How Many Lights Per Surge Protector?

I have two 600w HPS currently plugged into the same power supply. The power comes through a nice outdoor extension cable, through a timer, then into the surge protector.
I have my inline fan and my other oscillating fans plugged into a separate surge protector, however, ultimately this is plugged into the same outlet as the lights.

So the problem that I am having is that every once in a while when I go check on my plants the surge protector that my lights are attached to will be switched off. I can simply flip the little switch on the surge protector an it turns itself back on with no problem.

I know a little extra darkness isn't going to kill them but I wanted to know if anyone else has this problem.
I also wanted to know how many lights (600w HPS) I should be plugging into each surge protector.

When I said that they were on one outlet I mean that the lights surge protector is plugged into the top outlet and the fan stuff is plugged into the bottom outlet (i should have said receptacle)

**First of all I am not an electrician of any kind (a few members are).**

AFAIK Ideally you wouldn't want to use an extension cable\cord of any kind. It would be good to split equipment not only between wall outlets, but have some stuff on an altogether different fuse. Everything plugged into the same outlet means it is all on the same fuse\breaker. Hopefully this dwelling features modern electrical wiring\distribution board (circuit breaker).
If that is the case then you need to check the load rating of the equipment you are using, including the surge protector and the timer. You need to make sure you aren't exceeding the allowable\safe electrical load. The workable\safe load is different depending on the type of electrical load so for example on this dual outlet timer it says "1250W Tungsten 15A, 1875W Resistive / 1/2 HP". Resistive is things like hair driers, heaters, toasters. In this case we really wouldn't want to exceed the tungsten or "lamp load" of 1250 watts. Your timer may be rated similarly. Personally would use a heavy duty Intermatic outdoor timer when running a couple of any HID's about 400 watts.

Also check the loads allowable for the surge protectors, though.

I am an electrical engineering student and two 600w lights is 1.2kw. A regular outlet is two plugs in series with 110v split between them and almost all outlet circuits use 15 amp rated wiring..

1.2kw = 110v * I (P=VI)
I = 10.9 amps

So I figure 10.9 amps out of 15 amps rated should be fine.. But then why does my surge protector shut off all the time?

Maybe it is just cheap\defective? As I understood the initial draw is the highest with most lamps including tungsten, HID. It's shutting off after it has been working fine with no additional load right?

Note that an Intermatic outdoor timer has up to 6 outlets itself. I've always been told to use the digital ballasts with surge protectors.

Yes they will be running fine for a few days then they will just shut off for no apparent reason. They are 600w high pressure sodium not hid however, if that makes a difference.

HID just means High Intensity Discharge lamp which encompasses both halides and sodium (as well as mercury vapor, ceramic metal halide).

I have an Intermatic plugged into a surge plugged into a wall outlet, running up to two 600 watt lamps. Only time I have tripped the surge was one time when I also had a laptop and a vacuum cleaner plugged into it.

Is it possible you have some power surges?

Could be your surge protection.. unless it is a 300 dollar one or better, the lower end ones are not even real surge protection per sey..

OR at least that is what I thought I found out years ago when I was using a cheap surge protector and my amp fried and my electronics guy told me something basically along those lines.


I mean you only have 1200 watts and a few low draw items.. that is less than most peoples microwaves isn't it?..

I dunno, seems like I would be looking at a faulty (or fickle) surge protector.

333maxwell said:

Could be your surge protection.. unless it is a 300 dollar one or better, the lower end ones are not even real surge protection per sey..

OR at least that is what I thought I found out years ago when I was using a cheap surge protector and my amp fried and my electronics guy told me something basically along those lines.


I mean you only have 1200 watts and a few low draw items.. that is less than most peoples microwaves isn't it?..

I dunno, seems like I would be looking at a faulty (or fickle) surge protector.

Click to expand...

That's basically what I thought.. My microwave doesn't start fires and it isn't on a surge protector you know?

is there anything else on that circuit on other outlets though? and you end up plugging up more stuff than you originally intended most of the time lol. also the top and bottom outlet on are on the same circuit. multiple recepticles are probably on the same circuit so i would check to see what is and isnt. you could use a drop cord from another circuit if your worried about it.