220 Volt Dryer Outlet

I have very limited plug in available in my basement for some reason? My hope was to utilize the dryer plug as my dryer is now located upstairs. Does anyone have any ideas or use this method?

I've looked around and I would like to use a Galaxy 600 digital ballast. It says it automatically detects 120/220 volt, and I would simply have to buy the 220 volt cord.

Is it as simple as that? If so, is there a possibility to somehow run more than one ballast off of this dryer 220 volt plug?

I don't know much about electrical components so a simply "power bar", or adapter would be best suited. I deff. do not plan on wiring anything myself, or risking bringing in an electrician.

Thanks guys!

well a dryer plug is huge and 30 amps , you will need someone to wire up a dryer plug to timer then to multiple 120 or 220 outlets . you cant just plug your light in without config.ing the plug . if you were running multiple 1000's i would suggest doing that or buying a timer board like i did. in your case id run an extension cord from upstairs threw the heat vent in floor or somewhere else ect

You need to change out the outlet plug or branch off a 220V outlet.

If you dont know what I mean then dont do it... Get an electrician.

to get an idea of something you can just buy you can go here progressive-growth.com .. looking in the lighting section. they got everything . you can run prolly like 8x600 of that dryer plug at 220V

Wohjew said:

well a dryer plug is huge and 30 amps , you will need someone to wire up a dryer plug to timer then to multiple 120 or 220 outlets . you cant just plug your light in without config.ing the plug . if you were running multiple 1000's i would suggest doing that or buying a timer board like i did. in your case id run an extension cord from upstairs threw the heat vent in floor or somewhere else ect

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I'm thinking I will just run a good extension cord down throught the floor. Not the prettiest solution but I would prefer not to have an electrician. Prefer no risk. I have two outlets somewhat hidden behind my couch so I'll just drill a hole, its directly above the area so.. Guess that'll work!

I'm just looking to hook up a 600 digital HPS for flowering, the t5's (4 bulbs total) (clones), an inline fan 8" (vent the 600), and a 400 watt MH ballast. Plus 2 small fans.

All in all I need about 5 recepticals to plug into, and the basement only has 2. Bringing down 2 extension cords should bring me upto 6.

If anyone else has ideas, I'm all ears. Thanks for the input to everyone!

Add up those amps sounds liky you are getting a little close there.
400w: 3.5 amps
600w: 5.7a
inline fan: 1 amp
T-5s: not enough info.
If you bring down 2 extension cords putting them on seperate circuits would be good.
I would just build a DIY Controller, and use the neccesary 220v outlets on the controller, and then use a dryer cord. You would actually need (1) 110v line for the timer of that deal. Add

you dont need 220 for that little bit.; just use the right rated power bar or 2 outlets. add the house lights to that total amp on that line as well. not just the grow stuff.
i use 2 outlets here and run 1k and a 430 and a 6 inch fan and 3 room fans...and ac...no problems here. all 110. been fine for over a year

wonderblunder said:

Add up those amps sounds liky you are getting a little close there.
400w: 3.5 amps
600w: 5.7a
inline fan: 1 amp
T-5s: not enough info.
If you bring down 2 extension cords putting them on seperate circuits would be good.
I would just build a DIY Controller, and use the neccesary 220v outlets on the controller, and then use a dryer cord. You would actually need (1) 110v line for the timer of that deal. Add

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600 HPS - running from basement outlet #1
400 MH - running from basement outlet #2
inline fan+t5's+ 2 small fans - timer --> extension cord from living room --> basement, --> powerbar with 5 outlets

I like the idea of a controller, again from what i see this is an expensive product. This ain't no field of dreams i'm cookin up lol - trying to keep costs down to a min. If i have to get 3 timers, thats fine.

all ya need is add all stuff to each line in amps. look at breaker size and keep under 80% of total load limit. if those outlets are to diff breakers its all good

NLXSK1 said:

You need to change out the outlet plug or branch off a 220V outlet.

If you dont know what I mean then dont do it... Get an electrician.

