here to help with any electrical problems

gohydro said:

Two important points to mention:

1. A circuit breaker is meant to protect the WIRE feeding the outlet. It is NOT meant to protect the device plugged in to the outlet. Example? You can have a 20 circuit in your home wired properly (12g wire) and then make the mistake of connecting some cheapo 18g extension cord with multiple plugs on the end. Plug a bunch of stuff in to THAT cord and it may be enough to burn up without tripping the breaker.

2. NEVER, NEVER replace a breaker with one with a higher rating just because it's tripping, and never connect smaller gauge wire to a larger gauge wire without first verifying breaker size. Breakers trip for a reason. I've been an electrician for 30 years and am simply amazed at how often I find 14g wire spliced to 12g simply because the homeowner or fly-by-night electrician didn't "have any 12 on the truck".

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Great advice gohydro. I'm sure there are alot of rigged setups out there that are potentially dangerous. I've seen some pictures in some posts where guys have extention cords...running from different rooms in their house to power their grow op. I'm sure alot will fall under your tip #1.

Okay, well since you're offering... I'll be your first "customer" lol

I'm in the process of building a new flowering room and I could really use your help. I know NOTHING about this stuff but I'm a quick study, and if given directions I'll follow them to a T.

I'm waiting on equipment to show up but basically I'm looking to run two 1000w combos, plus accessories. Eventually this could turn to four 1000w combos, so I want to make sure I have a bit of room to "expand" if at all possible. As of this moment everything is pretty much loaded to max, its a small home, and before I moved in the previous owner had put in a new box which the furnace and dryer is on. I do think there is one circuit in that room that is completely empty, but i'm not 100% certain.....yet. I'd rather do this right and put everything on its own...... But alas, I dont know what I'm talking about when it comes to wiring this stuff up.

Below is a photo of the breaker, which is conveniently in the room. I have not moved anything into the room yet but if I can avoid having an electrician come out here I'd really like that.

If this was you, how would you go about getting everything ready...... If you could help, and include some type of step by step on how to accomplish my electric needs, I'll make babies with you. Or something... lol



If you need additional photos of anything or any information, just ask. I'll do what I can. I'll stay tuned....

dirty stacks said:

Great advice gohydro. I'm sure there are a lot of rigged setups out there that are potentially dangerous. I've seen some pictures in some posts where guys have extension cords...running from different rooms in their house to power their grow op. I'm sure a lot will fall under your tip #1.

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yep im one that's cuz its not my place. one 5 ft cord with a power strip at the end running two 20" box fans and a 1000 wtt hps no biggie. my veg room im pulling from another room also with a 400wt mh and a 8"fan no biggie. i would just run it off the outlets in the bathroom but the gi breaker 15 amp. i should just ask the landlord if i can just change it out, beings im his maintenance. man.

Delusional said:

Okay, well since you're offering... I'll be your first "customer" lol

I'm in the process of building a new flowering room and I could really use your help. I know NOTHING about this stuff but I'm a quick study, and if given directions I'll follow them to a T.

I'm waiting on equipment to show up but basically I'm looking to run two 1000w combos, plus accessories. Eventually this could turn to four 1000w combos, so I want to make sure I have a bit of room to "expand" if at all possible. As of this moment everything is pretty much loaded to max, its a small home, and before I moved in the previous owner had put in a new box which the furnace and dryer is on. I do think there is one circuit in that room that is completely empty, but i'm not 100% certain.....yet. I'd rather do this right and put everything on its own...... But alas, I dont know what I'm talking about when it comes to wiring this stuff up.

Below is a photo of the breaker, which is conveniently in the room. I have not moved anything into the room yet but if I can avoid having an electrician come out here I'd really like that.

If this was you, how would you go about getting everything ready...... If you could help, and include some type of step by step on how to accomplish my electric needs, I'll make babies with you. Or something... lol

If you need additional photos of anything or any information, just ask. I'll do what I can. I'll stay tuned....

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Hi Delusional....from what I can tell in this photo, the first or main box is tapped out. That seems to make sense as to why the previous owner added the second panel. The second panel seems to have room in it for some expansion - Either for 3 single pole breakers or one double pole and one single pole. I'm guessing the blue switch above the double pole for the dryer is the input power cutoff.

Does the label on the original box specify what size panel it is? I'm guessing it's 100amp.

I would think that you would be best off adding a breaker box dedicated to your grow room. You could probably get away with a smaller 60 amp box especially if you use 240v for your HID lights.

dirtystacks said:

Hi Delusional....from what I can tell in this photo, the first or main box is tapped out. That seems to make sense as to why the previous owner added the second panel. The second panel seems to have room in it for some expansion - Either for 3 single pole breakers or one double pole and one single pole. I'm guessing the blue switch above the double pole for the dryer is the input power cutoff.

Does the label on the original box specify what size panel it is? I'm guessing it's 100amp.

I would think that you would be best off adding a breaker box dedicated to your grow room. You could probably get away with a smaller 60 amp box especially if you use 240v for your HID lights.

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Hey Dirty..... I do think that's a 100a panel but can't figure out what the blue breaker is for in the sub panel. I can't tell from the pic but it doesn't look like a double pole which would be what you'd need if you were using it as a main breaker. That MAY be a MLO (main lug only) panel and not a main breaker panel.

