Offering Electrical / Control Circuit / Programming Help

I sent what I think is a pm might be something else said conversation. I’ve not really figured out how to pm hope that works. It’s the gavita pro 1000e 208-240 SL for anyone else wondering. Pulls between 4.5-5.2 amps at 240v

Overcomplicatotron said:

Which Gavita Model?

The Pro 1000 DE uses about 4.5 - 5.5 amps at 240.

5.5 amps x 4 lights x 1.2 (20% derated) = 26.4 amps

There is a bunch to consider... Giving vague electrical advice on here kinda sketches me out... I don't want anyone getting hurt. Shoot me a PM with more details and I can give you more specific instructions.

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I realized you knew this already...

Apalchen said:

I sent what I think is a pm might be something else said conversation. I’ve not really figured out how to pm hope that works. It’s the gavita pro 1000e 208-240 SL for anyone else wondering. Pulls between 4.5-5.2 amps at 240v

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When you crank them up to full over speed they pull 1200W; 1150 for the lamp and another 50W for the ballast.

Amps=Watts/Volts, so 5A BUT don't forget the 20% headroom for safety, that's another Amp for a total of 6A per light at 240V.

6A x 4 lamps is 24A@240V, so you'll be fine with a 30A circuit. There's even enough room on it for some fans and such if you know how to split and balance the 240V circuit correctly.

So...

Full disclaimer... You should have an electrician look at your setup. BUT if you are like the typical grower, I know you won't so here is some advice. I don't know your skill level, so here's the basics. If you have specific questions, you can shoot me another message. Especially when you get ready to do the work. I would be happy to elaborate, and do a photo inspection of your work.

I attached a photo of the general idea, use 10 gauge wire. I drew it up with rigid couplings and chase nipples between the panel and the boxes.

If this isn't enough information for you to get it done, hit me up and I can try to help a little more, but, if you have a buddy that knows electrical, it might be worth throwing him some nuggets to help you out. Electrical is not something to take lightly.

Thank you man I have talked to my ac guy and he gonna do some wiring for me while here figured best to have someone that knows what they are doing do it for safety reasons. I’ll pay close attention so I know for next time.

Hi all, I could use some help configuring the electric for 18k watts. My room is 75ft from my main panel and I am not sure which way would be best to run the power. Was thinking 100A subpanel w 3 30A circuits each running 6 lights at 240v. My other option is running those 3 circuits from the main or splitting it up between 2 50A runs.

The room already has plenty of 120v so I don't need any additional outlets there. Additionally I am running 2 40A circuits for my mini splits which will be 100ft from the main, what wire size will be sufficient at that distance 4?

I'm open to any ideas you all have, thanks in advance!

I'm running iluminar 1k de with the iluminar lighting controller

Iluminarlighting.com/touchcontroller

hicountry1 said:

Hi all, I could use some help configuring the electric for 18k watts. My room is 75ft from my main panel and I am not sure which way would be best to run the power. Was thinking 100A subpanel w 3 30A circuits each running 6 lights at 240v. My other option is running those 3 circuits from the main or splitting it up between 2 50A runs.

The room already has plenty of 120v so I don't need any additional outlets there. Additionally I am running 2 40A circuits for my mini splits which will be 100ft from the main, what wire size will be sufficient at that distance 4?

I'm open to any ideas you all have, thanks in advance!

I'm running iluminar 1k de with the iluminar lighting controller

Iluminarlighting.com/touchcontroller

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40 Amp feed for AC at 100 feet I would recommend #6 copper to prevent voltage drops.

You could install one of these for lighting:

https://heavygardens.com/titan-controls-spartan-series-metal-20-light-controller-240-volt-w-timer-universal-outlets.html?fee=15&fep=18354&utm_source=google-feed&utm_medium=shopping feed&utm_campaign=SCFeed&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&adpos=1o1&scid=scplp703016&sc_intid=703016&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4qWy3bn05AIV8iCtBh1d4AmuEAQYASABEgKiBPD_BwE

Thats the simple solution. At 75 feet you may wanna upsize the wire one notch to prevent voltage drop.

A 100 amp feed would let you use 80 amps. I would recommend hooking up the lighting using a 125 amp feed so you will have 100 usable amps. 18,000 / 240 = 75 amps. Thats if the lights only draw 1000 watts but I bet they pull a little more since there is a loss in the ballast, plus they may have an overdrive setting. Use the ballast name plate rating for amps at 240 volts and multiply that by 18 lights to get your required amperage.

If you don't want to use the lighting controller you can make up a 125 amp sub panel and pull 20 amp 240v feeds, each for 2 lights. That would require 18 breaker spaces for 9 240v circuits so you can't use a small panel. You just need a subpanel with main lugs, no main breaker in the sub panel as the breaker is upstream in your main switch panel. Don't forget the ground bus.
You do NOT use the green bonding screw on a sub panel, only at service entry.

Also, make sure that your homes panel will take a 125 amp breaker lol. Some brands don't make the 125 amp breaker size. Also, something you will need to do (most likely) is add a piggy back neutral lug to accept the large gauge wire. Possibly on the ground bus as well.

That’s great info, lights run at 4.6A each so I need 82.8A total. The only problem I see with using the controller box is just logistics with the plugs. I have an iponic master controller for the room and the digital Luminar lighting controller as well. I’ve wired tons of 40 and 50 Amp grows in the past but this one is a bit more complex and I’m just unsure the best way to go about it.

If I do the sub panel what type of wire will I need to go 75 ft? Any value in splitting up the load into smaller circuits for simplicity?

hicountry1 said:

Any value in splitting up the load into smaller circuits for simplicity?

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How is that simpler? You are breaking them down at the sub panel.

I would personally use 1/0 Copper for the 125 amp run, at that distance voltage drop starts to become a factor. #1 Copper would be standard and you can probably get away with that. If you wanna go Aluminum I would use 2/0 or 3/0. We could get all mathy with voltage drop calculations but I doubt it's required here.

Using a service entry cable would technically be frowned upon but it could be a lot cheaper. To code this installation would use conduit and most likely THWN or THHN. You can't use a 90 degree rating since no breaker will have a rating higher than 75.

https://www.cerrowire.com/products/resources/tables-calculators/ampacity-charts/

Actually I checked and at that distance there is no need to upsize, #1 copper or 2/0 Aluminum.

is there any reason i cant run three 30A circuits w 6 lights on each just pigtailing each box?

hicountry1 said:

is there any reason i cant run three 30A circuits w 6 lights on each just pigtailing each box?

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They don't make 30 amp rated receptacles that will take your light cords. A 30 amp should only be used for commercial lighting that is hard wired (no plugs).

Also know that a 30 amp feed will only carry around 24 amps before the breaker trips.

I hardwired my lights in a junction box because couldn't find the right recepticle. Guy I had helping with electric convinced me it was just one more part to fail and cause safety issue. I don't know if was right choice or not but works great.

Apalchen said:

I hardwired my lights in a junction box because couldn't find the right recepticle. Guy I had helping with electric convinced me it was just one more part to fail and cause safety issue. I don't know if was right choice or not but works great.

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All depends, if you hardwired the ballasts to a high amperage circuit then it's bad news since a short in a ballast could draw a LOT more than it should before tripping a breaker.

I got busy and forgot all about this until just now. So I forgot to look and see but I'm pretty sure that they are 20 amp breakers with 2 lights per breaker. I'll def check when get home, I got a guy coming to run a gas line for c02 generator, if something isnt right i can have him correct it.