Grow room Electrical Safety Guidelines

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CypressRyan

Well-Known Member
kingofqueen said:
Consider the lighting controller a subfeed. The controller it self should have its own overcurrent protection . IN this case you just need to protect the wire feedin the controller . You said #8 so a 50a breaker is perfect for this scenerio .

If your lighting controller doesn't have its own overcurrent protection you have to rate your breaker to protect the controller thus you would size your breaker based on 4k ,which is 16.66 amps at 240 v . Then you would need a 20 a breaker .
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Check, Check thanks for the knowledge.. these are the details I lack

NewClosetGrower said:
yeah i get ya man...the way you figure the amps out is simple, you divide the Watts by the Volts. So 4000W/240V=16.6A...so then take 80% percent of that 50amp breaker because of the continuous load and you get 40. So basically your running 17 amps on a 40 amp breaker with the lights...i doubt your controller is powered by the same circuit but if it is make sure you add that in there to, hope this helps
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thank you as well sir
 
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NewClosetGrower

Well-Known Member
kingofqueen said:
Thanks man ! There is no thread on saftey and with so many newbs throwing grows together I feel its nessesary to have a thread like this .
It doesn't get a lot of hits but its a nessesary thing hate to see someone burn their house down .
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Hey bro, im very new here and i dont want to impose on any one, but i can honestly say im a complete noob at growing, im underway with my first grow now, but i am very skilled with electrical and you seem to be yourself...maybe we can approach some admins ( i dont even know who they are on here yet, lol) and ask them to put up a big stickied section where people can ask you and me questions about wiring up there grow rooms and we can lead them in a safe direction...just an idea but i really dont want to see anyone burn there house down, and then go to prison for the cops finding out it was a grow room that caused it
 
kingofqueen

kingofqueen

Well-Known Member
They catch on when a page get's alot of attention . And there is no electrical saftey info on here so we will see . I know one of the moderaters i could ask but gonna let it take off first .
 
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NewClosetGrower

Well-Known Member
yeah i hear ya man...what i meant what they should add an electrical safety topic on the main page and have people who know about it answer the questions...let me know what the mod says...
 
MeanGreenFarmingMachine

MeanGreenFarmingMachine

Active Member
kingofqueen said:
Welcome all ! Electrical safety is an subject area that often gets overlooked. With so many new growers I think there is some need for concern in this area . I,m an 16 yr electrician and am going to share my knowledge from being on construction sites for 16 yrs to compile this article to keep our grows and homes safe !


The Basics
First off most home circuits are 15 amps. And the average voltage is 115 volts .Which equals 1,725 watts. BUT that is the maximum . You will be safe using 80% of this which is 12 amps or 1,380 watts.
So what you want to do is make a list of every electrical item in your grow. Then add up the total wattage to see where your at . If amperage is given and not wattage you have to multiply the amperage by the voltage so 1.2 amps is 138 watts at 115 volts .
Volts x amps = watts
So with this information you should be able to get an idea of where you stand in total load on your grow per the circuit your using . Its also a good idea to be sure nothing else is on the circuit u use. If there is u have to add this in your calculation .

#1 Issue Heat from Ballasts

Your lighting ballasts generate a lot of heat . The hotter they get the less efficient they are whether its digital,electronic,or magnetic . Care should be taken to locate your ballasts in an area that gets some airflow usally outside the room so that the heat doesnt collect in your grow enclosure.

#2 Issue Cords

Care should be taken when using extension cords . Always use cord rated for the correct amperage according to your breaker. Always use 15 a cords . All cords should be checked daily as part of your PM. Check for nicks cuts and always check plug in connections . Loose cord connections start to generate extra heat and can eventually melt , or catch fire if left unnoticed !
It is equally important to check any wiring connections made . Meaning items you wired yourself . Be sure all connection are tight and not heating up . Make sure no wiring or cords are in contact with a heat source .

#3 Issue Excessive Heat from HID Lighting

Care should be taken to be sure nothing flammable is in contact or near your bulb . A good safety
measure to be taken here if you can afford it is an high temp shutoff for your light . If the temp reaches a predetermined level it shuts your light down as an safety measure . Another good measure to take is at least at the bare minimum keep a fire extinguisher near your grow.

