Contactors - help needed

[whitewidow2]

Ok so im running a 250w hps thats currently on a timer thats plugged into a four way extension cable thats plugged into my wall (the other 3 sockets get used for fans...)

I want to add extra lighting to my flowering cupboard and im planning on suspending some cfls from the top of the cupboard so that they hang vertically into the grow (i was thinking 4 x 150w cfl red spectrum ones)

Now... im trying to figure out how many plugs im gonna need - how many sockets etc etc for this all to work - i count 5 including the hps just for lighting alone if i do it this way...

So am i going to need a contactor to do this - i dont know a lot about how they work other than that they allow you to operate your lights more safely and can handle say 2000w or 3000w and that some are 2 way and some are 4 way.

Ive heard that i need a double wall socket for the contactor to plug into and that one of the sockets is for the timer and the other is for the contactor - but im not 100% sure how to set it all up - does everything on the contactor need to be timed - ie does the timer master control everything to come on and off at the same time - do i plug the timer directly into the wall and then one of the contactor plugs into the timer and the other one into the spare wall socket?

plz help.

 

[lordfister]

do i plug the timer directly into the wall and then one of the contactor plugs into the timer and the other one into the spare wall socket? yes thats the way you do it it telles you on the contactor with 1 uses the timer and 1 to go into wall.

my 1 can only use 1 ballast but you can get more but they get pretty expensive but hey its better being safe isnt it

 

[lordfister]

man i dont want to be giving you more advise cause dont know what your planning on hooking up to the contactor i only use it for a hps ballast and thats it i have fans on timers running off a different socket.

 

[whitewidow2]

having never used one before lordfister im new to it myself...

im taking it that once the contactor and timer is plugged in and set to 12/12 it sets everything to 12/12?

im wanting to run my hps safer on it with the possibility of adding extra flouros to my grow - so im taking it that if i buy a contactor with 4 outputs i can only plug in 4 devices - ie my hps and 3 flouros?

is it unsafe to add an extension cable to any of the outputs on the contactor?

 

[whitewidow2]

anybody..........

 

[ganjaluvr]

yeah i wouldn't mind helping you out either..

but i don't think i can.. and still feel okay about

doing that.


Good luck though...

 

[whitewidow2]

thanks for your input ganjalover... that was no help at all.

 

[Spicy Roll]

I don't think you need the contactor.

But I'll put the HPS to a separate wall sockets.

A wall socket and most extension can handle 16A, it about 1760W(US) or 3680W(anywhere use 230V).

HPS have a ballister, so they requires 2 - 3 time of rating power at the first few second to startup.
That go with fluorescent lighting as well.

Rather be safe than pushing the limit, otherwise you'll ever going to have any harvest to enjoy.

Good Luck.

 

[whitewidow2]

My problem is.... my room only has two double wall sockets.

The one conveniently situated beside my grow has two extension cables running out of it at the moment - one housing the gear for the flowering cabinet and one housing everything needed for the veg cabinet.

So if i plug my contactor directly into the wall and its a 4 way contactor then i can only use it to put the hps and 3 flouros on 12/12... and then i have nowhere to plug the stuff in for my veg room - coz we all know its not just about the lights, there are fans etc to deal with too.

So bearing in mind that an extension cable can handle on average 13 amps - i ask the question - is it ok to plug an extension cable into the wall and run the contactor off that or has it got to be plugged directly into the double wall socket.

thanks.

 

[lordfister]

dunno man i have 2 double sockets i can work with 1 beside my room to run the contacter timer the other i run an extension lead for my fans..you can get hevy duty extension leads in bnq if you have 1
peace lol man you should get plenty of help on here more people than me and you have to use them

 

[Man o' the green]

is it unsafe to add an extension cable to any of the outputs on the contactor?

It's not unsafe, But .. contactors are designed only for large HID lighting loads. So I would recommend using another available outlet for everything but your HPS, or eliminating the contactor altogether. If you do go with one, you will need both sockets on the wall. Don't put the contactor itself on extension cord(s).

Generally
- Use a minimum 15 A timer :
- Always use 15 Amp rated splitters and 15 A / 14 gauge extension cords.
- Each HPS should always be on its own socket ( contactor or wall ) and own extension cord.
- CFLs can be grouped together with splitters to the wall or timer.
- Try to avoid placing the CFLs and HPS on the same timer.
- Exhaust fans can go on on splitters to one outlet, but many people place their exhaust fans on the contactor directly. Otherwise use another timer, or run your exhaust constantly.
- Circulating fans should be on constantly, directly to wall.

Using a Kill-a-Watt meter is the best way to go to make sure you are safe and under your rated values, but if you are only running what you described above, you should be way under for a typical 15 A circuit, including power spikes ( from the CFL startup )

 

[whitewidow2]

so basically you are saying its ok to put extension leads into the contactor but not to run the contactor itself on an extension lead from the wall?

why cant you plug the contactor into an extension socket?

if i buy a contactor (the one im looking at is 4 way for £35) does that mean that there are only 4 available sockets for me to run my lights off - and you mentioned about trying not to run cfls alongside the hps - that was what i was planning as im adding extra cfls to my hps grow?

 

[Man o' the green]

so basically you are saying its ok to put extension leads into the contactor but not to run the contactor itself on an extension lead from the wall?

why cant you plug the contactor into an extension socket?

if i buy a contactor (the one im looking at is 4 way for £35) does that mean that there are only 4 available sockets for me to run my lights off - and you mentioned about trying not to run cfls alongside the hps - that was what i was planning as im adding extra cfls to my hps grow?

You could put the contactor on two heavy extension cords, but this would probably be more trouble than it's worth.
I don't suggest running anything other than HIDs off the contactor, but considering the lighting is small and your power situation, I would skip the contactor and just get two timers, one for HPS and one for CFLs. this would leave you with two open wall sockets for your ventilation and circulation.
I know my suggestions seem like overkill for your power situation, but it pays to be conservative when dealing with electricity.

 

[whitewidow2]

So your saying... one wall socket with a timer plugged into it to run the hps and the other socket with a timer plugged into it to run the extra cfls (would have to run an extension cord out of the timer as i want 3 or 4 in there) - and use the other double socket point in my room to run the fans etc?

 

[whitewidow2]

is it safe to run the hps directly from the wall socket in a timer or am i best to use a contactor?

 

[whitewidow2]

can anyone confirm if this would be ok?

 

[Mountainfarmer]

this wold be fine

 

[whitewidow2]

Ive decided im going to use one of my double sockets to run the lights for my flowering room with a contactor added and the other one to run the all the fans...

The contactor will run a 250hps and 3 flouros (4way contactor) for my flowering room and ill run all the fans and the vegging flouro off the other double wall socket with an extension cord - i think this is the safest method and will protect my timer as its already started to lag a little due to surges in the way im operating it just now.