How do I calculate how many lights my amp boc can handle? I'm aiming for 5,000 watts!

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ShadesOfBlue

Member
I'm in the process of looking for a space for my medical grow op. I'm considering buying a commercial space in a strip mall type area. Because it is a commercial space it should have more electricity capacity I think.

I had an electrician come in and look at the space and he said it should be able to handle 10,000 watts as is. Thing is .... the guy didn't seem very reliable and didn't really seem like he looked too hard. As you can imagine, I have tens of thousands of dollars at stake here and I need to be sure that the space will suit my needs before I sink so much cash into it.

I need help!

I want 5,000 watts to start. And I will expand to 10,000 watts when the paperwork clears for the other people I am supposed to be growing for.

EDIT: just so you know the space is 1300 square feet. The grow area will be just under 1000. The cielings are very, very high - I'd guess 20 feet.
 
TruenoAE86coupe

TruenoAE86coupe

Moderator
Can't help you unless you know what the amp rating on the box (main breaker) is. If you can figure this out, we can help.
Also, if it is 1 phase (most likely) or 3 phase (unlikely unless industrial based, or a large commercial office building).
How many sq ft is it?
Keep in mind in an area like a strip mall you are more open to the public, so robberies, issues with nieghbors and of course the cops are all concerns. Most large scale grows find a warehouse and build it to suit.
 
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budleydoright

Well-Known Member
One of the best investments you can make is a DIY household wiring book. Electrical is actually very simple and a good understanding of it can be had in an hour. This doesn't mean I suggest you do it yourself, If you can and you understand it well enough to, you should.

With a decent understanding of it though, you can identify potential problems, take care of minor things and know if your kit is safe.
 
phillipchristian

phillipchristian

New Member
TruenoAE86coupe said:
Running at 240 takes no less power, running at 120 would still work if 240 would.
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What are you talking about? Service is rated by amps. Most commercial spaces have 200-400amp services. Most residential is 100-200amps. Running 10k watts at 240v will only draw 50amps and will leave plenty of room for other equipment. It takes no less power based on what the electric company charges you but it does draw less amps off your board and that's what the OP is asking about.
 
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ShadesOfBlue

Member
TruenoAE86coupe said:
Can't help you unless you know what the amp rating on the box (main breaker) is. If you can figure this out, we can help.
Also, if it is 1 phase (most likely) or 3 phase (unlikely unless industrial based, or a large commercial office building).
How many sq ft is it?
Keep in mind in an area like a strip mall you are more open to the public, so robberies, issues with nieghbors and of course the cops are all concerns. Most large scale grows find a warehouse and build it to suit.
Click to expand...
Do you know how I can tell how many amps it is? Or what phase it is? The space is not really a strip mall per se. It is a conglomeration of different industrial units. They are all zoned for industrial, commercial, food, or warehouse use ..... so I would assume they have more amps than a residential house. It's pretty far out of the way and there isnt really alot of traffic ... i wouldnt have a problem keeping the grow concealed.

The space is about 1300 sq feet. the grow area would be a bit less than 1000 square feet.
 
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ShadesOfBlue

Member
budleydoright said:
One of the best investments you can make is a DIY household wiring book. Electrical is actually very simple and a good understanding of it can be had in an hour. This doesn't mean I suggest you do it yourself, If you can and you understand it well enough to, you should.

With a decent understanding of it though, you can identify potential problems, take care of minor things and know if your kit is safe.
Click to expand...
I'm scared of that shit. And I want to be absolutely sure that it is safe. I'm going to hire an electrician to do it all. he said to wire ten lights, hook it up to a environmental control, and secure the pulley system to the cieling so i can raise and lower the lights will cost me about $3,000. That seem reasonable to you?
 
phillipchristian

phillipchristian

New Member
ShadesOfBlue said:
Do you know how I can tell how many amps it is? Or what phase it is? The space is not really a strip mall per se. It is a conglomeration of different industrial units. They are all zoned for industrial, commercial, food, or warehouse use ..... so I would assume they have more amps than a residential house. It's pretty far out of the way and there isnt really alot of traffic ... i wouldnt have a problem keeping the grow concealed.

