Electrical Question For Cottage Grow

[kipdrordy21]

I'm thinking about doing a 10x10 medical grow tent operation in an unoccupied cottage although I'm unsure if there is adequate electricity to handle the 2,500+ watts of electricity to power the operation. My knowledge with electricity is far too little to figure this out so I would like to know how to ensure the circuit could support such an operation.

 

[isthis2012]

Probably not enough from 1 bedroom. I'm no master electrician but I think you'd probably need to add a circuit to the room, but it depends whats already existing.

A typical circuit I believe (15 amp) could safely handle about 1000-1300 watts before you really start pushing its limits. Some circuits will have like 3 outlets, ceiling lights and a switch on that 1 circuit alone. Before you start throwing 1000w lights around you really need to understand the electrical layout of your area. A basic book on electrical home wiring and a few hours reading it will greatly improve your knowledge of whats required. You may find yourself able to DIY. Or you may decide its easier/safer to get a pro electrician to do it for a few hundred bucks, right and to code, and you get peace of mind. Especially since its legal. I assume of course this is your cottage and you're not just some squatter lol.

You will probably need 2 circuits at least, plus you'll probably have to factor in extra juice for a large AC. Since this is legal, I'd probably be frank with an electrician and tell them your needs, spend a few hundred bucks, get it done right and to code. Even if it was illegal, just get them in there before the op starts, tell them you are a power hungry musicician and constantly blowing fuses with your gear and you like to run a massive AC unit as well.

 

[kipdrordy21]

Probably not enough from 1 bedroom. I'm no master electrician but I think you'd probably need to add a circuit to the room, but it depends whats already existing.

A typical circuit I believe (15 amp) could safely handle about 1000-1300 watts before you really start pushing its limits. Some circuits will have like 3 outlets, ceiling lights and a switch on that 1 circuit alone. Before you start throwing 1000w lights around you really need to understand the electrical layout of your area. A basic book on electrical home wiring and a few hours reading it will greatly improve your knowledge of whats required. You may find yourself able to DIY. Or you may decide its easier/safer to get a pro electrician to do it for a few hundred bucks, right and to code, and you get peace of mind. Especially since its legal. I assume of course this is your cottage and you're not just some squatter lol.

You will probably need 2 circuits at least, plus you'll probably have to factor in extra juice for a large AC. Since this is legal, I'd probably be frank with an electrician and tell them your needs, spend a few hundred bucks, get it done right and to code. Even if it was illegal, just get them in there before the op starts, tell them you are a power hungry musicician and constantly blowing fuses with your gear and you like to run a massive AC unit as well.

Thanks for the informative post. I'll look into reading up about home wiring for reference. Not sure if I could do any re-wiring thought since it is my neighbors. This cottage does seem somewhat equipped as it has: a good built-in heater, washer/dryer, refrigerator, oven/stove, and full bathroom. I'm more interested in placing the grow in the living/bed room rather than the kitchen which is where all the appliances are. Btw, i'd say this place is actually more of a cabin than a cottage lol, so it prob wouldn't qualify as your average one bedroom.

 

[isthis2012]

I hope they're letting you do this? You arent just going to break into someones cottage and grow pot it in are you? First of all, electrical bill alone will set them off and they'll call the company who will call the police.

 

[kipdrordy21]

I hope they're letting you do this? You arent just going to break into someones cottage and grow pot it in are you? First of all, electrical bill alone will set them off and they'll call the company who will call the police.

No, I would definitely get permission firsthand. Breaking in and growing in someone else's residence is plain stupid if you ask me lol. I think they would figure things out before the electric bill would arrive. BTW, the reason I mentioned "unoccupied" in the first post was to imply that no other electricity would be consumed besides the grow operation.

 

[mrmadcow]

cottage,cabin or shack? how old and does it have fuses or breakers? is the orignal wiring 50+ yrs old? unless it is very outdated,you should be OK.does the place have it's own meter or is it feed from another building?
if you have breakers & modern wiring(built/wired after 1970) for the kitchen area,you could run a couple heavy extension cords. look for 12 gauge cords only as long as you need, plug them into outlets on seperate breakers and try to keep the draw under 3/4 of what the breaker is rated for.
or you could add an outlet or 2 by the breaker box & run cords from thare.

