Now for the Electricity aspect of my grow :-/

I have 4x 600w HPS and MH lights. My first grow I was only using the 1 600 so I didn't really have to worry about electrical. I want to bump it up and use 3 600w lights but I cant just go plugging that into the wall as I will prob burn my bloody house down lol.

Just want some opinion on what most people do when they hit this hurdle. I have a couple of electrician friends but I do not really want to go asking them as then I will break the first mandatory rule of growing. DON'T TELL ANYONE!

How should I approach this

The best thing to do is plug your gear in ( ie, lights and fans,etc) day one when you move in even without plants so everything stays normal

He means can the lights exceed the amps needed safely. I would simply add another 20a breaker and be done with it. You will need a receptical though

BallinOnABudget said:

He means can the lights exceed the amps needed safely. I would simply add another 20a breaker and be done with it. You will need a receptical though

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Thanks for the quick replies...Wouldn't have a clue how to install one or even really what it does. Im assuming a circuit breaker cuts the power if there is too much electricity, correct? Sorry, I am basically at square 1 when it comes to electrical so be gentle

Ok, so I just had a quick google and figured out that you were basically referring to the safety aspect and not burning my house down lol

What if my lights were too much for a normal wall socket? How would I go about increasing my max capacity for that specific room in the house? That is what I am curious about. I know I can't just go ringing the local electrician as I am sure it would arouse suspicion. Just wondering what other people have done when wanting to get more juice to somewhere in their house.

ShazMo09 said:

Thanks for the quick replies...Wouldn't have a clue how to install one or even really what it does. Im assuming a circuit breaker cuts the power if there is too much electricity, correct? Sorry, I am basically at square 1 when it comes to electrical so be gentle

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Your breaker will prevent you from pulling too many amps and starting a fire. IMO it's time to look at a lighting controller and a dedicated 240v lighting feed.

ShazMo09 said:

Ok, so I just had a quick google and figured out that you were basically referring to the safety aspect and not burning my house down lol

What if my lights were too much for a normal wall socket? How would I go about increasing my max capacity for that specific room in the house? That is what I am curious about. I know I can't just go ringing the local electrician as I am sure it would arouse suspicion. Just wondering what other people have done when wanting to get more juice to somewhere in their house.

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Electricity is actually much simpler than it seems. My best advice is to look at how many amps your differntial is and calculate how many amps youre going to be needing. Then get a type C or D breaker and a contactor of how many amps you need for your lights.
I would say do your wiring with 4mm2 cable and should be fine for the potency you are using.
If youre scared call up an electriciian and say you arte planning to instal a sdauna in you extra room and you want to keep it on a timer so when you wake up its already rocking, and that you heard its best to put a contactor on the circuit and you want one even if he insists you dont need one.
I had a friend that just used a 16 amp breaker that had the ceiling lights for the house that he never really used, unplugged that circuit and plugged a circuit for his grow room thats another option.

Depends where your room is located in the house, in the basement it could be as easy as getting a electrician to throw a extra "washer and dryer outlet" in the basement, then run extentsion cords, the room into a sub panel where you can most likely did a diy on a easy pony panel with a couple breakers feeding outlets or plug directs into a lighting controller as mentioned above, or directly into lights(with the 120v dedicated "washer " outlet )...
If your on the second or main floor I would most likely go with the washer dryer deal again however your going to be looking at wall damage, etc...
To answer your questions there is no way to "up" the power in a individual room in your house,

Awesome guys...Cheers for the replies. I was looking at it as a very daunting aspect of setting up my new room..

JustADudeMan said:

Depends where your room is located in the house, in the basement it could be as easy as getting a electrician to throw a extra "washer and dryer outlet" in the basement, then run extentsion cords, the room into a sub panel where you can most likely did a diy on a easy pony panel with a couple breakers feeding outlets or plug directs into a lighting controller as mentioned above, or directly into lights(with the 120v dedicated "washer " outlet )...
If your on the second or main floor I would most likely go with the washer dryer deal again however your going to be looking at wall damage, etc...
To answer your questions there is no way to "up" the power in a individual room in your house,

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Unfortunatly I don't have a basement so it is just going to be in the spare bedroom. Its all good though. By the looks of things with what I am trying to accomplish I should be able to make do.

ShazMo09 said:

I have 4x 600w HPS and MH lights. My first grow I was only using the 1 600 so I didn't really have to worry about electrical. I want to bump it up and use 3 600w lights but I cant just go plugging that into the wall as I will prob burn my bloody house down lol.

Just want some opinion on what most people do when they hit this hurdle. I have a couple of electrician friends but I do not really want to go asking them as then I will break the first mandatory rule of growing. DON'T TELL ANYONE!

How should I approach this

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I'm no mind reader...but when you mention about a "bloody house", am I to assume your place of residence is in the United Kingdom?

Stevie51 said:

I'm no mind reader...but when you mention about a "bloody house", am I to assume your place of residence is in the United Kingdom?

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Aussie mate

ShazMo09 said:

Aussie mate

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Hey mate from here to. Keeping it simple the lights u will be running shouldbt effect anything at all.
If ur running 2400 watts should be fine in the on socket.
If u go to bunnings or kmart they sell them portable heatera that alone are about 2200 watt. So shouldnt hav an issue

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