Electricity issue/question

[KLITE]

Hi all,

First i dont know any of the propper names for electricity stuff in english so i might get creative.
I have a friend who lives in a relatively old house with equally old electric installation. He has 2 600W lights and 1 400W light plugged into a timer with a built in contactor that total to 16A. Everything is well and safely plugged and grounded. However there is a serious humming noise coming off his breaker switch. I told him it could be because he is pulling pretty much the maximum amount of amperage one can from one socket? is this true? Should he perhaps plug 1 600W and 1 400W into one socket with the contactor and another to another socket?
Moreover he keeps saying he needs to get an electrician for him to install another circuit because he says the wires will catch fire (wtf?!) from drawing too much power to the HID's since the width of the cable isn't more than 1.5mm. I told him that's what i thought the contactor was for? to protect the low voltage circuit of the house when a high voltage apliance like hid lighting turns on/off.

Any help would be very appreaciated

 

[bangkok101]

Hi all,

First i dont know any of the propper names for electricity stuff in english so i might get creative.
I have a friend who lives in a relatively old house with equally old electric installation. He has 2 600W lights and 1 400W light plugged into a timer with a built in contactor that total to 16A. Everything is well and safely plugged and grounded. However there is a serious humming noise coming off his breaker switch. I told him it could be because he is pulling pretty much the maximum amount of amperage one can from one socket? is this true? Should he perhaps plug 1 600W and 1 400W into one socket with the contactor and another to another socket?
Moreover he keeps saying he needs to get an electrician for him to install another circuit because he says the wires will catch fire (wtf?!) from drawing too much power to the HID's since the width of the cable isn't more than 1.5mm. I told him that's what i thought the contactor was for? to protect the low voltage circuit of the house when a high voltage apliance like hid lighting turns on/off.

Any help would be very appreaciated

What size of a breaker is he using?
Is he using anything else on that breaker?

 

[ASMALLVOICE]

If the breaker is of age, it is more than likely at the end of its life cycle and/or it is making bad contact with the buss bars. A qualified person can unhook the wires from the breaker, remove the breaker and verify its proper working order, if not, I would without a doubt break the load across at least 1 more breaker, and by doing so, you might save a crop if you happen to lose 1 circuit.

Above all else, safety M8.

Peace and Safe Grows

Asmallvoice

 

[DeeTee]

Sounds to me two things, 1-The breaker is old and should be replaced. 2-He's drawing the limit the breaker can handle, he should seperate the lights on 2 different circuits.

 

[bangkok101]

Sounds to me two things, 1-The breaker is old and should be replaced. 2-He's drawing the limit the breaker can handle, he should seperate the lights on 2 different circuits.

thats why i asked those 2 questions lol.

what if hes connecting his exhaust/intake fan as well on the same breaker etc etc.

 

[brotherjericho]

Most household circuits for lights and outlets are 15-20A. It is recommended to not exceed 80% of a breaker constantly. 16/20 = .8. So the breaker is likely been at the maximum recommended amperage for too long.

Just a guess.

 

[KLITE]

Thanks people

It must be a bit of a combination of both. Old breaker and too much amperage. Maybe the best thing would be to separate the load onto another socket from a different circuit.

Thanks to you all for getting involved Happy stoning!

 

[jazlm]

The 80% load fact is correct (this is a requirement in my area with regards to our electrical codes). Also, I stagger my light timers to turn on in 1 minute delays so that I do not stress the circuit at the at the initial ignition. I also run a 220V circuit so that I can run more amperage, and it is more cost efficient when it comes to bottom-line ($).
Peace Bro.