Under powered HOUSE needs rewiring
- Thread starter johnnycash
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johnnycash
Active Member
whats that?
Johnnyorganic
Well-Known Member
When one approves a thread, but has nothing relevant to say. Bumping places the thread at the top of the list of most recent posts.
I have same deal, except I have no breakers, its all fuses. I am getting mine fixed sometime this week. Goto Home Depot, or Lowes(the best deal for me was HD) I found a box for 100 bucks, it had most breakers I needed. Had to buy the main and one 20 amp. Get what you need, call an electrician. Some times you will find an electrician that will shut off the juice off at the meter. Otherwise, you will prolly get billed by the electric company to shut it down for the electrician. The best thing to do is try and plan it with your electrician and electric company to upgrade everything at the same time. New home run line, new meter, new breaker box etc. It will take both people so it needs some planning. The electric company is not charging me to change out meter and main line, they consider it an upgrade, plus I told them I want a 200 amp line, because I have air compressors in the garage.
johnnycash
Active Member
I 'll take your advice today and see where it goes.
stinkincatfish
Well-Known Member
i bought that 400w hps ($120) from htg and it works real well.
i also have it running through a 15 amp buss fuse in a 100 amp panel.( needs replaced)
i also used a surge protecter between the light and the wall
i also have it running through a 15 amp buss fuse in a 100 amp panel.( needs replaced)
i also used a surge protecter between the light and the wall
TheGardenMan
Dea, FBI, ATF MuthaFucker
My house is an older house as well and I dont want to start paying out tons of money for lights that will catch my house on fire. Is there a way to see if the wiring in my house is sufficient?
VictorVIcious
Well-Known Member
I installed the 200 amp service to the meter ( which the power company will supply). If you own the property you can pull your own permit, in most locations and do the work yourself. It is possible to run new 200 amp service to a new box, buy a 100 amp breaker and install it with wires to the old service panel so you wouldn't have to make any other changes. From the looks of what you have there that is what was done when the 100amp service was installed, they left the old 30 amp fuse panel intact. VV
gogrow
confused
just moved into new house and have the same problem, not enough circuits and only one outlet in each room on avg. dont even have enough for the legit appliances, much less my grow. where i live, you dont need the elec. company involved, just an electritian. really simple process, but fairly pricey. i know enough to do it myself, but scared of "gettin hit", those 220's hurt! so def. worth the money, dont want your house to burn down or electrocute yourself.
WillieNelson
Well-Known Member
I would talk to a professional about your service upgrade. I already belive the old fuse box is over fused. Most of those fuses are too big for their current application. Wall recepticles(120v) are normally only rated for 15-20 amps and the 30a fuses that are in place present a fire risk. Especially if the wire is smaller than #10(more than likey).
VictorVIcious
Well-Known Member
Well, I did cheat when I did mine. I bought a book. I have one of the rare 40th Editions. It will tell you what you need to know and do. Wiring Simplified. When I was wiring the addition for the house I worked deal with a client of my wife's. I ran all of the wiring to the point where it would enter the new box. He installed the box, which means he disconnected all of the old circuits and then installed them and the new wiring in the box. Since we didn't change the service no permit was needed. They will usually work with a handy person if you do the grunt work, running the wire's to where you want them. At least that has been my experience. VV
I happen to be an electrician myself. It is possible for you to connect your lights now and make them work. What you need to check out is the amps that the lights will be running on. The fact that you now have 30 amps going to your recepticals are draining your potental overal power. Unless you want to pay an electrican at least $90-$150 and hour to come rewire your house. First, change all those fuses to the standard 20 amp. This is going to free up some space for you. Next, see if you can simplify any circuits. If you want to message me feel free, There are some circuits that need to be on their individual circuit to meet code standards but you can always splice extra circuits together and just watch how you use your outlets. I hope this helps its rather hard to explain typing out.
Pullin' weeds
Well-Known Member
If you're the home owner, there are lots of things you can do to reduce your energy use in the rest of the house, providing enough power to your grow.
I replaced the electric oven with a gas one - that alone gave me 40 amps of breaker space. Replace an electic dryer gives similar gains.
Replace most or all of your regular bulbs with cfls - each 60w incandecent replaced with an 11w cfl gives you about 50 watts you can point towards your grow...
See what you can redistribute - maybe moving the TV to the other wall puts it on a different circuit freeing up amps for your grow.
Use the AC less, etc... general energy conservation stuff can definately benefit your environment
I replaced the electric oven with a gas one - that alone gave me 40 amps of breaker space. Replace an electic dryer gives similar gains.
Replace most or all of your regular bulbs with cfls - each 60w incandecent replaced with an 11w cfl gives you about 50 watts you can point towards your grow...
See what you can redistribute - maybe moving the TV to the other wall puts it on a different circuit freeing up amps for your grow.
Use the AC less, etc... general energy conservation stuff can definately benefit your environment
WillieNelson
Well-Known Member
I am more concerned with the safety of the existing circuitry than the addition of new equipment. 20a fuses are fine if there is #12 present, but what if there is #14 in the walls and the 20a fuse is still overfusing. I am sure the 100a service is more than adequate for his power demands, but I think he should deal with making the old servies safe in the process.
Well... I am looking at My code book right now, haha if you have one you can follow along... (you dont want one)
any size 14 awg wire rated at either 60, 75, or 90 degrees C. can work with a 20 amp circuit. Which means, the wire is rated to withstand the 20 amps that would be going through it!
However.... The code permits that if you have 14 awg wire, the overcurrent protection cannot exceed 15amps. which poses your possible problem. It will work, but it wont be to code... which, unless you have an electrical inspector coming and tearing up your walls to see what size wire you have... youre going to be fine.
any size 14 awg wire rated at either 60, 75, or 90 degrees C. can work with a 20 amp circuit. Which means, the wire is rated to withstand the 20 amps that would be going through it!
However.... The code permits that if you have 14 awg wire, the overcurrent protection cannot exceed 15amps. which poses your possible problem. It will work, but it wont be to code... which, unless you have an electrical inspector coming and tearing up your walls to see what size wire you have... youre going to be fine.
TheGardenMan
Dea, FBI, ATF MuthaFucker
thanks anyone know where i can buy a 400 watt hps for under 120 bucks?
