouros and turn em on and off at randoms times because "you can tell thats what the plant wants" but that's just what one of my friends suggested. Hope someone has some more usefull advice for you! __________________ Future is a boot stomping on the human face, forever-George Orwell
	Quote

03-13-2006, 12:03 PM	#4
NiteTiger Tiger, Tiger, burning bright... Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 4,256	Sounds like your breaker panel has a 100 amp main, divided into 3 sub breakers. These are usually 15 amps each, it should say on the breaker. 1 15 amp breaker is generally good for one 1kw light, which draws ~9.5 amps. The thing to keep in mind is most breakers aren't run to one outlet, they're run to rooms. So Every outlet and light socket in that room is likely run off 1 15 amp breaker. So you can't plug a 1kw per outlet, but per breaker. Also keep in mind that your other equipment (fans, air pumps, water pumps, etc.) are likely running off that same breaker, so you have to take that amp draw into consideration. Speaking from experience, I've had no problem running a 1kw light, an 8" Fan, and air pump off one breaker. Dunno how much farther I'd push that though. __________________ *Remember - Every 'elite' started off as someone's bagseed* kingjobber - This hash just uncentered my chi Growing cannabis is only as complicated and expensive as you want it to be. Current Grow: Knowledge Guides: Diatomaceous Earth - The Best Pesticide You've Never Heard Of Pontiac's DIY Link-O-Rama Unofficial Glossary for New Growers The Water Cure- How, when, and why How to remove 'HPS Orange' quick and easy!
	Quote

03-13-2006, 06:41 PM	#5
medicaluser420 Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: USA Posts: 407	I aint no electrician either but I agree with NiteTiger and his principles cause they are the same for me I would not run more than a 1k light in any room cause by the time you add fan and other random shit there are not enough amps so go for a couple of 600 on a light rail or you might be able to use 3 x 1k lights one running off eack 15amp breaker. Good Luck __________________ medicaluser420 BlueMystic,Papaya,MMM,and Found grow. How To Reveg Aero/Bubbler Cloner
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03-13-2006, 10:38 PM	#7
Jnugg Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: S.E. USA Posts: 1,720	This is what you do.Go to your breaker and start switching panels off to see which one(s) control the room(s) you plan on growing in.Once you have found that out you can move to the next step,How many amps is the fuse? Once you have found the amperage of the fuse you can decide exactly how much electricity you can use on that fuse in that room. to run 3,000 watts of light plus the exhuast fans you will need a 40 amps circuit that you can use 32 amps from safely. Hre is a amperage overload chart.It displays the amps rating first then the available amperage and finally the overload amperage. For example:A fuse rated at 15 amps will allow you to safely use 13 of those amps but the fuse will be overloade if you use 14 of those amps. AMPERE OVERLOAD CHART RATING AVAILABLE OVERLOAD 15 13 14 20 16 17 25 20 21 30 24 25 40 32 33 ---------------------------------- To find out how many watts can be run from the save/available amount is simple. POWER (WATTS) = VOLTS x AMPS. Example:A room is powered by 20 AMPS at 120 volts and we want to find out exactly how much power (watts) we can use safely without overloading the circuit.Remember that you can not use the whole amp but only a percentage of it (listed as available in the chart above),so with a 20 amp circuit we can safely use 16 of those amps. 16 amps x 120 volts =1920 watts total.If you go beyond the 1920 wattt limit you will overload a circuit and could possibly burn you house down.This 1920 watts is not just for lights but for the total wattage of the room. To use So we take the two knowns,the voltage and the amps and multiply them. In you're case you want to use 3k watts of light but you need to be able to pull more power for the fans and any other electriconics to be in the grow room. In your case you will need a 40 amp circuit and nothing less. 40 amp circuit has 32 amperes available and 33 amperes would be an overload. so 32 safe amperes multiplyed by 120 volts = 3840 watts total power draw.This gives yu enough to run three 1k watt lights and a fan to ventilate the area plus some other things,just be sure you do not overdraw the circuit/amp or you can burn the house down. __________________ Jnugg Converts & Goes Vertical Organic Tea Party w/ The Rev. Ventilation 101 Last edited by Jnugg; 03-14-2006 at 01:04 AM..
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03-13-2006, 06:53 PM	#6
Blunt_69 the keeper of the creeper Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NA somewhere Posts: 1,431	Of course if you run some direct lines from the breaker box, you can run 3 lights np. May need the help of an electrician for this.
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03-13-2006, 11:36 PM	#8
Blunt_69 the keeper of the creeper Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NA somewhere Posts: 1,431	Don't fuck around, run dedicated lines or a subpanel box. peace. good info^^^^
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03-29-2006, 11:02 PM	#9
Kiefer Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 328	very good and helpful info here, will be referreing to some of you more knowledgable electitians within the next week or two, as I'm setting up my first full room grow.
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