Electric Question
- Thread starter wdldtoker
- Start date
it depends where you live if your in the us then you probally have 120v and you would want a 20 amp breaker for each to be safe and have no breaker trips. the ohms law formula will help you figure it out watts/volts=amp. but most lights use 110 not 120v so use 110 for you calculation. Also some lights use higher powered ballasts which make them use less amps. the light should say how many amps it uses. Always leave leeway room on the breaker and never max it out. thats why i would go with a 20 amp for each light yoiu could get away with a 15 amp for each but you dont want the breakers tripping. Also make sure you got the right gauge wire. use 12-2 for 20 amp and you could use 14-2 for a 15 amp. BUT DO NOT USE 14 wire for a 20 amp circuit. Always be safer then you need to be with electric. Hope that helps i am an electrician so if i can help you with anything else lemme know
banter
Active Member
WOW! great advice!!!!!, what an asset to have an electrician on board. There are far to many accidents with in the community. electricity is scary, not to be fucked with. My buddy burnt his rented house down a few years ago ( the idiot!!! ) now he's fucked.
take care and have fun.
take care and have fun.
VictorVIcious
Well-Known Member
Are there any unused spot in the breaker box? VV
VictorVIcious
Well-Known Member
And where is it compared to the area you want to grow in? The information you need to install new breakers is in that book. You will need to know what brand ie Square D etc. are in the box now. VV
VictorVIcious
Well-Known Member
Well, that is convinient. You will of course want to keep a foot or so way from it. When planning your electric don't make the same mistake I did. I installed duplex plugs all around both sides of the room, four separate circuits for each side. I should have put switches for the lights closer to my work area and I would have been better off to have the duplexes for the lights close to the switches. Dealing with timers behind a table of plants is dumb. Always remember TURN THE SWITCH OFF FIRST AND ON LAST. If it doesn't work TURN OFF THE SWITCH. Now check for problems. DO NOT WORK ON A LIVE CIRCUIT.
I would recommend a trip to a couple of the big box stores in your area, like Lowe's, Menards, Home Depot. You want to know how much the 20 amp, and 15 amp breaker switches are that fit you box. Sometimes they carry boxes of (10) for much less per switch. In any case they should be less than $5.00 each. I would plan at least (4) circuits for each station. If you are using DWC you would like to have it on a separate circuit, one for the light, one for the fans etc. This would give you enough so if you need to add something like a dehumidifier or whatever you don't have to have another new circuit. Few hundred bucks should cover it. You will also want a couple of circuits for the air handling system. Buying quantity, like a 100' instead of 25' or a box of ten instead of 6 individually saves you money. Switches, duplexs receptcles and work boxes are not expensive. The (20) amp receptacles are around $3.00 each and are necessary for a 'safe' installation. Wire nuts and the like come in quantities as well. The difference between doing it yourself and hiring it done will be about $1000.00 so pick up some decent electric tools if you don't have them. VV
I would recommend a trip to a couple of the big box stores in your area, like Lowe's, Menards, Home Depot. You want to know how much the 20 amp, and 15 amp breaker switches are that fit you box. Sometimes they carry boxes of (10) for much less per switch. In any case they should be less than $5.00 each. I would plan at least (4) circuits for each station. If you are using DWC you would like to have it on a separate circuit, one for the light, one for the fans etc. This would give you enough so if you need to add something like a dehumidifier or whatever you don't have to have another new circuit. Few hundred bucks should cover it. You will also want a couple of circuits for the air handling system. Buying quantity, like a 100' instead of 25' or a box of ten instead of 6 individually saves you money. Switches, duplexs receptcles and work boxes are not expensive. The (20) amp receptacles are around $3.00 each and are necessary for a 'safe' installation. Wire nuts and the like come in quantities as well. The difference between doing it yourself and hiring it done will be about $1000.00 so pick up some decent electric tools if you don't have them. VV