How do I know if 3000 watts is too much for my rooms circuit/electric?

[steezy]

hey, soon to set up my 3x 1000w hps, I dont know much about wiring though, can I plug them all into a power bar on one wall, should i use 3 seperate plugs for each one, or what, i got no clue

 

[svchop889]

depends on the amperes allowed on that circuit in that room and how many amperes the ballasts you are using are pulling if all the outlets are in the same room they are likely on the same circuit and it wont matter either way it will still pop your circuit breakers... or burn your shit up

 

[steezy]

depends on the amperes allowed on that circuit in that room and how many amperes the ballasts you are using are pulling if all the outlets are in the same room they are likely on the same circuit and it wont matter either way it will still pop your circuit breakers... or burn your shit up

how do i know how many amperes are in the room, is it on the circuit box in the basement?

 

[Leothwyn]

Yeah, check the breaker. It'll most likely be 15 amps or 20 amps. I think a 1000 watt lamp uses around 9.5 amps. So, 9.5 x 3 = 28.5. That's too much.
So, you'll probably need a new breaker and wire. To be safe, don't just do a 30 amp - do 40 amp (you'll need to use 8 gauge wire to run it). If you don't know much about electrical, then this is definitely a job to get help with.

 

[tilemaster]

dont burn down the place!!!!!

 

[svchop889]

its also not as simple as switching out a circuit breaker either the size of the wir going to the box makes a difference also to size off his breaker box most household circuits max at 30a unless its the laundry room and you run electric water heater and dryer

 

[svchop889]

my advice use three separate circuits to power each ballast or find an electrician that smokes pot make sure their licensed or you'll b in shit with your insurance company and out a house

 

[steezy]

Shit, well my room is on the 2nd floor, far from the basement, can i run 240v on the system and use one of these...


http://www.hydroponicsonline.com/store/SENTINEL-HPH-4-HIGH-POWER-HID-CONTROLLER_400042139991.html

(9.5 x 3) / 2 = 14.25amps

I would use half the amperage with 240v over 120v, and this handy thing plugs into a 120v. If I cant run it off one circuit still, i'll buy another one and run an extension cord from another room, im sure i can find a creative way to hide that... i hope its a 15amp circuit.

 

[Trick400]

How you gonna run 240v on the system? If what your using now is a dedicated circuit with a good ground you could get 240v.

Other than that you would have to most likely run power up outside of the house.

 

[steezy]

Ok, so turns out I have 3 15amp breakers for my upstairs, so the plan is to run 2x 600w HPS on the rooms circuit, and have an extension cord from another room to power another 2x 600w HPS. Then possibly again with the 3rd room, for 2400 - 3600 watts total. All depends on our hydro bill, powers cheap here so we're not too concerned though. Thanks for the help

 

[steezy]

Heh even better, we just ran a 220V extension cord form our dryer outlet in the basement up the centrail air vent right into the room! 40 amps to work with now

For anyone who wants to try this we just ran some steel cable we had down from above, and my friend jiggled it above while I listened for it in the basement, then cut a hole where it was and pulled it out. We taped the extension cord to the top end of the steel cable, then i just pulled it out the bottom.

Note if your running heat you might wanna lower your temps in the house, I don't think its safe to have the hot air with the cable, but my central air doesnt even run so it's not an issue for me.

 

[triconomics]

Heh even better, we just ran a 220V extension cord form our dryer outlet in the basement up the centrail air vent right into the room! 40 amps to work with now

For anyone who wants to try this we just ran some steel cable we had down from above, and my friend jiggled it above while I listened for it in the basement, then cut a hole where it was and pulled it out. We taped the extension cord to the top end of the steel cable, then i just pulled it out the bottom.

Note if your running heat you might wanna lower your temps in the house, I don't think its safe to have the hot air with the cable, but my central air doesnt even run so it's not an issue for me.

You sound a little crazy to take on an endeavor of such on the advice of an online forum but good luck to you.

Persoanlly if it were me which it would never be for such an endeavor as it would be much more worthwhile and less risk to do such in the great outdoors. But if it were me I would use 2 of the 350 watt LED's from growitled.com so instead of your 2-600 watters use 2-350 watter LED's for a total of 700 watts instead of 1200 watts and so than you would need like 4-6 350 watters and maybe do 8.

I doubt you will even be able to keep all that stuff cool on top of your vegging lights ect.....

LED's won't require any cooling equipment so just get a small CFL and lots of those Coconut fiber starter plugs with some other LED's for vegging besides your flowering LED's.

All in all you would come way far ahead in price even though your spending a little extra for the lights.

But number 1 if your doing such an endeavor Thermal imaging is your number 1 enemy.

So if your going the HPS route you absolutely have to redo each room your growing in and cover the ceiling walls and floor if it's the 2 second story of either your grow tents or the entire wall itself. This might need to be done as well too for the LED's as there might be enough heat produced if you have enough of them in the same room to warrant a warrant.

Good luck it sounds like you will need it......funniest thing I have read in a long time...........

 

[triconomics]

You could use 2 cycles in each room running 4 different cycles with each different breaker!

 

[cloned]

Ok, so turns out I have 3 15amp breakers for my upstairs, so the plan is to run 2x 600w HPS on the rooms circuit, and have an extension cord from another room to power another 2x 600w HPS. Then possibly again with the 3rd room, for 2400 - 3600 watts total. All depends on our hydro bill, powers cheap here so we're not too concerned though. Thanks for the help

wheres here?

 

[JSB1904]

You sound a little crazy to take on an endeavor of such on the advice of an online forum but good luck to you.

Persoanlly if it were me which it would never be for such an endeavor as it would be much more worthwhile and less risk to do such in the great outdoors. But if it were me I would use 2 of the 350 watt LED's from growitled.com so instead of your 2-600 watters use 2-350 watter LED's for a total of 700 watts instead of 1200 watts and so than you would need like 4-6 350 watters and maybe do 8.

I doubt you will even be able to keep all that stuff cool on top of your vegging lights ect.....

LED's won't require any cooling equipment so just get a small CFL and lots of those Coconut fiber starter plugs with some other LED's for vegging besides your flowering LED's.

All in all you would come way far ahead in price even though your spending a little extra for the lights.

But number 1 if your doing such an endeavor Thermal imaging is your number 1 enemy.

So if your going the HPS route you absolutely have to redo each room your growing in and cover the ceiling walls and floor if it's the 2 second story of either your grow tents or the entire wall itself. This might need to be done as well too for the LED's as there might be enough heat produced if you have enough of them in the same room to warrant a warrant.

Good luck it sounds like you will need it......funniest thing I have read in a long time...........

Don't listen to this guy... MH/HPS all day and night! problem is you guys are playing around with little light and well without needing to be said....but I will...Put (4} 1000watters in a 10 x10 room and try to compare an LED with that. I am done. Later.

 

[JSB1904]

Don't listen to this guy... MH/HPS all day and night! problem is you guys are playing around with little light and well without needing to be said....but I will...Put (4} 1000watters in a 10 x10 room and try to compare an LED with that. I am done. Later.

P.S. Endeavor?....Now that makes me laugh!

 

[JSB1904]

If he knew anything he'd know how to keep room temp, humidity, and neg pressure regardless of where he was. I am sorry to all who are reading this but the guy above just hacks with his conceited attitude when someone just wanted info so I dug in oh well I don't regret it . Late

 

[JSB1904]

You obviously don't know jack! don't be conceited to people trying to learn. You make me laugh with your joke LED's