 

[kipdrordy21]

cottage,cabin or shack? how old and does it have fuses or breakers? is the orignal wiring 50+ yrs old? unless it is very outdated,you should be OK.does the place have it's own meter or is it feed from another building?
if you have breakers & modern wiring(built/wired after 1970) for the kitchen area,you could run a couple heavy extension cords. look for 12 gauge cords only as long as you need, plug them into outlets on seperate breakers and try to keep the draw under 3/4 of what the breaker is rated for.
or you could add an outlet or 2 by the breaker box & run cords from thare.

Good info, thanks for the post! I'll look into that and hopefully figure it out soon. I know the kitchen had recent electrical work done in order to install washer/dryer and heat. Running heavy duty extension cords from the kitchen into the living/bedroom space sounds like the plan to me. How long of an extension chord could I use with 1000 watt light before the current would be too restricted? I imagine I'll need about 25-30 ft.

 

[hgkdehs]

It's quite simple really. Just have something plugged into all the outlets, go flip the breakers one by one. See which breakers go to what outlets. Look at the amp rating of the breakers. All of your equipment should have an amp rating on it. Add up the amps for all the equipment being used on one circuit and don't exceed the amp rating for each circuit breaker.

 

[kipdrordy21]

It's quite simple really. Just have something plugged into all the outlets, go flip the breakers one by one. See which breakers go to what outlets. Look at the amp rating of the breakers. All of your equipment should have an amp rating on it. Add up the amps for all the equipment being used on one circuit and don't exceed the amp rating for each circuit breaker.

Sounds easy enough, will do. A few general questions I still have:

1. How effective are these carbon filters? The house is about 40 ft from the road although the grow op would be at the far end, so more like 60-70 ft. I plan on using 8 inch ducting for exhaust with a high quality duct fan. My main worry is how easy people could smell it. Btw exhaust will either be routed through the ceiling vent or back/far side of house.

2. How far can the average 8 inch exhaust/intake fan be heard from? shouting distance? talking distance? I plan on prob using silencers.

 

[pazuzu420]

Just taking a quick look in the fuse box would tell you if you have beg enough service out there to begin with but with all the things you have described and recent work I would say that you are going to be more than alright. Like Hgdehs stated plug in, I like to use a radio turned up loud so I can hear it from the box, and turn all of them off. Then flip each one until you find the one which makes a crap load of noise Rinse and repeat for each circuit.
If there is a dryer and it is electric not natural gas or propane then it prob runs on 220v and should be on a 30 amp breaker or larger. I don't run that large a lamp but you should be able to run two 1000w off of it accorrding to Isthis2012.

If you are lucky enough to have the dryer outlet you could use a product such as this http://www.growwurks.com/30-amp-timer-box.aspx
or like it as there are tons of similar products.

Hope to help shed some light on your garden

 

[kipdrordy21]

Just taking a quick look in the fuse box would tell you if you have beg enough service out there to begin with but with all the things you have described and recent work I would say that you are going to be more than alright. Like Hgdehs stated plug in, I like to use a radio turned up loud so I can hear it from the box, and turn all of them off. Then flip each one until you find the one which makes a crap load of noise Rinse and repeat for each circuit.
If there is a dryer and it is electric not natural gas or propane then it prob runs on 220v and should be on a 30 amp breaker or larger. I don't run that large a lamp but you should be able to run two 1000w off of it accorrding to Isthis2012.

If you are lucky enough to have the dryer outlet you could use a product such as this http://www.growwurks.com/30-amp-timer-box.aspx
or like it as there are tons of similar products.

Hope to help shed some light on your garden

Yes, that is some good advice. No other appliances would be running besides grow op. The dryer definitely runs on electricity so that timer box would prob be perfect. Also there is an over and fridge... so I should be more than fine. Will 12 gauge extension cords be safe enough if I had to run them about 20-30ft???

 

[pazuzu420]

It should be fine but make sure you get the shortest cord for your run, so it sounds like 50 ft cords. Here is alittle info on voltage drop and max amp per copper and aluminum wires.
First here is a caculator for finding voltage drop.....http://www.csgnetwork.com/voltagedropcalc.html.