When they installed that sub-panel I wonder what breaker and wire they installed to FEED that panel from the main panel.

Yes, the first box is filled at labeled as 100amp



the upper left of that first box is the main shutoff, and the blue one on the new box is the shuttoff from the first.... I THINK.... /shrug

mygirls said:

yep im one that's cuz its not my place. one 5 ft cord with a power strip at the end running two 20" box fans and a 1000 wtt hps no biggie. my veg room im pulling from another room also with a 400wt mh and a 8"fan no biggie. i would just run it off the outlets in the bathroom but the gi breaker 15 amp. i should just ask the landlord if i can just change it out, beings im his maintenance. man.

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Hey mygirls, you bring up a valid point that I have failed to even think about. I rented for 12 years before I had saved enough to buy my first home. Making modifications to the residence when you don't own it can be a problem, or frankly not allowed. I apologize for forgetting about that roadblock. Once I bought my first home, I was able to do what ever mods I wanted and only needed the War Department's permission. (Read Wife.) LOL.

I guess if I had to run extension cords, I would opt for the 12 gauge grounded cords at a minimum. I got rid of all my cords smaller than 12 gauge when my neighbor plugged his air compressor into a 16 gauge cord and it melted the cord and never tripped the breaker....just like gohydro was stating earlier.

dirtystacks said:

Hi Delusional....from what I can tell in this photo, the first or main box is tapped out. That seems to make sense as to why the previous owner added the second panel. The second panel seems to have room in it for some expansion - Either for 3 single pole breakers or one double pole and one single pole. I'm guessing the blue switch above the double pole for the dryer is the input power cutoff.

Does the label on the original box specify what size panel it is? I'm guessing it's 100amp.

I would think that you would be best off adding a breaker box dedicated to your grow room. You could probably get away with a smaller 60 amp box especially if you use 240v for your HID lights.

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Also...from the writing it looks as if there is a dryer (2pole) breaker and a furnace connected. If he's not using electric heat chances are that the single pole is the furnace and the other double pole is the main breaker for the sub-panel. That would make the panel schedule wrong too.

Delusional said:

Yes, the first box is filled at labeled as 100amp

the upper left of that first box is the main shutoff, and the blue one on the new box is the shuttoff from the first.... I THINK.... /shrug

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Hey delusional, can you unscrew the smaller panel cover and take a picture. You don't need to touch anything, we just want a look inside.

Absolutely, gimmie 5 and i'll be right back with a photo

gohydro said:

Hey Dirty..... I do think that's a 100a panel but can't figure out what the blue breaker is for in the sub panel. I can't tell from the pic but it doesn't look like a double pole which would be what you'd need if you were using it as a main breaker. That MAY be a MLO (main lug only) panel and not a main breaker panel.

When they installed that sub-panel I wonder what breaker and wire they installed to FEED that panel from the main panel.

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You're right...should be a double pole main breaker...but...

Let's see what the pic looks like inside.

Here ya go....

dirtystacks said:

I am not sure I understand what you did to understand what the problem is. Can you elaborate more? What do you mean you drew 3 cables from one of your sockets? Where did you take the cables from exactly, what kind of socket?

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Wow many questions here!. Thanks again for your help and replies. It is a regular wall socket. It had 1 live one neutral and one earth cable going to it. It also had another 3 holes that were not being used so i drew 3 cables 1 live 1 neutral and one earth and used them to power my box. I found this pretty logical but what did i do wrong? Again i am surely not exceeding the maximum wattage for i only use a total 160watt cfls and some fans.

mygirls said:

i bet he has a 6 way with 3 ex. cords coming off that.

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I think this is what describes my wall socket... Thanks again!

I am an electrician also. I just joined this thread. I'm glad to give advice. At this point I think I could wire Hoover Dam. : )

Awesome, more help the merrier. I could use it all

Soon as I figure out what to do to make this happen I'll run out to home depot tonite and gather whatever materials you guys say I need lol

Delusional said:

Awesome, more help the merrier. I could use it all

Soon as I figure out what to do to make this happen I'll run out to home depot tonite and gather whatever materials you guys say I need lol

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Start getting info on both panels. Make of, and BREAKER type needed. You MAY need a breaker for that old panel too.

Delusional said:

Here ya go....

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Well, first off, looks like the dryer has 2 single pole 30a breakers instead of one double pole 30a breaker. That should be rectified. I think the same is true for the 15amps too. Looks like 2 single poles, instead of one double pole. Yikes. And the main switch should be a double pole, not a single pole. Looks like the DIY the previous owner did is Half assed. At this point, I think I (and I'm sure gohydro and others) would like to see inside the old MAIN box.

Do see differently gohydro?

Hey, quick question ....

do you know how many amps a 250 watt hps uses??.... is it 1 amp about?? or does the ballast take more because it has a inductive current to ignite the light?

inval said:

I am an electrician also. I just joined this thread. I'm glad to give advice. At this point I think I could wire Hoover Dam. : )

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Hey inval...take over I've got to run out. Check a few things out.

Sub panel looks like MLO
Main panel has (2) SINGLE poles feeding the sub. WTF?
Panel schedule looks wrong.