electrical safety Q's

so this will be my first grow and i need to know about electrical safety. im worried about fires no doubt. i will be useing about 800 watts total including lights fans everything. im in canada my house uses 120volt outlets. i have three power outlets in my room where my grow cabient will be. how much wattage can i put on each outlet? i've been reading the forums about circits and stuff amps and volts and watts, im kind of confused.
 

tat2ue

Well-Known Member
Don't know how it is in Canada but in the states, a standard room circuit is ran on a 15 amp breaker with 14 ga wire. Your total load for this circuit should not exceed 80% (12 amps total). If you try to max out your circuits then you are looking at a good possibility of an electrical fire. If you look at the information stickers on all your electrical devices they should show the total amp requirment for each device. If you have more than the allowable amount for 1 circuit then you can try to find another seperate circuit and run an exten cord and run your smaller items such as fans,air pumps,res pumps ect on this one. If you have any friends that are in the electrical trade it is best to run a seperate dedicated circuit for a grow op. Good luck




so this will be my first grow and i need to know about electrical safety. im worried about fires no doubt. i will be useing about 800 watts total including lights fans everything. im in canada my house uses 120volt outlets. i have three power outlets in my room where my grow cabient will be. how much wattage can i put on each outlet? i've been reading the forums about circits and stuff amps and volts and watts, im kind of confused.
 
G

guitarabuser

Guest
Keep in mind that all of those outlets are very likely on a single circuit (one breaker or fuse). That means you have to add up the amperage that all three loaded outlets will draw.
 

Mr.Bob Saget

Active Member
Keep in mind that all of those outlets are very likely on a single circuit (one breaker or fuse). That means you have to add up the amperage that all three loaded outlets will draw.
Exactly, more than likely they are all on the same breaker, you would need to test to find out 100%. Very easy to do.

But you should be able to run the setup on a single circuit just fine, I would try to keep other devices off of the circuit if you can.
 

Phenom420

Well-Known Member
Don't know how it is in Canada but in the states, a standard room circuit is ran on a 15 amp breaker with 14 ga wire. Your total load for this circuit should not exceed 80% (12 amps total). If you try to max out your circuits then you are looking at a good possibility of an electrical fire. If you look at the information stickers on all your electrical devices they should show the total amp requirment for each device. If you have more than the allowable amount for 1 circuit then you can try to find another seperate circuit and run an exten cord and run your smaller items such as fans,air pumps,res pumps ect on this one. If you have any friends that are in the electrical trade it is best to run a seperate dedicated circuit for a grow op. Good luck
I am going to run a 125amp branch and breaker box to my grow room and I use almost 24amps

Def a dedicated branch with atleast 15-20amps is a def good idea. Copper wire, not aluminum (it melts easier).
12ga, 14 ga is shitty thin like what they use in trailers, it's not good, 10ga is awesome, you wont melt it, it's used in 220 apps alot. Im not a electrician, but I've wired many a homes and they are all still there and never had a problem.
 

tat2ue

Well-Known Member
The best way is to find the breaker or fuse that powers the circuit you intend to use. Make sure it is off and simply plug in a lamp to all the surounding wall outlets and see which plugs are on that circuit (lamp won't light). Also keep in mind that some of your ceiling lights will be in these circuits also and you have to take their amp load into consideration.
 

Phenom420

Well-Known Member
The best way is to find the breaker or fuse that powers the circuit you intend to use. Make sure it is off and simply plug in a lamp to all the surounding wall outlets and see which plugs are on that circuit (lamp won't light). Also keep in mind that some of your ceiling lights will be in these circuits also and you have to take their amp load into consideration.
Again the best way is to wire your own branch, that way you know the connection all the way and noone else's half assing will burn your home, plants, and maybe you with it. Trust me loads of homes have half baked wiring and do you want to risk jail, being hurt, or killed to someone else's "skill", especially if you don't even know anything about. Come one. Sry to argue with ya man but your way is the cheap and quick way, sure it might work, but it sure can ruin your day just as easy.
Do it right and keep growing.
 

