Wiring drivers in parallel on the AC side?

AtterStiga

AtterStiga

Well-Known Member
Okay, so I know how to choose a driver. I know how to wire pretty much everything on my first diy cob light. The driver is pretty self-explanatory, and you'd have to be not paying attention to mess that up. Not to say I won't, but you know. Trying to use what I've hopefully learned, I have an idea that I'd love to get input on. I think it's how it should be done, but I really feel like getting it confirmed before I commit to it.

I have 3 hlg185h-c1400. But I want to gather it on one plug on the ac. Can I connect the ac wires on wagos together? Obviously, blue to blue, ground to ground, etc. And then connecting the corresponding wires from the power outlet?

In my head that would in reality be the same as having individual power source. In the water analogy, I just split the current and run it through my machines and then the stream join up again. It's merely happening in the wagos and not in the walls.

Is this correct procedure? Will everything explode?

Sorry for not being able to write coherently. But it would be really nice to not have 3 power lines. Is it because everyone knows how to do this/knows this is crazy that I can't find it in all the threads?
 
AtterStiga

AtterStiga

Well-Known Member
DeMoNeye said:
Worth watching the entire series...

Click to expand...
I should have known it was there I got the idea. Can you guys believe that someone in the western world don't have fast enough internet access to watch YouTube? Lucky I know people who do, so tomorrow. Thank you for the link, that video got swamped in all the information.
 
CobKits

CobKits

Well-Known Member
answer is yes but get a junction box. wagos and wire nuts are fine but you never want them loose with AC. use em, but in a box, where they are free from stress that can separate/damage them. home depot sells pvc 4x4 jboxes for $5 and they have cord fittings for them, you have to drill the equivalent of a 1/2" knockout (1/2" being nominal size for conduit, emt, flex, etc - the hole itself prob closer to 3/4")
 
AtterStiga

AtterStiga

Well-Known Member
CobKits said:
answer is yes but get a junction box. wagos and wire nuts are fine but you never want them loose with AC. use em, but in a box, where they are free from stress that can separate/damage them. home depot sells pvc 4x4 jboxes for $5 and they have cord fittings for them, you have to drill the equivalent of a 1/2" knockout (1/2" being nominal size for conduit, emt, flex, etc - the hole itself prob closer to 3/4")
Click to expand...
Actually bought a lot of boxes, was planning on putting all the connections in them. I'll be running remote drivers so box for ac, another for pots and I'm planning on putting one on each bar to make it look cleaner. When I researched the wagos I came across a box made specifically to keep wagos tight and safe. That's for my next project lol. Thank you for the input.
 
V

VegasWinner

Well-Known Member
AtterStiga said:
Okay, so I know how to choose a driver. I know how to wire pretty much everything on my first diy cob light. The driver is pretty self-explanatory, and you'd have to be not paying attention to mess that up. Not to say I won't, but you know. Trying to use what I've hopefully learned, I have an idea that I'd love to get input on. I think it's how it should be done, but I really feel like getting it confirmed before I commit to it.

I have 3 hlg185h-c1400. But I want to gather it on one plug on the ac. Can I connect the ac wires on wagos together? Obviously, blue to blue, ground to ground, etc. And then connecting the corresponding wires from the power outlet?

In my head that would in reality be the same as having individual power source. In the water analogy, I just split the current and run it through my machines and then the stream join up again. It's merely happening in the wagos and not in the walls.

Is this correct procedure? Will everything explode?

Sorry for not being able to write coherently. But it would be really nice to not have 3 power lines. Is it because everyone knows how to do this/knows this is crazy that I can't find it in all the threads?
Click to expand...
You can connect up to six I believe mean well allows on one circuit due to inrush current issues. I recommend four max for a factor of safety. Of course this arrangment applies to the185h series and the 240h series. Not sure past that. Peace
 
AtterStiga

AtterStiga

Well-Known Member
VegasWinner said:
You can connect up to six I believe mean well allows on one circuit due to inrush current issues. I recommend four max for a factor of safety. Of course this arrangment applies to the185h series and the 240h series. Not sure past that. Peace
Click to expand...
Thanks, that's really good info. Do you know if I'll get a problem by using a regular timer? Those specialty timers cost a lot of money, three times+ what you guys get them for.
 
Airwalker16

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
AtterStiga said:
Thanks, that's really good info. Do you know if I'll get a problem by using a regular timer? Those specialty timers cost a lot of money, three times+ what you guys get them for.
Click to expand...
I can say I've ALWAYS used a basic timer with no problems whatsoever. For yeas it's been great for me.
 
V

VegasWinner

Well-Known Member
AtterStiga said:
Thanks, that's really good info. Do you know if I'll get a problem by using a regular timer? Those specialty timers cost a lot of money, three times+ what you guys get them for.
Click to expand...
I used timers that I used for my HPS systems, mechanical and NOT cheap. Digital does not work for long. Get good timers. commercial break. It just so happens I designed and built an 8 channel 5v/10v pwm led controller, called GrowGreen. Pm me if you want to know more. It solves your problem. back to your regularly scheduled programming. If you use timers I would only put two drivers on a common plug, as you do not want to have to much current running on startup at one time. I would look at timers for 400/600 w HPS lights, best used to be around $50, I don't know what they cost now. Mine lasted for years until I went LED. good luck. peace.
 
AtterStiga

AtterStiga

Well-Known Member
VegasWinner said:
I used timers that I used for my HPS systems, mechanical and NOT cheap. Digital does not work for long. Get good timers. commercial break. It just so happens I designed and built an 8 channel 5v/10v pwm led controller, called GrowGreen. Pm me if you want to know more. It solves your problem. back to your regularly scheduled programming. If you use timers I would only put two drivers on a common plug, as you do not want to have to much current running on startup at one time. I would look at timers for 400/600 w HPS lights, best used to be around $50, I don't know what they cost now. Mine lasted for years until I went LED. good luck. peace.
Click to expand...
I'll be running cheap timers until I can prioritise fancy timers lol. But I will use the timer to control a relay I used for flip flopping 600w hps back in the day. Really just hoped to save myself some work.
 
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