Electrical questions

[Up8]

Hey everyone, I have another one for you guys.

I have an electrician coming out tomorrow. I want to make sure to tell him the right things I need done.

I have a 10x10 bedroom on the second floor of a detached townhouse. I will be running a 4k op. I told him I will be having multiple computers, big screen tv for a movie theater type room and a pottery kiln (for my gf that's into pottery, which will be a 240 30amp dryer style outlet for the lights). The electrician was talking about just installing a sub panel in the bedroom. This is a rental so I suggested having the new outlets be external, so we're not breaking into walls. Is having a sub panel installed the best way to go, or should I have him go a different route?

My main panel is on the side of the house, opposite end of the bedroom. It's rated for 125amps.

Here's what I'll be running:
4k lights with Helios 3 light controller
Portable 12,000 btu a/c: 10.8amps
740cfm inline fan running through carbon filter through lights exhausted into attic.
Another inline fan with scrubber just scrubbing the room on the floor.
Small pump for reservoir for automatic watering system.
4 wall fans
Possibly a dehumidifier
And other small miscellaneous things I may need.

Here is a pic of my panel outside. Any help before the electrician arrives would be so helpful!

 

[Carolina Dream'n]

If you only have 2 open slots the subpanel is the only option.

 

[Up8]

="Carolina Dream'n, post: 11671556, member: 890973"]If you only have 2 open slots the subpanel is the only option.[/QUOTE]
There's 7 slots left. 3 on top 4 on bottom.

 

[green217]

you are going to have multiple dedicated circuits. how hard is it to route wires back to the original panel.? if it is a pain in the ass, then running one large wire and putting a sub panel in the bedroom would be your best bet. It will also save you on material as far as running a bunch of smaller 15 to 20 amp wires to the original panel
Subpanel will make life easier.
maybe u can surface mount it?

 

[Carolina Dream'n]

Can't surface mount a subpanel in a bedroom if tryin to follow code. Surface mounts are ok in basements and garages only. Have him install you a laundry connection. A 30 amp 240v outlet that you can wire a light controller into and a 20 amp 110v outlet for dehumidifier and small stuff. It won't look so damn suspicious. I know many straight edge electricians that if they even get the vibe it's gonna be a grow room, they will just leave.

 

[Carolina Dream'n]

Oh and get rid of that portable. It's a giant waste of money. One it isn't nearly big enough for 4k. Two they Are the most inefficient ac on market. 3 they leek smell outside like a mother fucker.

You need a 24k mini split for that room.

 

[bluntmassa1]

I'm going to be buying a sub panel off dxsoundco.com would be cheaper than hiring an electrician just shut the main connect the wires and breaker your good or if you got a 4 prong dryer outlet you can simply just plug it in.

Only way I can do it really don't want an electrician it's not like it's legal here. I can handle connecting 4 wires and a breaker the whole panel and shit I wouldn't know where the fuck to begin though and an electrician would charge a lot more money. Of course it's safer to hire an electrician but I'm good I already have plants and can't hide what I'm doing.

But even just have him hook up a 50 amp 4 prong dryer outlet you can just plug in the panel and probably save a lot of money all you need is lights and AC running off that the wall outlets should cover all your fans and shit.

 

[Up8]

That's what he's going to do, 30amp 240v outlet, then an extra 20amp 110v outlet for the ac I have. The portable Im going to have to use for now. Mini split I can't do in a townhouse rental.

One last question if you're still there. He asked how many prongs does my pottery kiln have for the 30amp 240v outlet. Of course I'm not using a kiln, rather just hooking up a Helios 3 light controller. Do you know how many wires it is for the light controller? 3?... 2 hot 1 ground?

 

[Up8]

Just checked the PDF manual of the Helios 3. Looks like it's 2 hots, 1 neutral and a ground.

 

[green217]

Just c4hecked the PDF manual of the Helios 3. Looks like it's 2 hots, 1 neutral and a ground.

4 prongs
2 hots
1neutral
1ground

 

[green217]

Can't surface mount a subpanel in a bedroom if tryin to follow code. Surface mounts are ok in basements and garages only. Have him install you a laundry connection. A 30 amp 240v outlet that you can wire a light controller into and a 20 amp 110v outlet for dehumidifier and small stuff. It won't look so damn suspicious. I know many straight edge electricians that if they even get the vibe it's gonna be a grow room, they will just leave.

yeah I'm rusty on my code. Im sure u are right

 

[Up8]

Thank you so much!

