BucketGrower
Well-Known Member
Both wires say 105C on the wires... Just trying to replace a plug for an old oil heater but the only plug I have available to connect to the heater is 18AWG. The heater wire is 16 AWG. Thoughts? Don't do it?
Ok to connect 18AWG to 16AWG?
- Thread starter BucketGrower
- Start date
Highlife42
Well-Known Member
How many amps is your circuit?
BucketGrower
Well-Known Member
Don't know much about this stuff, last I heard it's 15 amp. Basic household outlet. Thanks for any help.
Highlife42
Well-Known Member
Np. Ill try my best from top my head. So, a smaller gauge wire/thicker=more conductive wire. If you go smaller and it cant handle the amperage, breaker will trip. Or worse. Wire fire. Honestly, not much of a big difference. If you are not running the thing 24/7... Id say you're good. If running for a long time with other things plugged into same outlet/breaker..etc.. Replace it with the same plug to avoid safety issues bro. Life is paramount to stupid shit thatll take ya out lol
BucketGrower
Well-Known Member
Maybe I'll just run my 600 hps for heat instead lol.
Highlife42
Well-Known Member
You're not doing that already? lol
BucketGrower
Well-Known Member
Good ole dual use HPS. Heat and light! Woot!
Highlife42
Well-Known Member
Oh yeah! So why the oil heater initially?
BucketGrower
Well-Known Member
I only have seedlings at the moment. Figured they'd be happy in the 2x2 tent with the heater going.
Highlife42
Well-Known Member
Lol. Has a 600watt hps but no seedling mat. comeeeonnn bro hehehe
BucketGrower
Well-Known Member
Haha yeah, I've been wanting one for a while. Probably something I should try at least once. But I only have a seedling stage maybe twice a year.
Highlife42
Well-Known Member
Dude, got one on deck for you. with monitor haha I have 2.. Amazon prime that beast! lol. Same here, but man. They keeps temps stable. How did you plant seedlings? solo cup...etc.. rockwool..?
BucketGrower
Well-Known Member
Put the little ladies into some small quarter gallon containers with canadian brand Gaia Green soil. Put them under 150 watt led. We shall see how things go!
Highlife42
Well-Known Member
Cool man. How do you know their ladies, female seeds?.. lol... Are the containers sittin out in the open ?
No, that is not ok! That is the sort of thing investigators look for after a fire.
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Doug Dawson
Well-Known Member
No, do not do this. 18 gauge wire is for things like lamps and max 10a, 16 gauge is light duty for like extension cords but 13 amps. I would not mix and match, just get the correct plug to be safe.
lusidghost
Well-Known Member
I had a space heater melt at the plug using 14 wire. I went 12 wire everything after that.
BucketGrower
Well-Known Member
Thanks for all the replies. I ended up finding the correct awg wire I had used for an older 400 hps. Hopefully there shouldn't be issues with this.
Don't worry bro, they're feminized seeds. In 2x2 tent atm. All is well ^^
getogrow
Well-Known Member
My MAIN issue is with these space heaters coming pre-wired in 16 gauge wire!
They KNOW people use them for more then just "space heat" and its so dangerous.A home owner could not understand why her wires were getting hot when her wiring and barn was all brand new. (I inspected ALL wiring. it was new and ran very good) She refused to believe a company could purposely sell a heater with wires getting hot so she blamed the wiring ....i came out and tried to explain it to her but im no good at explaining the truth to people. it dont hold a candle to "what the box says"
rant over ...sorry
BucketGrower
Well-Known Member
Yeah, the oil heater came without even a three pronged plug on top of that. Just your normal two-pronged.My MAIN issue is with these space heaters coming pre-wired in 16 gauge wire!
A home owner could not understand why her wires were getting hot when her wiring and barn was all brand new. (I inspected ALL wiring. it was new and ran very good) She refused to believe a company could purposely sell a heater with wires getting hot so she blamed the wiring ....i came out and tried to explain it to her but im no good at explaining the truth to people. it dont hold a candle to "what the box says"
rant over ...sorry