almost caught fire, electrical question

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jonjon777

Active Member
So I'm running 4000 watts, close to 5 with equipment, on two 30 amp breakers and a twenty. Each 30 amp holds two lights, the twenty holds everything else, lights are each plugged into single 15 amp timer on 15 amp surge.

Why did this happen?

(Luckily I was there when it occurred)

what am I doing wrong?

See pic!
 

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ttystikk

ttystikk

Well-Known Member
jonjon777 said:
So I'm running 4000 watts, close to 5 with equipment, on two 30 amp breakers and a twenty. Each 30 amp holds two lights, the twenty holds everything else, lights are each plugged into single 15 amp timer on 15 amp surge.

Why did this happen?

(Luckily I was there when it occurred)

what am I doing wrong?

See pic!
Click to expand...
30 Amps on how many volts?
 
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GrowUrOwnDank

Well-Known Member
You need heavy duty. Extension cords, surge protectors, whatever is hooked up to your grow needs to be beyond code. Your running lights that are drawing for hours. The wire heats up. That chinsy little Walmart junk power strip blew up. In the future, make sure all your shit is way beyond code. My stuff doesn't even pull 500 watts, but I have a 12 gauge extension cord. Good for 20 amps.

Just saying man. Your electrical stuff is a one time cost and if you over do it it will last a long long time. And you can sleep at night.

If you cheap it up you could die a horrific death. And your loved ones.
 
IgrowUgrow

IgrowUgrow

Well-Known Member
Maybe try a new power strip, there might have been a short in it. I would try that and then see if it happens again then something else is wrong.
 
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jonjon777

Active Member
4 1000 waters, each on individual power strip, 15 amps then own separate wire, 2/12 I think, two wires to a 30 amp breaker... All at 110/120. Honestly I thought I could get away with 3 lights per breaker... And intended to during flower...

I should be able to shouldn't I?
 
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jonjon777

Active Member
I did replace power strip. Maybe I should use better ones.

if I Hardware I have to cut my cords and I really don't want to do that...

I did see a video where this one guy ran a 220 to a new box and then to an array of outlets inside of a large outlet box,
that's what I think I'm going to do...

I also seen those fire extinguishers that automatically go off, I'll be investing in one of those this year...
 
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churchhaze

Well-Known Member
WAY too much current through that power strip combined with a poor connection that was jiggling caused that socket to burn up. You need a WAY beefier power strip, or not using power strips at all.

With the amount of current you're using , consider yourself lucky your house didn't burn down.
 
ttystikk

ttystikk

Well-Known Member
Lighting loads are among the most demanding, because they're continuous, and that allows any weak points to get hot, melt, burn their insulation, etc, etc.

Once you've stepped up to multiple thouies, you really need to treat your electrical system with respect- or it will burn your house down and possibly kill you.
 
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jonjon777

Active Member
Well this is the scare thats making me realize that...

Even though it says 1875watts, it wasn't good enough for a 1000 smh...

I'm going to get rid of power strips for now,

as far as extension cords, 15 amps per light is more than enough, correct?
 
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GrowUrOwnDank

Well-Known Member
jonjon777 said:
Well this is the scare thats making me realize that...

Even though it says 1875watts, it wasn't good enough for a 1000 smh...

I'm going to get rid of power strips for now,

as far as extension cords, 15 amps per light is more than enough, correct?
Click to expand...
Just get 12 gauge bro. And Make sure your stuff is on a surge protextor and even a GFCI outlet. 15 amps is code, but, because the lights run for so many hours, code up. Do the stuff right bro. Like a pro.
 
D

deadgro

Well-Known Member
OP, different guages of cable have different amperage capabilities. The cheap cable and power strips use thinner guage which can't handle the heat, which leads to melting plastic and fire.

Thicker guage mean heat more spread out and lower cable surface temperatures, as well as thicker insulation means even lower surface temps.
 
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jonjon777

Active Member
It came with the light kit???

Then again, all my extension cords and power strips say 15 amps and or 1875 watts... And look what happened..

Also, I went to Lowes and the super thin ext cords say 15 amps as well as the thicker cords.. ???
 
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