The space is about 1300 sq feet. the grow area would be a bit less than 1000 square feet.
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It's either single phase or 3 phase. They don't use 2 phase power in the U.S. Or at least I don't think anyone does. It's usually as easy as looking at the service disconnect breaker on the loadcenter. That will tell you how many amps are on the box.
 
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budleydoright

Well-Known Member
I'm scared of that shit. And I want to be absolutely sure that it is safe. I'm going to hire an electrician to do it all. he said to wire ten lights, hook it up to a environmental control, and secure the pulley system to the cieling so i can raise and lower the lights will cost me about $3,000. That seem reasonable to you?
Click to expand...
I can't give any idea of the value of the install, but I do still advise you to educate yourself on the basics of electrical. Your talking about a large power hungry operation. Many are very dynamic, with lights being moved around. Knowing a little about it can go along way in this biz. But I agree, If your not comfortable DIY you shouldn't

A single phase service entrance will have 2 hot wires and a neutral coming in from the pole. 3 phase will have 3 hots.
If you are in a strip mall with little industrial activity around, it is likely single phase. Perhaps if there's a grocery store or bakery in the mall there it may be 3 phase.

The rating of the load center is typically expressed in 220v. So a 100 amp 220v service is 100 amps of 220, comprised of 2 110v hots that are out of phase.

So yes, you can draw 100 amps of 220 off of it, or you can draw 200 amps of 110v or a combination of the 2. running 220 isn't more effecient in the sense that you can run more lights off the same power. It utilizes 2 hots, instead of 1 hot wire so a typical household circuit that is rated for 15 amps of 110 can be converted to 15 amps of 220 resulting in 2x the amps being carried on the same 3 wires.
 
TruenoAE86coupe

TruenoAE86coupe

Moderator
budleydoright said:
I can't give any idea of the value of the install, but I do still advise you to educate yourself on the basics of electrical. Your talking about a large power hungry operation. Many are very dynamic, with lights being moved around. Knowing a little about it can go along way in this biz. But I agree, If your not comfortable DIY you shouldn't

A single phase service entrance will have 2 hot wires and a neutral coming in from the pole. 3 phase will have 3 hots.
If you are in a strip mall with little industrial activity around, it is likely single phase. Perhaps if there's a grocery store or bakery in the mall there it may be 3 phase.

The rating of the load center is typically expressed in 220v. So a 100 amp 220v service is 100 amps of 220, comprised of 2 110v hots that are out of phase.

So yes, you can draw 100 amps of 220 off of it, or you can draw 200 amps of 110v or a combination of the 2. running 220 isn't more effecient in the sense that you can run more lights off the same power. It utilizes 2 hots, instead of 1 hot wire so a typical household circuit that is rated for 15 amps of 110 can be converted to 15 amps of 220 resulting in 2x the amps being carried on the same 3 wires.
Click to expand...
Wait wait wait, this is Roll it up and you are giving spot on accurate electrical answer? Apparently you haven't been beaten into no answering, i wasn't even to argue the 120/240 argument, no one seems to understand, no matter how many times i say it. + rep for this post, everyone should read it!!!
 
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budleydoright

Well-Known Member
TruenoAE86coupe said:
Wait wait wait, this is Roll it up and you are giving spot on accurate electrical answer? Apparently you haven't been beaten into no answering, i wasn't even to argue the 120/240 argument, no one seems to understand, no matter how many times i say it. + rep for this post, everyone should read it!!!
Click to expand...

no but i'm becoming weary! I once had a guy using a car alternator and a 110v motor to turn it, then a converter to get from 12v dc back to 110 ac. All this to keep the power company from getting wise!
 
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budleydoright

Well-Known Member
if it's a modern commercial building I would be surprised to see anything less than a 200 amp service. Your panel should have information on it. 10k in a commercial space is nothing and while it is wise to look into this, a commercial space wouldn't be very valuable if you couldn't put equipment in it.
 
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