Experienced Electrician! Here to Answer Any and All Growroom Electrical Questions

[Laerton420]

yep, you are definitely on the right track and your research is paying off big time. You will save a considerable amount of cash . If you want any help during the build just PM me with pics and stuff and I can help you out

Man. Thanks. Truly appreciate you. Very helpful.

 

[Lucky Luke]

Great advice. I was drawing up plans to do exactly that. I completely agree with you on the professional help. Looks like im shopping for a good electrician who is discreet. My intention was to install a sub panel between the two tents with 2 15- 20 amp breakers in it. One for each. Does that sound viable? I thought perhaps i could do the work in the room and get a pro to tie in everything at the main box.
P.s. you have already been of great help and i wish to express my gratitude at you taking your time to advise me on this.

Speak to the owner (not staff) of your local hydroponics shop. I'm sure they would have someone (like an electrician who grows) who they could put you in touch with.

 

[Jypsy Dog]

Just get your 6/3 pulled out to your main for a Sparky to bring it in. You can handle all the rest. Setting the Sub is not a big deal. Plenty of info online on pulling your branch circuits. Did a hook up/in for a guy with a Tanning Bed. He got all his education online and did a pretty good job.

 

[Ryry94]

Thanks man. My research seems to agree with you. Id love to bring in an electrician. I am intimidated a bit. But im not sure how to approach it. Both tents are up and the room needs to remain stealthy.
I was hoping to run the wire and install two oulets on a circuit somehow . not sure how to do the work at the breaker.

I had the same concern and just ended up telling the electrician over the phone before he even came to my house. Legal state, but some people just refuse to work on weed projects or charge double, I wanted to avoid both. After talking to the electrician for a while, he suggested that people ask for a new dryer plug (220v) in the grow location, because you are going to move your laundry room, right?. Then buy one of those awesome controller boxes that plugs into the 220 dryer outlet and provides all sorts of outlets for lights and the rest of crap we need to plug in.

 

[Ryan Plowman]

I have a question I currently have three phase into a new building and I run double-ended Phantom 208 240 volt ballast can I use the third leg with these or do I need the 277 volt Phantom ballast to use the third leg

 

[619kt619]

I have a question I currently have three phase into a new building and I run double-ended Phantom 208 240 volt ballast can I use the third leg with these or do I need the 277 volt Phantom ballast to use the third leg

The ballast has a rating on it, if the 'input' section says it can handle 277 then you are good. If not, then yes you would need ballast rated for 277 if you want to run it that way. More efficient, scale would be determining factor on if you make the change.

 

[full of purple]

I need to hook up 4 or 5 lights to a lighting controller
I need to know if these are ground bars on the left and right?

 

[full of purple]

Also will it be okay to have the lights wired up to the 40 amp breaker and occasionally use 1 burner on the electric stove top?

 

[619kt619]

I need to hook up 4 or 5 lights to a lighting controller
I need to know if these are ground bars on the left and right?

Also will it be okay to have the lights wired up to the 40 amp breaker and occasionally use 1 burner on the electric stove top?

Man that panel looks scary. ground bar is on the left with all the bare copper wires going to it. Neutral is on the right with all of the white colored wires going to it. I would need to see the power requirements for everything that you want to put on the circuit to determine the load, can't say 100% until I know what is on the circuit. If it is just the stove and the lighting you should be alright, but like I said I would need to know what is being powered on that circuit. If you have a meter that would be the easiest way to determine the amps being pulled on any one breaker, it will give you a snapshot of how much of your breakers capacity is being used. I recommend hiring an electrician

 

[OzCocoLoco]

Man that panel looks scary. ground bar is on the left with all the bare copper wires going to it. Neutral is on the right with all of the white colored wires going to it. I would need to see the power requirements for everything that you want to put on the circuit to determine the load, can't say 100% until I know what is on the circuit. If it is just the stove and the lighting you should be alright, but like I said I would need to know what is being powered on that circuit. If you have a meter that would be the easiest way to determine the amps being pulled on any one breaker, it will give you a snapshot of how much of your breakers capacity is being used. I recommend hiring an electrician

That panel could definitely do with a tidy up.You’d need a clip on ammeter to check amperage of a circuit otherwise you need an in-line amp meter wired into the active the only way to tell current is by having your meter in series with the load or using a c.t (current transformer ) type device that’s in the clip on meter

 

[Lurrabq]

Also will it be okay to have the lights wired up to the 40 amp breaker and occasionally use 1 burner on the electric stove top?

I'm with 619 on that panel, it's pretty nasty. Also per code, everything on that 40A circuit would need #8 wire, except for short pigtails at the terminal of each device on the circuit. Does that panel have a manufacturer tag?

 

[full of purple]

I'm with 619 on that panel, it's pretty nasty. Also per code, everything on that 40A circuit would need #8 wire, except for short pigtails at the terminal of each device on the circuit. Does that panel have a manufacturer tag?

The panel is made by sylvania

 

[full of purple]

That panel could definitely do with a tidy up.You’d need a clip on ammeter to check amperage of a circuit otherwise you need an in-line amp meter wired into the active the only way to tell current is by having your meter in series with the load or using a c.t (current transformer ) type device that’s in the clip on meter

I only plan to run 3-4 lights on. 12/12

 

[OzCocoLoco]

I only plan to run 3-4 lights on. 12/12

If your only going for 12/12 you could always split it into 2 sections running 2 lights and use a flip relay to switch the loads so you run one section from 7am to 7pm then it switches over to run the other section from 7pm till 7am halving the maximum load and number of ballasts needed

 

[full of purple]

No I only have 1 room don't want to do that
I think I will be fine

 

[full of purple]

Would it be okay to run the power box wires to the main line?
There's no room inside the breakers to add more wire

 

[OzCocoLoco]

Would it be okay to run the power box wires to the main line?
There's no room inside the breakers to add more wire

I wouldn’t if I were you.

 

[full of purple]

I wouldn’t if I were you.

How do you suggest I wire up my lights?

 

[OzCocoLoco]

How do you suggest I wire up my lights?

I really don’t suggest anyone do any “hard wiring “ of any type unless they are an electrician. Personally I set up individual panels for each room with individual circuits for Lights,inlet/outlet fans,circulation fans and ancillaries like pumps,dehumidifiers etc all with their own din mount timers and contactors as well as all circuits being protected by ELCB or safety switches. I’ve made modular units for people so they can plug the units into their wall outlets and them plug their ballasts and things into one of the modules,you may be able to find someone near you to do something similar for you.

 

[710revolution]

Damn bro, you're brave giving some of these people advice. I can just imagine some shit these guys pull. Ive personally cringed looking at a couple of grows, and felt it in my heart to help sort some shit out before they burn the damn house down lol.