150w HPS to normal wall plug. Is it doable?

[mr.notsogreenthumb]

So after having moved my grow space three times this last year and now getting ready to do it again I was wondering how I could attach normal 3 point plugs to my 150 HPS's. Is it possible to put a two or three point plug at the end of these babies without electrocuting myself and burning down the house (and no Tom Jones jokes!). Up to now I have installing them the proper way each time but its becoming a schlep.

If it is possible please explain how I can do it. I would have tried it by now but I know nothing of electrical current and such things. Cause you know, if I get electrocuted who is going to take care of my plants.

 

[mrmadcow]

if you are in US (or canada), hardware stores sell male ends,just wire the black to brass screw,white wire to the silver screw & dont forget/skip the ground!
if you are on the other side of the atlantic, its the same idea but different color wires.

 

[mr.notsogreenthumb]

Thanks mrmadcow I am on the other side of the atlantic, but now that I know it can be done I will give it a go.

 

[rhino1111]

i have a 400watt HPS. can i just plug it into a regular plug socket in my house? or run it in a an extension cord? i live in canada, and want to run my 400watt HPS safely.

edit: this is also my first serious grow and have no knowledge on HPS lamps, and setting them up correctly. any insight would be greaty appreciated.

 

[Serapis]

Do not run ballasts for HID lamps off of extension cords. You run the risk of fire, equipment failure, ballast burn out, burnt outlets, etc. They should always be plugged into a surge protector which in turn is plugged directly into a wall outlet.

 

[rhino1111]

Do not run ballasts for HID lamps off of extension cords. You run the risk of fire, equipment failure, ballast burn out, burnt outlets, etc. They should always be plugged into a surge protector which in turn is plugged directly into a wall outlet.

fuck, cause in my basement the socket is far, is there anything i can run the cord in to make it longer? then attach that piece to the surge protector (do like home depot, or something sell them?) then into socket?

 

[Serapis]

You could use ROMEX wire of the same gauge to extend the service into your grow area. It is more than likely a 12 awg wire, but it could be 14. The easiest way to know what to get is to turn breaker off for that box and see if the breaker switch has a 15 or a 20 on it.

20 amps = 12 awg or 12 gauge 2 wire (2 wire has 2 insulated conductors and a bare ground wire)
15 amps = 14 awg or 14 gauge 2 wire

If you do go with an extension cord, make sure it is 3 prong grounded and 12 gauge. It will be expensive, and is still not recommended, but ya got to do what ya got to do. I'd prefer you extend the wiring into the grow area and install a new box with properly grounded outlets. Basements tend to be damp and sometimes wet. Avoid any ungrounded items.

 

[mr.notsogreenthumb]

Wait, so is it a bad idea to put a plug on the end of my 150s and plugging them directly into a wall socket? Or is the whole extension cord thing only because its a 400w?

 

[rhino1111]

You could use ROMEX wire of the same gauge to extend the service into your grow area. It is more than likely a 12 awg wire, but it could be 14. The easiest way to know what to get is to turn breaker off for that box and see if the breaker switch has a 15 or a 20 on it.

20 amps = 12 awg or 12 gauge 2 wire (2 wire has 2 insulated conductors and a bare ground wire)
15 amps = 14 awg or 14 gauge 2 wire

If you do go with an extension cord, make sure it is 3 prong grounded and 12 gauge. It will be expensive, and is still not recommended, but ya got to do what ya got to do. I'd prefer you extend the wiring into the grow area and install a new box with properly grounded outlets. Basements tend to be damp and sometimes wet. Avoid any ungrounded items.

man i dont know shit about electrical work. i read that standard light sockets are 15amps? and how do i know what rating wire to get. i already have some grounded extension cords. i just need a solution where i can just plug it into a socket safely. i cant do electrical work :O

where can i get this ROMEX wire? do you mean same awg as the ballast plug? how can i know what its rated? etc? sorry but im VERY new to this.

 

[mrmadcow]

nothing wrong with using the PROPER extension cord.what is important is to use one that is heavy enough & not to use one longer than you need. a 12 gauge cord is rated for the same 20 amp load as the romex wiring in your house. the longer the wire run, the more voltage drop you will have.100 feet of extension cord will have approxamately the same drop as 100 feet of 12 gauge romex. in fact I could not find a voltage drop calculator that cared if you used solid(romex) or stranded wire(extension cords).
another important consideration is how you run the wire, romex or extension cord laying on the floor to be stepped on or hung where it will get damaged are things to be avoided. a little common sense goes a long way

 

[mrmadcow]

Thanks mrmadcow I am on the other side of the atlantic, but now that I know it can be done I will give it a go.

check w/ your local hardware store or electric supply house, my understanding is that in your world,the circiuts are run on a larger breaker and each device has a fuse built into the plug to protect from overloading.

 

[Sgt.Sly]

Wait, so is it a bad idea to put a plug on the end of my 150s and plugging them directly into a wall socket? Or is the whole extension cord thing only because its a 400w?

