Here to answer Electrical Questions

MrFishy

Well-Known Member
Born into an electrician family (1951) I'm using two 600W digital hps ballasts. I found a couple useless circuits and tapped into them, running two circuits up to my grow to accommodate these . . . a different 15a circuit per ballast. One of the lights "on" causes interference on my damn TV, and it's getting old . . . just static bars, but still.
I know which circuit. Do ya suppose it'd make any diff if I reversed the polarity(wires)?
Any idea if this would endanger the ballast?
 
Born into an electrician family (1951) I'm using two 600W digital hps ballasts. I found a couple useless circuits and tapped into them, running two circuits up to my grow to accommodate these . . . a different 15a circuit per ballast. One of the lights "on" causes interference on my damn TV, and it's getting old . . . just static bars, but still.
I know which circuit. Do ya suppose it'd make any diff if I reversed the polarity(wires)?
Any idea if this would endanger the ballast?
It wont matter if you switch the wires because you will still have ballast running on those circuits. What is happening is those circuits are sharing a Common wire a "nuetral" wire and is givin you interference. You can remedy this by using a circuit that isn't shared by your tv. Or run 2 new circuits out of your panel. You may try even plugging your tv into a different outlet. Good luck.
 

MrFishy

Well-Known Member
It's funny. The ballast plugged into a shared house circuit is not causing any interference.
I took an otherwise un-used circuit straight from the panel (there's nothing on it but a porch light/minus bulb) and ran that up, and this is the ballast power causing the static.
This is an old house and I suspect not up to code by any stretch of the imagination.

So there's nothing on that circuit but one 600W digital ballast, so it must be bleeding thru the neutral in the panel?
 

fdd2blk

Well-Known Member
what do i have to do to get a second meter put in? we have multiple units on the same property and i want to put 2 of them on a separate meter. thank you. :cool:
 
Hmm. I bet you plugged that ballast into a circuit that is sharing a nuetral wire with you tv. Again, just try pluggin you tv into a different outlet and turn your ballast on. If the static goes away, you know you have a shared nuetral problem.
 
what do i have to do to get a second meter put in? we have multiple units on the same property and i want to put 2 of them on a separate meter. thank you. :cool:
You just call your provider and ask tell them you need another service on your property. Some providers don't let multiple meters on the same property if it is not a different address.

As far as work is involved, you need to find the power feed that is going to those properties and put the meter infront of that feed. That will allow you to monitor the usage and have seperate billing.
 

BigBub420

Active Member
If I run a 600w light and ballast, a 400 w and a inline fan, regular oscialting fan, and the AC will kick on here in the summer, is that too mucht o run in my spare bedroom in my brand new hosue, thanks for the reply..
 

chode79

Active Member
Is there a how to on "how to" install sub panel? I'm looking to install a sub in my grw room but do not have too much electrical experience. Can I steal a romex run from the neighboring bedroom outlet that runs to my main 200amp circuit box in the garage?? The romex run attaches to a 15amp circuit in the main box. Do I need to convert this 15amp into whatever size I wish the sub panel to be. For example do I change that 15amp into a 60amp if I want the sub panel to be capable of 60amps. Or how does that work???
 

ideit

Well-Known Member
I'm planning on moving soon and will probably be running 1600w of lighting (4x 400w). Is this too much to run in a room that also has a PC and TV (and possibly an AC)? If so, would it be safe to run a cord from an adjacent bathroom to power half the lights?
 

Leothwyn

Well-Known Member
The person who started this can answer this better I'm sure, but I can at least tell you that you definitely cannot do that. That's a perfect recipe for a fire. You need the proper sized wire going from your 60 amp breaker (main box) to your subpanel. Using wires too small for the breaker means that the wires will start burning if you overload them long before the 60 amp breaker is thrown.
Right now you have a 15 amp breaker (most likely running 14 gauge wire). That means you should not run more than 15 amps of stuff on that line. That breaker is there to shut off power to that line whenever too much is being drawn from it - add a bigger breaker and you remove that safety feature.