tat2ue

Well-Known Member
I totally agree with you all the way around. But if he is just running a 400w and a fan and a cpl pumps he would be fine. I am a firm believer in a seperate and dedicated circuits for a grow op. Mine has a dedicated 240v for lights (4 x 1000w ) and 2 dedicated 120v circuits for all my other accesories like my resv pumps (4) fans(6) air pumps (4) CO2 gen (1) overhead green CFL's for night work (4) and 1 shitty radio/ 8 track tape player (I'm old school). If I didn't use seperate dedicated circuits my house would no doubt be a huge pile of sooty ashes and I would be wearing a bright orande jump suit stamping out license plates for a career. I'm on your side my brudda

Again the best way is to wire your own branch, that way you know the connection all the way and noone else's half assing will burn your home, plants, and maybe you with it. Trust me loads of homes have half baked wiring and do you want to risk jail, being hurt, or killed to someone else's "skill", especially if you don't even know anything about. Come one. Sry to argue with ya man but your way is the cheap and quick way, sure it might work, but it sure can ruin your day just as easy.
Do it right and keep growing.
 

kush bush

Member
sorry to but in but can some one please explane how to start my one thred, im new to this, where do i go from the log on screen?
 
hmmm i c, so i have to go to the electrical panel and shut off all the circits expect one, and then go to my room and try plugging in a device in all those outlets to see which circits there are on. gonna be a bit challanging, someone is always home, there gonna be like what the fuck you up too? i'll have to be careful about the time i do this. thanks for the replies guys. how do i +rep i cant find the button?
 

Phenom420

Well-Known Member
hmmm i c, so i have to go to the electrical panel and shut off all the circits expect one, and then go to my room and try plugging in a device in all those outlets to see which circits there are on. gonna be a bit challanging, someone is always home, there gonna be like what the fuck you up too? i'll have to be careful about the time i do this. thanks for the replies guys. how do i +rep i cant find the button?
Its at the top of the persons post, looks like a scarle.... right hand side, next ot the report post buttom and the post number is to the left of it (#1 ect)
 

mrmadcow

Well-Known Member
.... gonna be a bit challanging, someone is always home, there gonna be like what the fuck you up too? i'll have to be careful about the time i do this....
are you are growing in a house w/ others that dont know about it? not cool!! they can get busted as well.
 
im 22 but i mean its not anything big right just a cabinet grow. i thought about that too and thought it would be pretty hard to get busted with a small grow if i did everything right. im 22 btw.
 

tat2ue

Well-Known Member
Just a side note. If for some twist of fate you do get busted, a DA can bring up charges of cultivation against the owner or lesee of the property.
 

Phenom420

Well-Known Member
Just a side note. If for some twist of fate you do get busted, a DA can bring up charges of cultivation against the owner or lesee of the property.
That does depend on the state, typically the land lord is left alone, unless they thought they knew about it, now that's different all the way around. Your talking conspiracy charges as well.

But seriously don't do that to your parent's or family. Come on.
 

Phenom420

Well-Known Member
im 22 but i mean its not anything big right just a cabinet grow. i thought about that too and thought it would be pretty hard to get busted with a small grow if i did everything right. im 22 btw.
But the big question now is, are you living with your parents, or family?
That's not good.
 
ya i am, but i would think the chances of getting busted on such a small grow would be minimal. i mean i just need to grow for myself really. but ya i dont think the owner would get charged. you guys kind of bugging me out, now im having second thoughts
 

mrmadcow

Well-Known Member
now im having second thoughts
I would not worry about a landlord as they are protected but if you are in your parents house,depending on your state laws, they can take the house along w/ busting everyone in it. do you think they will just nail you when they can collect fines from all the adults and possibly take your house?
for your parents or roommates, its a shitty thing to do to them.
take it outside or into your own apartment.
 
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