 

[Carolina Dream'n]

I'm going to be buying a sub panel off dxsoundco.com would be cheaper than hiring an electrician just shut the main connect the wires and breaker your good or if you got a 4 prong dryer outlet you can simply just plug it in.

Only way I can do it really don't want an electrician it's not like it's legal here. I can handle connecting 4 wires and a breaker the whole panel and shit I wouldn't know where the fuck to begin though and an electrician would charge a lot more money. Of course it's safer to hire an electrician but I'm good I already have plants and can't hide what I'm doing.

But even just have him hook up a 50 amp 4 prong dryer outlet you can just plug in the panel and probably save a lot of money all you need is lights and AC running off that the wall outlets should cover all your fans and shit.

They don't make 50 amp dryer plugs. They are 30 amps. Almost all dryers. They do make a 50 amp plug for larger appliances but not dryers, just wanted to make that clear so the electrician doesn't look at him like he is purple.

That's what he's going to do, 30amp 240v outlet, then an extra 20amp 110v outlet for the ac I have. The portable Im going to have to use for now. Mini split I can't do in a townhouse rental.

One last question if you're still there. He asked how many prongs does my pottery kiln have for the 30amp 240v outlet. Of course I'm not using a kiln, rather just hooking up a Helios 3 light controller. Do you know how many wires it is for the light controller? 3?... 2 hot 1 ground?

240v doesn't technically need the neutral. It's usually 2 hots and a ground. But run it if it's available. He was just tryin to figure out what plug you are going to run.
The blueprint light controllers don't even have the option for a neutral.

 

[BIGCROPS]

just a thought, but you could go to your local homedepo let the guy there know you just bought a electric dryer and have to install everything from the breaker to the plug Tell them you need a 30 amp dryer plug with 4 prongs on it the female end...then tell them you need the matching male end with the cord already attached...it will have a black,red,white,and ground on the opposite side ready for you to wire into your timer once the electritiion leaves...measure how far it is from your fuse box to the place you want the time..plus a few extra feet and get the wire when you are at homedepo...just get 220 orange cable for a dryer....also look and see what the name of your fuse box and get one 20 amp breaker and one 40 amp breaker that you will need..

when your electrcian gets there show him the female plug you got and the dryer line you got at home depo along with breakers. tell him you took a pic of the plug of your pottery thing to homedepo and the plug looks perfect!!! all he has to do is wire the 30 amp female plug(4 little wires about 2 minutes)have him put a 110 20 amp plug, run the wire for the 220 plug(you gave him) and 110 at the same time...when he gets to the breaker box he uses the two breakers you gave him...one for the 220 one for the 110..about 5 minutes maybe ten tops....

dont talk too much or act like you have an apointment to go to and he should be in and out in less than 30 minutes!!! just dont talk about anything let him do what he does and he should be gone quick....

when he leaves just open the front of your timer...bring the end of the male plug with the wires open through the bottom of the timer box there is a hole with a metal collar and two screws.make sure you give yourself plenty of extra and tighten down the two screws in the metal collar....now just look at the maual that comes with the timer...it will tell you what wire goes where...one is ground..one is red(110) one is black(110) one is white (neutural)

simply plug the male end into the female plug......sounds really hard but its not!!!!

 

[Carolina Dream'n]

just a thought, but you could go to your local homedepo let the guy there know you just bought a electric dryer and have to install everything from the breaker to the plug Tell them you need a 30 amp dryer plug with 4 prongs on it the female end...then tell them you need the matching male end with the cord already attached...it will have a black,red,white,and ground on the opposite side ready for you to wire into your timer once the electritiion leaves...measure how far it is from your fuse box to the place you want the time..plus a few extra feet and get the wire when you are at homedepo...just get 220 orange cable for a dryer....also look and see what the name of your fuse box and get one 20 amp breaker and one 40 amp breaker that you will need..

when your electrcian gets there show him the female plug you got and the dryer line you got at home depo along with breakers. tell him you took a pic of the plug of your pottery thing to homedepo and the plug looks perfect!!! all he has to do is wire the 30 amp female plug(4 little wires about 2 minutes)have him put a 110 20 amp plug, run the wire for the 220 plug(you gave him) and 110 at the same time...when he gets to the breaker box he uses the two breakers you gave him...one for the 220 one for the 110..about 5 minutes maybe ten tops....

dont talk too much or act like you have an apointment to go to and he should be in and out in less than 30 minutes!!! just dont talk about anything let him do what he does and he should be gone quick....

when he leaves just open the front of your timer...bring the end of the male plug with the wires open through the bottom of the timer box there is a hole with a metal collar and two screws.make sure you give yourself plenty of extra and tighten down the two screws in the metal collar....now just look at the maual that comes with the timer...it will tell you what wire goes where...one is ground..one is red(110) one is black(110) one is white (neutural)

simply plug the male end into the female plug......sounds really hard but its not!!!!