Is there a how to on "how to" install sub panel? I'm looking to install a sub in my grw room but do not have too much electrical experience. Can I steal a romex run from the neighboring bedroom outlet that runs to my main 200amp circuit box in the garage?? The romex run attaches to a 15amp circuit in the main box. Do I need to convert this 15amp into whatever size I wish the sub panel to be. For example do I change that 15amp into a 60amp if I want the sub panel to be capable of 60amps. Or how does that work???
 
Is there a how to on "how to" install sub panel? I'm looking to install a sub in my grw room but do not have too much electrical experience. Can I steal a romex run from the neighboring bedroom outlet that runs to my main 200amp circuit box in the garage?? The romex run attaches to a 15amp circuit in the main box. Do I need to convert this 15amp into whatever size I wish the sub panel to be. For example do I change that 15amp into a 60amp if I want the sub panel to be capable of 60amps. Or how does that work???
No. Please do not even try this.

Here is the skinny on sub pannels and wire size:

A sub panel is usually used when you have run out of space in your main panel. You basically find a spot in your home and run a new line to your sub panel so you can run smaller lines to your appliances. But, you have to make sure you have the right size wire. You cannot, I repeat, Cannot put a 60 amp breaker on a 15 amp rated wire. It is only rated up to that amperage and will melt and start a fire. Basically there is a guide to wire sizes. Smaller the wire the larger the number for example a 12 gauge wire can handle more load then a 14 guage wire.

If you want to have a 60 amp subpanel you should have an electrician come out to run the wire and install it. It can be very tricky if you are not well versed in this trade.
 
If I run a 600w light and ballast, a 400 w and a inline fan, regular oscialting fan, and the AC will kick on here in the summer, is that too mucht o run in my spare bedroom in my brand new hosue, thanks for the reply..

This is way too much for one bedroom circuit. You should run at least (2) 20 amp circuits.
 
I'm planning on moving soon and will probably be running 1600w of lighting (4x 400w). Is this too much to run in a room that also has a PC and TV (and possibly an AC)? If so, would it be safe to run a cord from an adjacent bathroom to power half the lights?
1600 watts is ok to run on a regular house circuit but if you have an ac, tv, and pc, I would consider running a new circuit. Or move the tv and pc to a new outlet with an extension cord from another room.
 

psg1

Active Member
fast: I have a 12VDC Comair Rotron Major (235cfm) (http://skycraftsurplus.com/index.asp...OD&ProdID=1353) with terminal connectors. The specs are 12V 2.26A.

My question is, how can I power this thing? I've looked at thrift stores and Wally world and the best I can find is 12V 1.3A. I know that I cannot go over 12V, but can I use a power supply with a lower amperage like the 1.3A or does it have to be equal or greater than the rating on the fan? Most 12V AC/DC adapters I've found are well below the 2.26A specs, close to 600-800mA. I'd like to avoid ordering a new one since it's likely to be so expensive. Any ideas?
 

ROC1977

Well-Known Member
fast: I have a 12VDC Comair Rotron Major (235cfm) (http://skycraftsurplus.com/index.asp...OD&ProdID=1353) with terminal connectors. The specs are 12V 2.26A.

My question is, how can I power this thing? I've looked at thrift stores and Wally world and the best I can find is 12V 1.3A. I know that I cannot go over 12V, but can I use a power supply with a lower amperage like the 1.3A or does it have to be equal or greater than the rating on the fan? Most 12V AC/DC adapters I've found are well below the 2.26A specs, close to 600-800mA. I'd like to avoid ordering a new one since it's likely to be so expensive. Any ideas?

I too have the same problem brother. I got a 100mm 12v DC fan that's 3Amp.
I had a old router power supply that is 12v DC but 1.3amp. Wouldn't do anything. I don't want to wire it to the lights or mains. Just plug it into a socket. But I haven't a clue.

Mine is a bathroom fan a VENT axium or something.
 
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