hey sparky. i just finished wiering up a digital ge 240v timer with 10-2 wire the timer will power 4 240 volt receptacles so i can eventually run 4 1000w ballasts @ 5amps each. i used white wire as a second hot like with a water heater on a 30amp breaker so theirs 2 hots and a ground this should work right ? i have 10-3 wire but the 240v timer is made for only 2 wire not 3, does this seem right to you ? iv wired a dozen or so houses my self so i have a clue just double cheking im going to cut of my ballast plug and put a 240v male end on it.
Experienced Electrician! Here to Answer Any and All Growroom Electrical Questions
- Thread starter bricktown73
- Start date
FreeLeaf
Active Member
I have a question. I will soon be upgrading to a small warehouse to produce MMJ for a co-op here in California and I have a question. I will be running one 1000w and 2 600w lamps in the flower chamber and three 600w lamps in the veg cave. Each chamber will also need fans and small A/C. I have been doing some research on exactly how to wire the lights correctly using high voltage contactors with built in timers but I can't find much out their. I Also need an enviromental control unit that will turn the A/C's on and off. Does anybody here have any experience with this? wiring diagrams? Links to product?
Thanks
Thanks
BigBudBalls
Well-Known Member
Just get the industrial contactors with 120VAC coils and use standard off the shelf timers to control the coils of the contactors.
No surprise you are having trouble finding a contactor with built in timer.
For the AC, depends on the AC itself. If just off the shelf window or portable is gonna be a bit tougher. Here you might want to look at industrial AC meant for cooling electrical cab. But buckle up, they are pricey.
If you know which end of the soldering iron to grab, hacking a window unit is quite possible. (just need a timer to keep it off for at least 10-15 minutes before starting up again. AC units don't like short cycling)
dakin3d
Well-Known Member
I have a few questions regarding wiring for a MMJ room, but I guess the bottom line Q is.... Should I wire an additional breaker box independent of the primary box (120V) that is used for the house even though it has available slots for additional individual breakers. I'm upgrading my room in an unfinished basement so that I can run 2x 1000W HPS (will add another 1000W lamp in 9 mos), 1x 400W MH, 1x 4' 4-bulb HO T5, Possibly a space heater (1500W), Dehumidifier (550W), 5x 396 gph pumps w/ recyclable timer, 1000V UPS (Batt backup), Sulfur burner, 'Cool Breeze' charcoal air purifier, 500cfm inline fan, 2x 3.5 light movers 6 rpm, and various other small peripheral items not to exceed 750W (ie, oscillating fans, small ozone emitter, Tanked CO2 on timer, etc.)
Would like to be able to expand to eventually utilize 4x total HPS lamps, a CO2 burner, a chiller, and small industrial A/C, but that is a couple years down the road... Would it be wise to be prepared now, or can it wait until then?
If I should add an additional box, should I go ahead and wire it at 240V, instead of 120V? Or will that just create problems w/ all of the other peripheral grow equipment besides the ballasts? I obviously live in the US.
I have limited experience, so reference materials, or anything that you can do to point me in the right direction is much appreciated. Thanks for your time.
Would like to be able to expand to eventually utilize 4x total HPS lamps, a CO2 burner, a chiller, and small industrial A/C, but that is a couple years down the road... Would it be wise to be prepared now, or can it wait until then?
If I should add an additional box, should I go ahead and wire it at 240V, instead of 120V? Or will that just create problems w/ all of the other peripheral grow equipment besides the ballasts? I obviously live in the US.
I have limited experience, so reference materials, or anything that you can do to point me in the right direction is much appreciated. Thanks for your time.
autoflowerer:)
Member
Hey everyone, great thread. First off I'd like to state before my question that im in the middle of my first grow and really dont know much at all(seriously) when it comes to electrical stuff... so i am very greatful for this thread.
First off, for an apartment, whats the highest wattage lamp you'd feel comfortable using without making the meter run extremely high and tell all to the meter reader? When a meter reader sees a high running meter, is it not a big deal as long as it isnt improbable that normal electronics would have caused it(how much wattage in lamps would that be). What would they need to see to make them go report something? Im running a 90w ufo and about 150-200w of cfls...and replaced the rest of our lights with 14w cfls, and our electric bill is like the same as before i started my grow. I wish I could upgrade to a 400w hps but im worried it will make our meter run way to high(150-25w hps is wat im thinkin ill have to settle for). I am also moving eventually into a house...how much wattage would u feel comfortable running in a house?
I was also looking at some lights on htg and there was an option to get a battery powered backup... pardon my ignorance seriously i know this might be a dumb question, but is it possible to run a hps of batteries(and it doesnt matter if id need a shitload to keep it going), just saw it and thot id ask.
thank you for your help again rep this thread is a great idea.
