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4K ROOM

HOVAH2.0

Well-known member
Veteran
so im building my grow room that will use
4- 1k ballast
1- AC unit
1- 10inch exhaust fan

I want a subpanel from the main panel to supply the room.
What breaker should i use at the Main panel?
how many breakers will i need in the subpanel?


Im thinkin 1 50amp in the main panel
from the 50amp breaker run #8 wire to the subpanel,
then to 4- 20 amp breakers in the subpanel,
then run #10 wire from each 20amp breaker to power 8 recepticals,

for 2 receptical per 20 amp breaker. does this sound right? please give advise, thanks
 

frankenstein2

Astronaut Status
Veteran
I'm pretty sure you can't do that. You cant draw an estimated 80 amps from a 50 amp breaker. 50 amps is the most you can draw. You can run all that stuff @220 and hook up alot more than that if you wire the sub- panel for 110. Your still gonna use the same amount of power just less amps. Your 50 amp breaker will be plenty of power for your needs.
 

HOVAH2.0

Well-known member
Veteran
So its
1 50amp breaker in main panel
to
1 #8 awg 20ft long
to
grow room panel
2-20 amp breakers;1- 10amp breaker
to
4 receptical; 2 receptical
 

vta

Active member
Veteran
I'm pretty sure you can't do that. You cant draw an estimated 80 amps from a 50 amp breaker.

He doesn't have 80 amps of equipment ...the amount of breakers is irreverent as long as he keeps the total amperage below 45 amps.

I'm sure Rives will pop in here but here is my two cents. As long as your total load is 10+% less than the breaker your pulling off of...you can have unlimited downstream breakers.
 

HOVAH2.0

Well-known member
Veteran
60 AMP breaker in main panel
to #8 awg
to subpanel
15 amp breaker to---------- #10awg to 4 recepticals 2 lamps
15 amp breaker to ----------#10awg to 4 recepticals 2 lamps
20 amp breaker to---------- #10awg to 4 recepticals 10inchfan & AC, mis.equipment.

I was an electrican for 9 years with Eldeco electric in Atlanta but I havent pulled wire or ran any conduit for 4 years..... im buying an uglys book today, refresh my memory.
 

rives

Inveterate Tinkerer
Mentor
ICMag Donor
Veteran
Hiding in the Haze nailed it. 60 amp breaker requires #6 wire, #14 is adequate for a 15 amp circuit. Personally, I don't run anything smaller than #12, but it is larger than necessary. The 80% rule is for continuous loads (3+ hours), intermittent loads can bump up past that.

Thanks for the heads up, SS.
 

blaze02

Member
I would not use individual circuits for each light. then you have to run either a relay, like cap upm1, or in-line timers before the outlet, like a big intermatic.

I would:

+go 60 amp breaker in main panel, 6 gauge to your subpanel,

+buy a light controller, like caps mlc 4xd (i would buy the 8 light because the total amps drawn are the same <running 4k on a 4 mlc vs. a 8 mlc>and it gives you abillity to expand.)

+use appropriate breaker in your sub panel for the lighting controller (either 30 for mlc 4 or 50 for mlc 8)

+add 2 20 amp 120 circuits. One for fans, random shit like dehueys what not that may pop up later. The other only for your A/c, assuming it is 120 volt..



its always better to have that extra 10 amps. If you dont need it, no biggie. If you do youll be glad you have the capacity..

and the bigger light controller is nice too. its easy to set up a 4k room and realize you can throw 2 extras k's in there..


>>>>>also for reference: 1000w at 240 is 4.1 amp ( i calculate 4.5-5 to be safe) and 1000w at 120 is 8ish.(call it 9). Total wattage drawn is the same if its 240v or 120v. Never run a circuit more than 80% loaded, and never let total wattage of gear running off your sub panel to exceed 80% of your 60 amps @ 240 main breaker. 80% of 60 amps==48 amps@240==11,500 watts. anything higher than 11,500 (W) is unsafe. hope this helps...
 

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