Noobish Electric Questions

[Misuseofyou]

That's just a box to use one timer for multiple lights, it has nothing to do with providing the amount of juice you need. No sense being defensive either when people are actually concerned for your safety. That's not something you find often on the internet and should be cherished imo.

 

[Tyrannabudz]

Awesome! This shouldn't be too hard then! Does anyone have any experience with these types of products? Is there a certain brand to look for?

Look for something that is UL listed or tested by a comparable independent testing agency. This will ensure the safety of said product.

 

[lowerarchy]

Just buy the book, man. It'll tell you how to safely wire a subpanel or main panel, give you the calcs for figuring wire size, tell you how to set up duplex outlets in line with a timer, and generally give you the minimal theoretical background you need to know to do electrical work. There's no shortage of free advice on the internet, tons of people could tell you how to do this safely, but there's no substitute for learning something as important and basic as this. Not only will you save yourself bucks and outrageous lies dealing with a professional sparky, you'll come out with more knowledge than you came in with. Then when you've got a plan (cover to cover, don't forget!) come back and tell us what it is so we can check you and you're off to town.

Not trying to be unhelpful or withhold secret 'lectrical wisdom of the sages. I just see you going down the same road I went down which is fucking with (cue booming Gandalf the wizard voice) POWERFUL FORCES I DID NOT UNDERSTAND, costing me more heartache than a $20 book and an afternoon would ever have. I didn't start any fires but I cost myself days of labour because everything I did I did twice.

 

[Jloi]

So many electricians are laid off righht now, you could get one in to hook up the amps to the box and wiring. Just tell him what type of power your looking to run. He wont asked what your running.

But a little heads up Medical card or not I know right now NO state gives you free rain to grow as much as you want unless your a care giver. So with that said the electrical company will see the HUGE surge in power use your using compared to the last owner. You will get a knock on the door for sure!

 

[Tyrannabudz]

That's just a box to use one timer for multiple lights, it has nothing to do with providing the amount of juice you need. No sense being defensive either when people are actually concerned for your safety. That's not something you find often on the internet and should be cherished imo.

Actually if you look closer you will see there is a 220v male plug on the unit for plugging into a 220v female outlet which would provide the power to run the 8 outlets for the ballasts. There is a 110v trigger cord for plugging into a timer which would tell the unit to turn on. At which point the outlets would be energized and photoperiod would begin. Just thought you needed some clarification on that based on your post, no offense. Late.

 

[Jloi]

You could possibly get a whole new circuit split off from the meter, instead of at the main panel? Not sure about that one

Heads up on the meter! Now a days the electrical companies are running digital meter's on newer houses right when there built. When you pull the meter to upgrade you panel it WILL send a signal to the company and they WILL come out. Do it right to keep it low keep. Get a permit and such. That way when your in mid grow they have no reason to come by and look around.

 

[lowerarchy]

Heads up on the meter! Now a days the electrical companies are running digital meter's on newer houses right when there built. When you pull the meter to upgrade you panel it WILL send a signal to the company and they WILL come out. Do it right to keep it low keep. Get a permit and such. That why when your in mid grow they have no reason to come by and look around.

If they want to come into your house, say "no," obviously.

I mean, how much power do you actually have to use to get the power company interested in you?

 

[d r0cK]

when the electric company sees an average use of power at your house is 6 times that of a normal household... they'll come knocking on your door. And as far as caregiver, you need to read into the actual laws regarding actually being a " caretaker ". even if you are a caretaker there is still limits to how much you can grow, and 6000watts of power is far beyond the maximum amount that you will yield. people using more than 1000w, legal or not, are gonna draw attention sooner or later. its all about average household power use in your area.

but when you do get setup and running, start a thread cause i'll be subd. good luck with everything.

 

[CaptainCAVEMAN]

I've got an electrician coming to hook up my new grow. I've successfully run 2000w with in room a/c12000btu and dehumidifier but I had to buy the thickest extension cords I could find and spread it all over the house. I think any investment that large EASILY warrants the use of an electrician, even if for nothing but the ability to sleep or be away from your grow.

 

[Jloi]

If they want to come into your house, say "no," obviously.

I mean, how much power do you actually have to use to get the power company interested in you?

Being that the house was built in 2004 that power company know's how much it takes on average to run the house i.e. heat, a/c and such. All of a sudden you add 6,000 watts for lights not to include fans etc for 18 plus hours a day. Your power company will come out they will also report you to the police because they know what's up and a good D.A could get a warrent based on probable cause.

