Electro help for diy clone cab

boxman

Active Member
happy puffs all!

I used a small nite table to make a box to house clones, using the fishtank example in the FAQ.

I have no FN clue when it comes the electricity, and some assistance would be appreciated.

I bought a 3lamp vanity and 3x 27w cfls (4800lumens) I have three wires coming out the top. the black and white will be converted into a male plugin.

the remaining copper wire is for ground i believe, what d'f--k do i attach it too?

ive attached 2 pic, the second is the inside, showing most of the vanity

cheers:joint:
 

Attachments

VictorVIcious

Well-Known Member
whops I am wrong. I posted it in someone else'e thread. There was a post for it the other day. Sorry it on my other computer.VV
 

Dats

Well-Known Member
While you dont NEED a 3 pronged plug for it to work I alway use a 3 prong if I can. It just makes me feel safer what with all the moisture thats in a cabinet. Use an old computer cord or extension cord. Connect the green wire to the bare ground wire on your lights. I would also buy an electrical box and cover and make sure your connection is safely sealed in the box for piece of mind.
 

boxman

Active Member
thnx dats,

no green wire dude. do i connect the copper to the white or black? I get the 3 prong thing. im in a rental...can you explain the elect box & cover a bit more?

cheers
box
 

Maccabee

Well-Known Member
The box is just that--a plastic box with a clip on or screw on cover that you can tuck your splices into and then mount to a wall. If your hardware store doesn't have something, Radio Shack sells a few (I think they call them "project boxes" or some such.)

DO NOT ATTACH THE GROUND WIRE TO "HOT" (BLACK)-- I don't think it should be attached to NEUTRAL (White) either (at least according to US electrical codes and standard practices.) The bare ground wire from the fixture should be attached to a dedicated ground wire in whatever plug or lead you wire onto the fixture. If you cut into a spare computer power cord, you should find that one of the wires has green insulation. That is the one to connect to the bare ground lead from the fixture--it will lead to the grounding pin on a three-prong plug.

Alternately, you can buy grounding wire and run it separately from the fixture's ground connection to the grounding pin of another cord already in use (wind it on or use a little collar that slips over the grounding pin to allow attachment) or secure it directly to the center screw of a grounded (three-prong) outlet box.

Bonus tip: when setting up a grow room, I'd encourage the use of a circuit tester to make sure that your plugs are correctly wired and that the ground connection is good.
 
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