NO,NO,NO! This is scary. Advice like that is how people burn down their house.
You told him to "get the orange wire" Jesus seriously? They have so many different sizes of that shit. How would he know that a 30 amp 240v needs 10/2. Shielded or unshielded? He wouldn't know, because he doesn't know what code is. The electrician need to run all the wires to keep it to code. You can't just run it through the attic to the other room. Plus, as an electrician, I would never ever work on some wires someone else ran, I have to sign off on this job when I am done, therefore I must know it's done correctly. Most electricians would just walk out if u asked them to do that. Pleassssssse keep the electrical advise to someone who knows what they are talking about. (I apologize if I come off as an ass, but you have some horrible, life threatening advice and I think it should be taking seriously, considering I have lost an uncle to being electrocuted working in his box with no formal electric training)

To the op, I am a certified electrician. Do no listen to any advice on here , always hire an electrician if you don't have training.

 

[rkymtnman]

NO,NO,NO! This is scary. Advice like that is how people burn down their house.
You told him to "get the orange wire" Jesus seriously? They have so many different sizes of that shit. How would he know that a 30 amp 240v needs 10/2. Shielded or unshielded? He wouldn't know, because he doesn't know what code is. The electrician need to run all the wires to keep it to code. You can't just run it through the attic to the other room. Plus, as an electrician, I would never ever work on some wires someone else ran, I have to sign off on this job when I am done, therefore I must know it's done correctly. Most electricians would just walk out if u asked them to do that. Pleassssssse keep the electrical advise to someone who knows what they are talking about. (I apologize if I come off as an ass, but you have some horrible, life threatening advice and I think it should be taking seriously, considering I have lost an uncle to being electrocuted working in his box with no formal electric training)

To the op, I am a certified electrician. Do no listen to any advice on here , always hire an electrician if you don't have training.

see above OP. 30 Amps will fuck your world up if you don't know what you are doing. well worth hiring a pro.

 

[green217]

NO,NO,NO! This is scary. Advice like that is how people burn down their house.
You told him to "get the orange wire" Jesus seriously? They have so many different sizes of that shit. How would he know that a 30 amp 240v needs 10/2. Shielded or unshielded? He wouldn't know, because he doesn't know what code is. The electrician need to run all the wires to keep it to code. You can't just run it through the attic to the other room. Plus, as an electrician, I would never ever work on some wires someone else ran, I have to sign off on this job when I am done, therefore I must know it's done correctly. Most electricians would just walk out if u asked them to do that. Pleassssssse keep the electrical advise to someone who knows what they are talking about. (I apologize if I come off as an ass, but you have some horrible, life threatening advice and I think it should be taking seriously, considering I have lost an uncle to being electrocuted working in his box with no formal electric training)

To the op, I am a certified electrician. Do no listen to any advice on here , always hire an electrician if you don't have training.

Yes I am too. Do not mess with that 220v 30 amp circuit unless u know what u r doing for sure. It can kill you

 

[F.White]

Sorry in advanced for the hijack...

How exactly do you tell the electrician you need a room setup to handle 4k watts, a light timer and a 24k btu mini split without looking like a farmer? To all my electricians out there... What kind of hobbyist would need that much juice to a isolated area? Just confused on how to start that conversation.

 

[rkymtnman]

Sorry in advanced for the hijack...

How exactly do you tell the electrician you need a room setup to handle 4k watts, a light timer and a 24k btu mini split without looking like a farmer? To all my electricians out there... What kind of hobbyist would need that much juice to a isolated area? Just confused on how to start that conversation.

setting up a photography studio and darkroom.

here in CO, weed-friendly electricians advertise all the time on Craigslist.

 

[Carolina Dream'n]

Sorry in advanced for the hijack...

How exactly do you tell the electrician you need a room setup to handle 4k watts, a light timer and a 24k btu mini split without looking like a farmer? To all my electricians out there... What kind of hobbyist would need that much juice to a isolated area? Just confused on how to start that conversation.

Art studios. Extra laundry room. Excessive computer servers. Recording studio. Indoor hot tub. Just some ideas.

You would need 30 amps for the lights an 20 amps for the mini split. Those are on 220v. One or two 110v plugs if they are not already there.