electricity scaaarrryy... do i need any extra?

DJYoshaBYD

DJYoshaBYD

Well-Known Member
Im only going to be running a 400w MH and a 400w HPS.. do I need to change the wiring or breakers or anything?

Im going to be switching to a 1000w HPS and using the 400w MH to veg.. Im assuming that would almost for sure need wiring?
 
jeremy

jeremy

Well-Known Member
It depends what else is on that breaker. We have 2 400 watts going as well as a couple fans. Our grow room is on the same breaker with our office thats running 2 computers, modem, router, tv, and some lamps. I've kicked it off a couple times with a shop vac, but thats the only problem so far. I'd check and see what else is on the same circuit as your room and you might be able to judge a little better how far you can push it without overloading. Knowing what else is on there might help someone who knows about electricity to better answer your question. Sorry I can't help any more than that, electricity scares me too lol
 
crazy-mental

crazy-mental

Well-Known Member
how up to date is your wiring. i had loads of ele. going into my garage, that had old wiring, and it blew as soon i had 1 4oo . 1 250 hps . a fan, flos. when i plugged the lawnmore in one day it all blew, and it ended up costing . better be safe than sorry.
 
DJYoshaBYD

DJYoshaBYD

Well-Known Member
well.. the shed was built less than 20 years ago... and the whole shed is on its own breaker.. I will have 2 400w, 2 bathroom fans, and a regular osc. fan... well, if it kick off the breaker, then I know its too much.. lol nothing else gets ran off that except the room
 
BIGMIKE13

BIGMIKE13

Well-Known Member
what size is the breaker ?

each 400 is going to pull about 4-5 amps and your fans and other etc. maybe 2-4 amps.

so with a 15-20 amp breaker you should be fine.....:blsmoke:
 
email468

email468

Well-Known Member
if electricity scares you make double-sure you don't overload your circuits. Yes they should just switch off but it is dangerous. At best, your power will shut off and all your plants will die - at worse there will be a fire.

If you don't have any circuits that aren't in use, I would strongly encourage you add at least two twenty amp circuits for your grow area. If you want to figure it out, you shouldn't draw more than 75-80% of the rated amperage. That means you should be drawing more than 12 amps from a 15 amp circuit. that means if you turn all appliances on that are plugged into that circuit, the draw shouldn't be more than 12 amps.

a 1000w light can draw about 8 amps all by itself.
 
F

fdd2blk

Well-Known Member
DJYoshaBYD said:
well.. the shed was built less than 20 years ago... and the whole shed is on its own breaker.. I will have 2 400w, 2 bathroom fans, and a regular osc. fan... well, if it kick off the breaker, then I know its too much.. lol nothing else gets ran off that except the room
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sounds like you should be okay.:blsmoke: i could be wrong, it is electricity. but if that's all your running off one breaker i would think you would be okay.
 
DJYoshaBYD

DJYoshaBYD

Well-Known Member
Yeah.. the whole room is on a breaker by itself.. I will check to see what size it is... We through a party a few years back, and had 2 turntables (mk1200, of course), a 5 channel mixer, 500w stereo receiver, and a 1000w amp BLASTING 2 huge 15" Cerwin-Vega boxes and it didnt shut anything down... I could assume that would be alot of power, and nothing happened... we should be cool.. Im just worried when I move into a spot by myself, Im going to have to rewire the place I move in to... or just find a spot that has the wiring I need... I can just tell the land lord I have a music studio and I run alot of amps and computers for it.. which I do, but I dont use 18 hrs. per day..
 
F

fdd2blk

Well-Known Member
DJYoshaBYD said:
Yeah.. the whole room is on a breaker by itself.. I will check to see what size it is... We through a party a few years back, and had 2 turntables (mk1200, of course), a 5 channel mixer, 500w stereo receiver, and a 1000w amp BLASTING 2 huge 15" Cerwin-Vega boxes and it didnt shut anything down... I could assume that would be alot of power, and nothing happened... we should be cool.. Im just worried when I move into a spot by myself, Im going to have to rewire the place I move in to... or just find a spot that has the wiring I need... I can just tell the land lord I have a music studio and I run alot of amps and computers for it.. which I do, but I dont use 18 hrs. per day..
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most home wiring can handle a small grow. :blsmoke:
 
DJYoshaBYD

DJYoshaBYD

Well-Known Member
dope.. cause like I said.. I just want a 2 stage setup... ~400w mh for veg, and 1kw HPS for fruit.. I am also a very energy efficient person.. all my lights in the house ARE ALWAYS CFL.. A gas range is a must for my house.. And the only thing I ever run in my house are my TV, a fan or 2, and my PC (which has some MIDI devices hooked up, but not always used...

well.. I certainly feel a bit better about my shocking situation... yessssssss... as soon as I get the chance I will post some pics of the room and my children so youse guyses can see what I am working with...
 
email468

email468

Well-Known Member
DJYoshaBYD said:
Yeah.. the whole room is on a breaker by itself.. I will check to see what size it is... We through a party a few years back, and had 2 turntables (mk1200, of course), a 5 channel mixer, 500w stereo receiver, and a 1000w amp BLASTING 2 huge 15" Cerwin-Vega boxes and it didnt shut anything down... I could assume that would be alot of power, and nothing happened... we should be cool.. Im just worried when I move into a spot by myself, Im going to have to rewire the place I move in to... or just find a spot that has the wiring I need... I can just tell the land lord I have a music studio and I run alot of amps and computers for it.. which I do, but I dont use 18 hrs. per day..
Click to expand...
sounds like you'll be fine.
 
DJYoshaBYD

DJYoshaBYD

Well-Known Member
graci'... I had a funny ass one of a kid on a tricycle drifting a corner...but its not letting me post it

 
Long Time Toker

Long Time Toker

Active Member
General rule - formula - watts/system voltage (usally 120v) = amps used example - 1000 watts / 120v = approx 8+ amps. If your breaker is 15 amps you should not exceed 3/4 of the breakers amperage or 10-11 amps on a constant load. A 20 amp breaker would be better if you're gonna be running 1000 + 400 watts 1400 watts / 120v = 11-12 amps which could be a problem with a typical 15 amp breaker. I assume you will also be running a fan and timer etc. Always check the amps pulled by a product. It's usually marked on the box. Using this formula will keep you out of trouble.

Be safe
 
Long Time Toker

Long Time Toker

Active Member
General rule - formula - watts/system voltage (usally 120v) = amps used example - 1000 watts / 120v = approx 8+ amps. If your breaker is 15 amps you should not exceed 3/4 of the breakers amperage or 10-11 amps on a constant load. A 20 amp breaker would be better if you're gonna be running 1000 + 400 watts 1400 watts / 120v = 11-12 amps which could be a problem with a typical 15 amp breaker. I assume you will also be running a fan and timer etc. Always check the amps pulled by a product. It's usually marked on the box. Using this formula will keep you out of trouble.

Be safe
 
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