Wire Size Copper Aluminum
14 25
12 30 25
10 40 35
8 55 45
6 75 60
4 95 75
2 130 100
1 150 115
1/0 170 135
2/0 265 150
4/0 360 205

 

[MrEDuck]

You're going to want more than 2500W to grow in a 10x10 space. At least 4 1kW lights. At least another 1kW in fans and such. If you can wire everything in 240V. A 20A 240V circuit can run about 4kW safely. Switching the wiring so your grow is on the kitchen circuit should provide you with all the electricity you need. A kitchen has to be able to run a fridge and a microwave at the same time, maybe even an electric stove or oven.

 

[kipdrordy21]

You're going to want more than 2500W to grow in a 10x10 space. At least 4 1kW lights. At least another 1kW in fans and such. If you can wire everything in 240V. A 20A 240V circuit can run about 4kW safely. Switching the wiring so your grow is on the kitchen circuit should provide you with all the electricity you need. A kitchen has to be able to run a fridge and a microwave at the same time, maybe even an electric stove or oven.

Yes, I was thinking the kitchen could run the operation safely since it contains full appliances as you said. I just wanna run 2k watts in light my first time around so I can get the hang of things and not have such a pricey electric bill (I'm in CA). Eventually I'll add another light or two.

 

[mrmadcow]

Will 12 gauge extension cords be safe enough if I had to run them about 20-30ft???

keep your draw under 15 amps & you will be fine up to about 150 feet. the longer the wire, the more voltage drops and the less effecient the lights will run so its in your best interest to keep the cords as short as possible. they make ends for the cord so if you need say 30 feet, you could cut a longer cord down to 30 feet and add a new end.

 

[kipdrordy21]

keep your draw under 15 amps & you will be fine up to about 150 feet. the longer the wire, the more voltage drops and the less effecient the lights will run so its in your best interest to keep the cords as short as possible. they make ends for the cord so if you need say 30 feet, you could cut a longer cord down to 30 feet and add a new end.

I might be able to keep the draw under 15 amps at first, although I will prob increase amount of light and fans eventually.

 

[kipdrordy21]

Sounds easy enough, will do. A few general questions I still have:

1. How effective are these carbon filters? The house is about 40 ft from the road although the grow op would be at the far end, so more like 60-70 ft. I plan on using 8 inch ducting for exhaust with a high quality duct fan. My main worry is how easy people could smell it. Btw exhaust will either be routed through the ceiling vent or back/far side of house.

2. How far can the average 8 inch exhaust/intake fan be heard from? shouting distance? talking distance? I plan on prob using silencers.

Bump 4 this question

 

[mrmadcow]

I might be able to keep the draw under 15 amps at first, although I will prob increase amount of light and fans eventually.

sorry I meant 15 amps per cord/ breaker.

 

[groperwow]

OK being a retired master electrian, what kind of wiring do you have is it copper or aluminum...next if you have a kitchen it should or better be on a 20amp circut, that does not include your fridge...
also if you have a washer and dryer the washer is on a dedicated 20 amp circut. the dryer you can pull the breker out of the panel and take the white wire and hook it to the neutral bar instal a 20amp single pull breaker putt the black wire on it. go instal a 20 amp plug in the wall white wire on the silver screw and black wire on the copper screw, then bang between the dryer and washer you have 2 20amp circuts.

 

[kipdrordy21]

OK being a retired master electrian, what kind of wiring do you have is it copper or aluminum...next if you have a kitchen it should or better be on a 20amp circut, that does not include your fridge...
also if you have a washer and dryer the washer is on a dedicated 20 amp circut. the dryer you can pull the breker out of the panel and take the white wire and hook it to the neutral bar instal a 20amp single pull breaker putt the black wire on it. go instal a 20 amp plug in the wall white wire on the silver screw and black wire on the copper screw, then bang between the dryer and washer you have 2 20amp circuts.

Not sure what type of wiring it is. Thanks for the advice on the 20 amp circuits, I'll definately look into that. That would be plentiful for this operation with room to grow.