You are going to be spending THOUSANDS of dollars in just the set up alone for materials and modifications to the house. The humidity in the house alone will rot it to high hell if not done right! Your better of leasing a small warehouse or a used conex box.

 

[Tyrannabudz]

Being that the house was built in 2004 that power company know's how much it takes on average to run the house i.e. heat, a/c and such. All of a sudden you add 6,000 watts for lights not to include fans etc for 18 plus hours a day. Your power company will come out they will also report you to the police because they know what's up and a good D.A could get a warrent based on probable cause.

You are going to be spending THOUSANDS of dollars in just the set up alone for materials and modifications to the house. The humidity in the house alone will rot it to high hell if not done right! Your better of leasing a small warehouse or a used conex box.

No offense bro, but you are paranoid. You really think the electric co. is going to care if your bill goes up. Not as long as you pay it. That is a myth. If you don't pay they just turn it off.

 

[Jloi]

No offense bro, but you are paranoid. You really think the electric co. is going to care if your bill goes up. Not as long as you pay it. That is a myth. If you don't pay they just turn it off.

My good friend works for the power company where I live. I'm not paranoid I'm stating what he said, do what you want if you hear a knock well it's not like it didnt say anything. I could give a shit less, it's not my house he's growing in!!

 

[lowerarchy]

My good friend works for the power company where I live. I'm not paranoid I'm stating what he said, do what you want if you hear a knock well it's not like it didnt say anything. I could give a shit less, it's not my house he's growing in!!

Well, I won't say it doesn't happen because I don't have a friend on the inside. All I know is that I signed a terms of service agreement with my power company and in that TOS they specifically state that they won't provide my "information to third parties unless required to or ordered by a court of law." Nowhere in my TOS does it say that they can ask me about anything, essentially the only thing that can come up in a normal situation is that the access to the meter is restricted and then they're allowed to cut the power.

Maybe rogue meter readers with friends in the police department do snitch on people. All the more important that you get a peephole and not answer the door when cops come for the knock-and-talk because you know they write it up as "...and when the suspect opened the door of the domicile the strong tell-tale odor of marijuana was immediately present" and that's their PC. Snitching can't be controlled.

At any rate, you get formally ratted on by the power company, hopefully you can find a lawyer to get you off pro-bono in exchange for some of the compensation when you sue the fuck out of your power company.

 

[Jloi]

hopefully you can find a lawyer to get you off pro-bono in exchange for some of the compensation when you sue the fuck out of your power company.

The compensation I'll ask for is free electricity for life and a few bucks for my good lawyer!

 

[lowerarchy]

The compensation I'll ask for is free electricity for life and a few bucks for my good lawyer!

Looking forward to your thread Jloi's 100kw 100 strain lawyer grow

 

[Jloi]

That would be a Great thread!

 

[kingofqueen]

Wow why dont you guys just tell him to get a can of gas and some matches ! Jeez ! I dont think anyone relizes the potential danger in giving out electrical advice .

 

[kingofqueen]

Going to school to be one. That being said all your plugs are NOT 110/220 they are or should be 120/240v you do not have a circuit in your house big enough for all that, lights are always on there own circuit never with anything else so no btu whatever those are. Automatic overload. You will need i’m thinking some 10-2 unless you are going to put a switch on them then 10-3, you are going to want to get a much bigger breaker with amps from 50-70 amps? Not sure on amps. Are they 1k bulbs or what? Just have someone professional do it, i’d hate for you to electrocute yourself man.

You better study up then man . You just suggested 10 gauge wire for over 50A of load .

 

[kingofqueen]

Depending on what kind of service is in the house already, and how many slots are left unused on your box you might be able to get it wired up impermanently so that it can be returned to its original state by simply removing the lengths of wire that have been run to your grow area. A sub panel's maximum load is determined by how many slots on the main panel it's occupying so again that depends on what's there already. Only a licensed electrician looking at it first hand could tell you if its possible. You could always get a free estimate. Good luck but don't get in over your head.

Edit: You could possibly get a whole new circuit split off from the meter, instead of at the main panel? Not sure about that one

NO the sub panel size is determined by the "wire" size you run.

 

[kingofqueen]

I am merely trying to learn here man. Isn't that the point of this forum? I guess I should have mentioned from the beginning that I will not be doing this myself, but rather with my father who has done these sorts of things before.

I would just like to understand the basics. And what I have learned so far is one can simply purchase that product and most of the work is done.

The main thing though is whatever the final solution is...it needs to be moderately removable and uninstallable.

We are here to learn how to grow . Not to wire your grow for you over the internet . Can u even identify and name the different colored screws on a recpt ?