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

http://www.ia.omron.com/product/item/e3jm2043h/

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I can't thank you enough!!!! I've been looking everywhere for one of these for weeks!!!

hey bricktown73, I have some questions for you, would you like me to email them or call you or you can email me. I have some pics of my room and am having problems with the breaker tripping in my room that all im running is my 1000w light, ballast and 2 heaters, but I still need to put my oscilating fan in and my exhaust. its on a 20 amp breaker, im comfortable with instructions to work on anything and I can take and send specific pics so you can walk me through it if you don't mind thx a lot. Ox

Hi bricktown, I have a question about my circuit load.
I have a 30 amp circuit in my home's electric fuse box that includes the laundry room and garage and it has a washer and dryer and two fridges that share the circuit, along with a few lights and tv equipment and the grow tent setup in the garage.
I was able to run a 700W cfl lights grow tent with fans and small heaters for a grow recently, but am very conscious that I may be near my circuit load limits.
I would like to be able to put in a second tent with a 600W hid light, fans, etc. but don't know if it will be ok.
How can I tell how much load is already on the circuit?
The main items are the dryer (3000W), the washer (1200W), and the two fridges (800 and 1000W each) and a grow tent with a 600 W light, plus fans, pumps, etc., and a 700W oil radiator.

Would it be possible to either shift some of the load to another circuit, or to install bigger fuse at the electric box? I am in Europe where the current is 240V.
Thanks.

Should I be concerned? Now that I moved everything to the new room. I have a concern with electricity. all of this on one breaker. Small window ac unit, 1000 watt light, 2 small fans, 1 inline fan, T5 4' 6 bulb, refridgerator, and my garage door opener.

MoNoXiDe211 said:

Should I be concerned? Now that I moved everything to the new room. I have a concern with electricity. all of this on one breaker. Small window ac unit, 1000 watt light, 2 small fans, 1 inline fan, T5 4' 6 bulb, refridgerator, and my garage door opener.

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I would say yes, you should be concerned. Even a 20 amp circuit would be a stretch.

1k=9 amps
window ac typically 5000 btu 5 amps

You should split it up.

well, its kinda hard to call an electrician now. what else could I do?

Hey how's it going. Got a couple questions for you. I have 9 15A receptacles 5 on a 20 amp breaker and the other four on another 20 a breaker on 10 awg. I want to do 30 amp breakers. Can I switch the receptacles to 30 amp and change the breakers to 30 amp 2 pole?

No additional circuits available?

Frostygreen said:

Hey how's it going. Got a couple questions for you. I have 9 15A receptacles 5 on a 20 amp breaker and the other four on another 20 a breaker on 10 awg. I want to do 30 amp breakers. Can I switch the receptacles to 30 amp and change the breakers to 30 amp 2 pole?

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Probably 12 gauge. I find it hard to believe it #10 wire.

I have a detached shed at my house that I am considering doing a small grow in (30 amps). Unfortunately its not wired for it. How much is it going to cost to run power to the shed and is it something I could do myself? (Guessing not) Does the cost relate to how much power need run out there? Is running 220 more expensive than 110? I understand that prices vary from location to location but a ballpark would be great and some understanding of the process.

To feed a detached structure you will be limited by code to one feed. Best to go with 240v and run say 50 amps to a sub panel out there so you can use it how you wish. How many feet and how hard a dig? Most of the cost is in labor, but wire gauge/length plays a part.

Usually going to be a 700 - 1200 job unless its really far or gotta bust concrete to trench.

SnapsProvolone said:

To feed a detached structure you will be limited by code to one feed. Best to go with 240v and run say 50 amps to a sub panel out there so you can use it how you wish. How many feet and how hard a dig? Most of the cost is in labor, but wire gauge/length plays a part.

Usually going to be a 700 - 1200 job unless its really far or gotta bust concrete to trench.

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Its under 30 feet from the back of my house to the likely panel location. My breaker box is underneath my house towards the front which would add another 20 feet. From that panel to the edge of the house would be pretty easy. There is a cement and pebble walkway that is between the house and the shed. Its about 3 feet wide. It might be possible to go under it? Then its all lawn and bushes although the lawn has a rise to it.

Would an electrician allow me to dig the trench to save costs? I have a roto-tiller would should make short work of the lawn. What is the most number of amps I could run on a smaller gauge wire and how much would you estimate that could save me?

I really appreciate the help. This is really helping me with the planning.

You could dig yourself, 18" deep mind you. Get utilities marked first.

At fifty feet I don't anticipate any voltage drop issues. Size conductors according to ampacity, no need to oversize.

#10 = 30 A
#8 = 40 A
#6 = 50 A

You really need to call a sparky out to give an estimate. Discuss how you can save by doing trenching and they will tell you what they want.

Doing this work w/o a permit could land you in hot water with the county.

SnapsProvolone said:

You could dig yourself, 18" deep mind you. Get utilities marked first.

At fifty feet I don't anticipate any voltage drop issues. Size conductors according to ampacity, no need to oversize.

#10 = 30 A
#8 = 40 A
#6 = 50 A

You really need to call a sparky out to give an estimate. Discuss how you can save by doing trenching and they will tell you what they want.

Doing this work w/o a permit could land you in hot water with the county.

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I'm hoping to do a similar job in my back yard, in the springtime.
But my electric box is in a part of the house near the front and I want the shed to be at the top of the back garden.

30ft of garden, 20 ft of house....

SNAPS[/B
Can you recommend a website or book that is a type of IDIOTS GUIDE to understanding domestic electrics....?

I don't intent to read it and try and do the work myself - I just want to better understand how it all works.

Amps, volts, watts, Ohms....???
I have a qualification in industrial radiography which meant learning about several different units of measurement and how they related to each other, plus I had to learn equations such as the inverse square law.
So I may be able to understand some easy guides....
If I could find one.

Well my guide is the current NEC code cycle but that's not what you want (British Standard).

There are plenty of DIY books at the hardware store. Just remember, just because it works doesn't mean it's correct or safe. Thus the code book.

Even if you don't DIY, doing what we are doing, you should have a solid understanding of electricital wiring and proper guaging. A good household wiring book can give you that basic understanding for a few bucks and an extended session on the throne! Highly recommended.

budleydoright said:

Even if you don't DIY, doing what we are doing, you should have a solid understanding of electricital wiring and proper guaging. A good household wiring book can give you that basic understanding for a few bucks and an extended session on the throne! Highly recommended.

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That is exactly my reason for wanting to learn.

Up to 6 weeks ago, I just plugged in things, without a second thought.
Now i'm using contactor relays with TWO PLUGS/CABLES and wondering if I can plug them into a normal extension cable....

Or if I need a different type of male IEC plug for my 1000w lead....?

but, most of all. my upstairs rooms have, ONE, ONE and TWO plug sockets.
An average of 1.33333 plug sockets each (if I don't count the stairs, hall or en suite toilet)
I need to run power upstairs using reel extensions.....

I NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S SAFE.

I would like to know what Wire Size I need to run for this ac ? Thank you in advance.

#6 unless manufacturer papers spec #4.