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"Hi Bob's Electric? Can you come on over and wire me up a bunch of outlets.. Yes my basement is dingy and only has a 5'10 ceiling but i'd like to make it into a nice workshop and i'll need these outlets please" haha I'd more than likely get a 3rd or 4th period apprentice guy mid to late 20's looking at me thinking.. Yeaa right..

small town, big mouths = no thanks

Medi 1 said:

all ya need is add all stuff to each line in amps. look at breaker size and keep under 80% of total load limit. if those outlets are to diff breakers its all good

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I checked:

all 15 amps
2 basement outlets are separate.
can't tell if the 2 living room outlets are though. The person who listed the rooms really scribbled it down.. I'm going to assume they share a 15amp. Either way I think I'll be fine without having to play around with the dryer recipticale and or calling in a pro.

Greats insight tho!

so shut off the breaker and see what lights go out in the house and re mark the box. if one turns the room light off wait 15 min to restrike it or risk a bulb exploding.
try n stay under 10 amp each line then. running at 220 costs same but cuts the load of amps in half. also most baseboard heaters are run with 220./ undo that and add a box there now you have a dedicated 220 line. most houses will run a breaker to each heater.

Quick household wiring class:
(Note - I'm not a licensed electrician and if you have trouble understanding ANY of this you should open your yellow pages. I do household wiring quite frequently though and understand the basics pretty well) Always, always, always turn off the breaker. Never trust a switch. EVER!

First you need to know how those outlets and switches are wired. A 15A circuit in your house uses 14ga wire. You can use heavier guage wire on that, but not smaller - 15a breaker on a 12 ga wire is fine, but a 20a breaker on 14ga wire may start a fire. Also - any place where wires are connected should be housed in a junction box.

The wiring in your house that feeds normal wall sockets and switches will usually have 3 wires:
Black = Hot (The juice comes from here)
White = Neutral (The juice leaves via this wire)
Green = Ground

On the back of your outlet you will see screws where the wires are attached:
Copper colored screw = Black wire goes here
Silver colored screw = White wire goes here
Green colored screw = Green/bare wire goes here

A wall switch will have 2 screws that will complete the circuit between the two black wires. If you see any white wires going to a switch then it's wired wrong.

Your dryer outlet will have 4 wires. Black, Red, White, Green. The red wire is another Hot wire (like the black wire) that carries 120V. These are typically 30A circuits using 10ga wire. So by having two 120V hot wires you will have 220V available for your dryer.

I recommend NOT adding anything to your dryer outlet.

If your breaker box is in the basement and the amps needed for your lights exceed 15a then you should call in an electricain and explain what you need. (He won't give a shit what for, just tell him you are going to be moving your dryer down there or that you need a 20a 120V/or 240V (or whatever the amps/service needed are) and he will add a breaker just for that circuit!

If 15 amps is enough then piggyback off one of your basement outlets and wire the new outlets as described above. Make sure any wire nuts/connections you use are in a junction box. Again - 14/12ga on a 15A circuit is fine.

2 basement outlets are separate.

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Separate what? Are they on two different circuits?

randk21 said:

"Hi Bob's Electric? Can you come on over and wire me up a bunch of outlets.. Yes my basement is dingy and only has a 5'10 ceiling but i'd like to make it into a nice workshop and i'll need these outlets please" haha I'd more than likely get a 3rd or 4th period apprentice guy mid to late 20's looking at me thinking.. Yeaa right..

small town, big mouths = no thanks

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When you are standing in front of your burning house, what are you going to say to the fire department?

I have a book called the "Black & Decker Complete Guide to Home Wiring" I am sure it cost me less than $30.00 from home depot in paperback. At the very least get a book and read about it. 220V wiring is different than 120V wiring.

An easy but not cheap solution is the Powerbox DPC 7500 120V. It plugs right in to the dryer outlet and splits it into a multitude of different outlet configurations.

It's really simple. You go to home depot, but a dryer cord that fits your outlet. Then you get a jack side that matches your ballast plug and all it takes is a minute with wire strippers and a screwdriver to put it together. Done deal, use the cord and plug in. If you want to add lines I suggest getting a multi light timer or controller. Just be sure not to overload the circuit and you will be fine.

like lampworker said... mine is similar and a really simple solution, in the picture check out the blue powerbox. it was like $300, has an electric timer built in, and has 6 240w outlets. If you have a 30 amp dryer plug already there, this is a really easy solution. It will run either all 6 on the timer, or 4 on the timer and 2 independently.

hope this may help you out http://www.sunlightsupply.com/p-11315-50-amp-lighting-controller.aspx

if you use extension cords, make sure they are heavy cords (at least 14 gauge) and no longer than needed. for your setup,you will be fine