First off, for an apartment, whats the highest wattage lamp you'd feel comfortable using without making the meter run extremely high and tell all to the meter reader? When a meter reader sees a high running meter, is it not a big deal as long as it isnt improbable that normal electronics would have caused it(how much wattage in lamps would that be). What would they need to see to make them go report something? Im running a 90w ufo and about 150-200w of cfls...and replaced the rest of our lights with 14w cfls, and our electric bill is like the same as before i started my grow. I wish I could upgrade to a 400w hps but im worried it will make our meter run way to high(150-25w hps is wat im thinkin ill have to settle for). I am also moving eventually into a house...how much wattage would u feel comfortable running in a house?
I was also looking at some lights on htg and there was an option to get a battery powered backup... pardon my ignorance seriously i know this might be a dumb question, but is it possible to run a hps of batteries(and it doesnt matter if id need a shitload to keep it going), just saw it and thot id ask.
thank you for your help again rep this thread is a great idea.
dakin3d
Well-Known Member
First thing you should do is research your cost/kwh. Then you can do the math that will tell you not only how much energy you will actually use, but the cost to run your lamp. I can tell you that a 400W HID is NOT going to 'tip off' an employee of the power company. Not even if it ran constantly (mine did during veg). I know this from experience, and I pay .12 (cents)/kwh. Kinda pricey, but certain states/areas will be more, including CA. IMHO, you could get away w/ a 600W easily, and depending on the size of your apt, even 1x 1000W HID. You have an entertainment system (ie, nice TV, surround sound), run the dryer, stove, and microwave a lot, have a girlfriend who spends the night and runs her blow dryer for an hour everyday, etc, for all they know. (Assuming you have laundry facilities.... if not, it STILL doesn't matter.)
You should be more concerned w/ light leaks, foot traffic, paranoia, and odor, more than anything. Hope this helps. I'm sure others will be able to offer up some useful info, as well. Stay safe and Happy Growing!
autoflowerer:)
Member
First thing you should do is research your cost/kwh. Then you can do the math that will tell you not only how much energy you will actually use, but the cost to run your lamp. I can tell you that a 400W HID is NOT going to 'tip off' an employee of the power company. Not even if it ran constantly (mine did during veg). I know this from experience, and I pay .12 (cents)/kwh. Kinda pricey, but certain states/areas will be more, including CA. IMHO, you could get away w/ a 600W easily, and depending on the size of your apt, even 1x 1000W HID. You have an entertainment system (ie, nice TV, surround sound), run the dryer, stove, and microwave a lot, have a girlfriend who spends the night and runs her blow dryer for an hour everyday, etc, for all they know. (Assuming you have laundry facilities.... if not, it STILL doesn't matter.)
You should be more concerned w/ light leaks, foot traffic, paranoia, and odor, more than anything. Hope this helps. I'm sure others will be able to offer up some useful info, as well. Stay safe and Happy Growing!
Thank you very much for the information and for getting back to me so fast. I am glad to hear you say uve ran 400watters with no problem. As for light leaks Ive got that covered, literally noone knows or comes here, odor is at bay, and i am still pretty paranoid lol. But ya man once again thanks. Keep growin!
igrowdro
Well-Known Member
how many lights you planning on using
BigBudBalls
Well-Known Member
Nope. The timer controls the relay/contactor.
BigBudBalls
Well-Known Member
so thats 240-290 watts. A 400W will use about 450W from the outlet. Not a huge jump
Battery back up? Power go out a lot? disrupting the lights on isn't near a prob as disrupting the lights off. If power outages is an issue, I suggest using the UPS to power a few CFLs.
BigBudBalls
Well-Known Member
No and no. Its been said that a MH in a HPS ballast should work. THe HPS has an igniter, the MH doesn't. Seems to be the only diff.
Using a different wattage bulb is also frowned upon. The ballast is a current limiting device, keeps the bulb's draw in check.
phatsexygirlz
Active Member
How much should an electrician in CA charge for installing a 50 amp outlet?
Basically I want to know how much an electrician would charge to install that. I was given an estimate at about $150, just wanted to know if that's reasonable. The 50 amp outlet will be going in right below my panel box (125 amps), on the corner of the house, and I am providing the outlet ( http://tinyurl.com/29fdbm ) myself.
Basically I want to know how much an electrician would charge to install that. I was given an estimate at about $150, just wanted to know if that's reasonable. The 50 amp outlet will be going in right below my panel box (125 amps), on the corner of the house, and I am providing the outlet ( http://tinyurl.com/29fdbm ) myself.
curioushiker
Active Member
You should use a pre-built (wired) relay. C.A.P. makes a MLC8 that will handle your needs. I should be wired 240v to keep the amps down.2 600's and a 1000 for flowering and three 600's for vegin. thank you for responding.
Sentinel also makes one as well
BigBudBalls
Well-Known Member
Putting in a 50A outlet from a 125A service? I'd first so an audit and see if you can put in a 50A outlet.
$150 sounds a tiny bit high. But the 'house call' is probably $50 of that.
Short piece of wire, short piece of conduit, conduit fittings and boxes. Might be about right.
Estimates are always uber tough when not there. Can't see whats involved.