Happy and Safe Growing to All !
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Yo i dont think you know how much this helps ! thx
 
reggaerican

reggaerican

Well-Known Member
this is an awsome thread.. im a long time electrician also and so many times in the pot buis. stoners will totally screw up a simple electrical job turning the grow room into a ticking time bomb..tick tick tick tick tock! and the house burns down..
 
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NewClosetGrower

Well-Known Member
reggaerican said:
this is an awsome thread.. im a long time electrician also and so many times in the pot buis. stoners will totally screw up a simple electrical job turning the grow room into a ticking time bomb..tick tick tick tick tock! and the house burns down..
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yeah man it doesnt take much if you dont know what your doing
 
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plsfoldthx

Active Member
Hey guys I bought an extension cord rated for 13Amps.... It will be plugged into a 120V outlet. So as long as I'm drawing less than 1560 Watts (120 x 13) through the cord, I should be fine right?
 
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NewClosetGrower

Well-Known Member
plsfoldthx said:
Hey guys I bought an extension cord rated for 13Amps.... It will be plugged into a 120V outlet. So as long as I'm drawing less than 1560 Watts (120 x 13) through the cord, I should be fine right?
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yeah bro you will be fine, there is something called a continuous load however. and that means that if whatever you are using is going to be on for more then 2 hours you should not use more then 80% of the maxiumum operating range...ive been an electrician for 6 years and have never really seen this cause a problem.
 
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NewClosetGrower

Well-Known Member
i havnt opened my code book since i got out of school, lol...i know i have the new one but i dont have any idea where it is, lol...but you are right bro. Heat does play a role in ampacity, its somewhat similar to voltage drop

bewareofdogandowner said:
high heat requires ampacity adjustments. higher temps require bigger wire at the same current draw, than cooler temps.
see nec 310.16
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kingofqueen

kingofqueen

Well-Known Member
plsfoldthx said:
Hey guys I bought an extension cord rated for 13Amps.... It will be plugged into a 120V outlet. So as long as I'm drawing less than 1560 Watts (120 x 13) through the cord, I should be fine right?
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Well 80 percent of the 13a is 1248 watts . U have to figure 80% of your load . So stay under 1248w and yes your fine . I always buy my cords rated at 20 a heavy duty ones .
 
bewareofdogandowner

bewareofdogandowner

Active Member
kingofqueen said:
However the enviroment we live in is'nt hot enough to justify adjustments for heat , unless your in an attic , lol .
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all things electric put off heat. ballasts, lamps, panels...heat is the by product of electricity.
i would never use a 14 awg for any grow room.
#12 only for branch ckts at least that gives me 17 amps for my 80 percent OCPD load.
always leave room for expansion.
when fans start up they can draw up to 250% of there rated load.
size continuous loads at 100% and upsize wire and breaker accordingly.
 
bewareofdogandowner

bewareofdogandowner

Active Member
plsfoldthx said:
Hey guys I bought an extension cord rated for 13Amps.... It will be plugged into a 120V outlet. So as long as I'm drawing less than 1560 Watts (120 x 13) through the cord, I should be fine right?
Click to expand...
cord rated for 13amps at 100 percent. keep your load to 80 percent or less of your wire rating to be safe.
 
kingofqueen

kingofqueen

Well-Known Member
bewareofdogandowner said:
all things electric put off heat. ballasts, lamps, panels...heat is the by product of electricity.
i would never use a 14 awg for any grow room.
#12 only for branch ckts at least that gives me 17 amps for my 80 percent OCPD load.
always leave room for expansion.
when fans start up they can draw up to 250% of there rated load.
size continuous loads at 100% and upsize wire and breaker accordingly.
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Woah there buddy! Back the truck up ! Nobody said electrical devices don't generate heat ! He specificall asked if a 13 a cord is sufficient if he stays under 1560 watts . Where did you get high heat from? Or are u just arguing with yourself just to fuck my thread up? Most conducters are rated at 60 degrees c or 140 f . Yeah moters have start up current it lasts for a milisecond duh ! Yeah moters get hot they are constructed of materials rated for it and the heat it normally generates is factored in to name plate rating . So unless his cord is running in an area of 140 f there's not a problem , we are talking about a personal grow not a 100 plant grow op or somthing ! lmao Love how ppl dont read the whole thread and chime trying to answer already answered questions . Also love how ppl become an appentice or helper then after a yr of work consider themselves a self proclaimed super electrician guru ! You should be more respectful of people's threads mabey you need to go read "Before you post " thread . Peace I'm dun !
 
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