NO one here has givin you a legitmate answer here, so let me clarify. You cannot wire ANY HID lamp to direct current from a wall. They MUST have a ballast. The ballast provides a 5000V+ Arc to ignite the lamp, once the lamp ignites it can then sustain at regular 120V. To try and wire dirct will provide you no results at all It simply will not work.

SECOND, you CAN run your ballast off an extention cord, provided it is rated to 30% higher than the wattage load of your bulb. Although it's not concidered wise to do so. 400W ballasts should be ok with your heavy duty garden variety extention cord.I know i do this myself with no issues.

 

[rhino1111]

NO one here has givin you a legitmate answer here, so let me clarify. You cannot wire ANY HID lamp to direct current from a wall. They MUST have a ballast. The ballast provides a 5000V+ Arc to ignite the lamp, once the lamp ignites it can then sustain at regular 120V. To try and wire dirct will provide you no results at all It simply will not work.

SECOND, you CAN run your ballast off an extention cord, provided it is rated to 30% higher than the wattage load of your bulb. Although it's not concidered wise to do so. 400W ballasts should be ok with your heavy duty garden variety extention cord.I know i do this myself with no issues.

kk my extension cord is pretty heavy duty. its rated Maximum: 15amp 125V 60Ghz. able to plug into it safely. also it has 6 grounded plugs. ive been told it will be safe to attach the ballast to a surge protector, then that into the extension which will run into my wall plug.

hopefully i dont burn my house down, the wife would chop my balls off while i sleep.

 

[carl.burnette]

If your going to use a cord.. make sure its rated for the power you need.

Simplified.. Get the expensive one. Big thick extension cord.. Look in the professional tool area of the big box stores. Tell them you need a cord that will run a 15amp chop saw. 50' away from the plug..

The cords gonna cost you about $100.00 but whats your safety worth You can get cheaper but I wouldn't

 

[rhino1111]

If your going to use a cord.. make sure its rated for the power you need.

Simplified.. Get the expensive one. Big thick extension cord.. Look in the professional tool area of the big box stores. Tell them you need a cord that will run a 15amp chop saw. 50' away from the plug..

The cords gonna cost you about $100.00 but whats your safety worth You can get cheaper but I wouldn't

my current extension is rated 15Amps w/ grounded plugs.

 

[carl.burnette]

Its not the 15 amps that the problem.. Even the cheap ass dollar store ones are rated for 15 amps. Its the distance. The further away from the power source the thicker the wire needs to be to prevent dropping of the juice. Low juice will burn out anything electrical plugged into it.

You could also, if you handy, buy a 25' chunk of Romex 14/3 or 12/3 I think & put ends on it. Make your own extension cord. Ask the guy in the electrical department & he can advise you on the size of wire you need.

Seems like a lot, but if you have a fire you'll be damn glad you did it correcly. Insurance companies don;t like when you mess with electrical. Just buy the cord

To be honest. You can probably spend less then $100.00. I just like to throw money away

Stay alert.. Play safe

 

[carl.burnette]

Its not the 15 amps that the problem.. Even the cheap ass dollar store ones are rated for 15 amps. Its the distance. The further away from the power source the thicker the wire needs to be to prevent dropping of the juice. Low juice will burn out anything electrical plugged into it.

You could also, if you handy, buy a 25' chunk of Romex 14/3 or 12/3 I think & put ends on it. Make your own extension cord. Ask the guy in the electrical department & he can advise you on the size of wire you need.

Seems like a lot, but if you have a fire you'll be damn glad you did it correctly. Insurance companies don;t like when you mess with electrical. Just buy the cord

To be honest. You can probably spend less then $100.00. I just like to throw money away

Stay alert.. Play safe

 

[rhino1111]

Its not the 15 amps that the problem.. Even the cheap ass dollar store ones are rated for 15 amps. Its the distance. The further away from the power source the thicker the wire needs to be to prevent dropping of the juice. Low juice will burn out anything electrical plugged into it.

You could also, if you handy, buy a 25' chunk of Romex 14/3 or 12/3 I think & put ends on it. Make your own extension cord. Ask the guy in the electrical department & he can advise you on the size of wire you need.

Seems like a lot, but if you have a fire you'll be damn glad you did it correctly. Insurance companies don;t like when you mess with electrical. Just buy the cord

To be honest. You can probably spend less then $100.00. I just like to throw money away

Stay alert.. Play safe

its not gonna be far from the power source like 3 feet max. if i go measure the length of the wire/ thickness and come back and report can u tell me if it will be safe?

 

[rhino1111]

its not gonna be far from the power source like 3 feet max. if i go measure the length of the wire/ thickness and come back and report can u tell me if it will be safe?

Its about 4' long and about 1/2" thick

 

[carl.burnette]

Oh.. That kind of distance you can just buy a plug designed for a car. LIke the small thick cords we buy up here in Canada to plug the engine heaters in over night. Short but designed for high draw.

Cost maybe $15.00 & they are about 6' long.

You may not need it for such a short distance but I like to be safe.