Experienced Electrician! Here to Answer Any and All Growroom Electrical Questions

[ScoobyDoobyDoo]

How many amps can be drawn from a 25 kva transformer? I am asking because I have seen three houses connected to a 25 Kva transformer and all three houses have 200 amps main breaker.

Thanks In Advance.

i'm not a line or pole man but a kVa I believe is a kilo volt ampere. I don't think it is based on amps. either way, if you only have 3 houses on a 25 transformer you are just fine. I have 4 houses on a 15 and I personally have 3 200amp meters.

 

[ScoobyDoobyDoo]

So assuming my room is wired to only handle 15 amps and assuming I have a 15 amp breaker. How much would it cost to just have an electrician come in and rewire just my room to be able to handle 20 amps? It's possible to just do one room right?!

I'm still a bit paranoid/concerned with the amp drawage but im sure ima be fine. I'm sure most rookie growers here have a 400 watt/fans plugged up in a room with other electronics going :S

Definitely going to surpass the 80% rule of thumb thing and ill be cutting it close. Hopefully if it goes over it just flips my breaker and no fire occurs :S

All that said, I pulled out one of my light sockets and was unable to identify the wiring colors/gauge because the wires were inside a thick, wire one. I'm guessing to protect them :S

cost of an electrician can range from $50 an hour to $150. just depends.

you might just be able to swap out the breaker on you loadcenter for a 20amp one. most wiring is 14 or 12 gauge and they both can carry 20amps. take a look at the wire size leading into the actual breaker on the panel. it should say what size it is.

also, remember that most residential receptacles are only rated for 10 or 15 amps so don't go plugging everything into the same receptacle.

 

[DroidBoy]

I have a question buds i need to extend a few cables for items like fans all are under 50 watts and have 5amp fuses in them so i bought some wire and connectors to join the wire because some 1 told me it was extremely dangerous to just join wires together and wrap with tape, all the wire says on it is 0.75mm i need to extend the wire by about 5-10 feet is this possible and what wire should i buy i am sorry if this is a silly question i have tried to work it out but havent a clue thanks also have a 4 inch inline fan i need to extend that too is the same size wire and has same amp fuse

 

[SnapsProvolone]

I have a question buds i need to extend a few cables for items like fans all are under 50 watts and have 5amp fuses in them so i bought some wire and connectors to join the wire because some 1 told me it was extremely dangerous to just join wires together and wrap with tape, all the wire says on it is 0.75mm i need to extend the wire by about 5-10 feet is this possible and what wire should i buy i am sorry if this is a silly question i have tried to work it out but havent a clue thanks also have a 4 inch inline fan i need to extend that too is the same size wire and has same amp fuse

Junction inside an approved box using approved connectors for cable with approved twist on connectors (wire nuts).

 

[bicit]

Is it possible to split a 240v line into two 120v lines?

 

[joe macclennan]

yes, just make sure you don't overload each individual leg

 

[East Coast]

How do you split it then?

 

[SnapsProvolone]

Is it possible to split a 240v line into two 120v lines?

If it has a neutral yes.

 

[East Coast]

Voltage is voltage - splitting it will still be 220v from the supplier?

 

[joe macclennan]

each leg is 110

neutral is neutral

 

[SnapsProvolone]

Voltage is voltage - splitting it will still be 220v from the supplier?

On split phase system:

Phase A to B = 240 vac
Phase A or B to Neutral is 120 vac

 

[Secure2000]

A 60W Light socket is safely rated to power a light source of no more than 60W. Using anything above 60W will cause the socket to overheat at best, or burst into flames at worst.

 

[SnapsProvolone]

How many amps can be drawn from a 25 kva transformer? I am asking because I have seen three houses connected to a 25 Kva transformer and all three houses have 200 amps main breaker.

Thanks In Advance.

25kva transformer or generator rates at 104 amps

Kva is power calculated with rms values.

 

[joe macclennan]

A 60W Light socket is safely rated to power a light source of no more than 60W. Using anything above 60W will cause the socket to overheat at best, or burst into flames at worst.

do tell more

 

[East Coast]

So its a 2 phase system, each leg 110v - Star wired. Then for 220v you would Delta wire?

 

[SnapsProvolone]

These are the gauge sizes and ampacity of 3 conductor under 2000 volts.
14 gauge will hold 20 amps.
12 AWG.25 AMPS
10 AWG 30 TO 40 amps depending on type of cable.
8 awg 40 to 50 amps
6 awg 55 to 75 amps.
4 awg 70 to 95
2 awg 95 to 130 amps
1 awg 110 to 150 amps
the 200 amp wire range would be 4/0range from 195 amps to 260 amps.
This info is obtained from the NEC.national electrical code conductors for general wiring.1999 addition. page 70-126.
The amps depend on the class of wire used,The lowest amp rating is in TW UF rated wire,Romex as we call it sometimes.
I am a certified master electrician.But i do not work in high voltage.Im a control electrician and senior mechanic.
I do not play with power outside of a building.I leave that for linemen.
Anything within a building or structure i can make it walk and talk and do whatever you want.

Very bad info.

Your "romex" is type nm or nm-b

Never use the 90 degree column its for derate calcs only.

Al or Cu is a big factor.

Never put #14 wire on a 20 amp ocpd
Never put #12 wire on greater than 20 amp ocpd
Never put. #10 on greater than 30 amp ocpd

Your certification has been revoked.

 

[augusto1]

25kva transformer or generator rates at 104 amps

Kva is power calculated with rms values.

1)If it only support 104 amps why they connect 3 houses with 200 amps maim breaker each one ?

2)what about if I use the 200 amps that I have available according to my main breaker, will the tramsformer handle it or it will get damaged?

Thanks In Advance

 

[SpaaaceCowboy]

Hey Snaps, I am about ready to wire up my cabinet.....I could have up to 36 cfls (23 to 26 watts each), 4 t5 HO (unsure of wattage yet - possibly 40-something watts each though), 1 80 cfm bathroom fan, and probably some pc fans goin' in there too.....

Question: I have some extension cord laying around that I was going to use to power it...Unsure of gauge...Though one is orange and appears to be rather average, and another is blue/maroonish I think, and is a bit heavier.....Can I get by using one of these extension cords to power this cab ? Or should I be using two extension cords ?

thanks, SC

 

[SnapsProvolone]

1)If it only support 104 amps why they connect 3 houses with 200 amps maim breaker each one ?

2)what about if I use the 200 amps that I have available according to my main breaker, will the tramsformer handle it or it will get damaged?

Thanks In Advance

Transformer load calculations assume that most homes only use a small fraction of their service ampacity and if drawing more intermittently they assume other services on same xfmr won't be doing so at that instant. The kW rating on a xfmr is usually an all day 100% duty, it may handle more for a period.

Its a residential service not commercial.

Here, where its legal, the poco will drop a 400/320 continuous service for you. They love to sell power.

 

[Sand4x105]

Very bad info.

Your "romex" is type nm or nm-b

Never use the 90 degree column its for derate calcs only.

Al or Cu is a big factor.

Never put #14 wire on a 20 amp ocpd
Never put #12 wire on greater than 20 amp ocpd
Never put. #10 on greater than 30 amp ocpd

Your certification has been revoked.

Your answers are sometimes wrong, laughable, and really put down of others...
You're just prob book smart but install stupid...
If I run #14 awg in free air to power my mini grow room that pulls 17 amps will I be ok ?