nervous of electricity

nic11130

nic11130

Member
Hi! I have recently set up my grow room but i am very nervous about the way i have the electricity set up. I have everything hooked up to a six three prong power brick. Only two out of the six appliances use grounding. The power brick is attached to a extension cord that runs about fifty feet to the entrance of my attic. From there it attaches to a light bulb outlet(you know the light fixtures with the two extra two prong outlets attached). Since its a 2 prong outlet, i had to tear off the grounding from the extension cord. I haven't had any issues with it on. I've tested it for hours on end with no issues but i am still very nervous. Keep in mind this is covert. Any ideas? I need help!:-?
 
bottletoke

bottletoke

Well-Known Member
U better get yourself some grounded ccircuits asap!
Go to homedepot and get yourself some #12 exrension chords and plug them into your kitchen countertop outlets until u figure something out.
 
bottletoke

bottletoke

Well-Known Member
Take apsrt that fixture and see if u have a ground wire in thrre. If u do wire it up to a proper duplex outlet then make sure that the circuit is coming off a 15a breaker or fuse.
 
nic11130

nic11130

Member
electricity.jpgThis might help to visualize if i didnt explain well enough. And @bottletoke, i dont have the capability to install a grounding circuit or i would have done it already
 
bottletoke

bottletoke

Well-Known Member
So there isnt a ground wire in the junction box? If not source your power elsewhere or your asking for trouble.
 
bottletoke

bottletoke

Well-Known Member
No. Just because the fixture comes with a ungrounded receptacle doesn't mean that the line that feeds it doesn't have a ground wire. It might be grounded to the junction box so if it is toss the fire hazard fixture away and instal a proper duplex receptacle in its place.
 
LadyZandra

LadyZandra

Active Member
You need an industrial drop cord. much larger/heavy than an extension cord- and more expensive- but grounded. Get them at Lowes/Home Depot etc... anyplace contractors buy their stuff near you. Tell them you need a 50 foot grounded construction-grade drop-cord and a 3-prong grounded light-fixture adapter. Your "power Brick" is already grounded & has a surge-guard- it's what they are for... but that does no good if the source isn't grounded-- and your 2-pronged bulb outlet ISN'T---the source must be, or it wouldn't be up to code.... but the cord and outlet are the key... so change it out and be safe- K?
 
nic11130

nic11130

Member
ok ill go take a look at it tommorw, if the junction box has a grounding couldnt i just leave it? i dont have the ability to change the fixture because i need to have that lightbulb there.
 
bottletoke

bottletoke

Well-Known Member
That drop cord isnt gonna do him any good unless he confirms that his source is grounded.
Im an electrician, kinda know what im talking about lol.
 
Sand4x105

Sand4x105

Well-Known Member
How much 'load' do you have on your extension cord?
Fans/lights/blowers/etc...
What is your grow room load ?
 
bottletoke

bottletoke

Well-Known Member
If u have a ground there and your circuit is fused (protected) @ 15a and nothing is tripping then your good....but your gonna have to get away from that 2 prong ungrounded outlet. Can u just add a new receptacle right next to the fixture? Its ez to do and its in your attic so cosmetics isnt really an issue is it?
 
LadyZandra

LadyZandra

Active Member
The source is his ceiling light fixture-- if it isn't grounded, then all his outlets are sub-par for code... no matter what he runs off it.

As for the light...
Why do you have to have a bulb there? Cant you run a cheap clamp-light and bulb from the drop-cord & power-brick?

Actually-- I'd say to get everything out of the attic, and have someone come and re-wire it from the box with a couple grounded wall outlets so it has it's own circuit breaker. There are handymen in the newspaper and on Angies list who do it cheap and are licenced- so any issues with it and it's on them.
 
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