S
sensibuds
Hello gals and ghouls.
I wanted to do this little thread and possibly have it stickied.
My post will be about fire prevention. From extinguishers to GFI's, smoke alarms and more.
This thread will be about grow room essentials, and possible problems. I would love for any and all of you to add to this so we can pack it full of useable information. Its all about the sharing.
A little about myself, I started in 1999 with every book i could get my hands on. From George Cervantes to Rob Clarke to Ed Rosenthal. Boy did i know it all, and diddn't have one plant in the pot!
Well that journey led to multiple obsticles. From mites to lockouts it was a learning experience to say the least. So back to the drawing board. I found a site called OG.com and became very active within the community. Not only reading all I could, but trying everything I could from multiple nutrient lines to various bulbs and techniques. I am in no way saying all the books i read weren't helpful, but these forums are able to answer questions that maynot be covered in any book.
I use this as stepping stone to help myself and others succeed.
So, here we go!
I would like to start fire
Yes, they happen.. From shorts, to fallen lights to pumps running hot and igniting. I have seen the results in person. It's not pretty.
Imagine coming home to the fire department dousing your place in water
Guess what they will get to see! Burnt ballasts, hoods and whatever else you may have.
So, where do we start.
Drywall
Are the rooms walls bare, as in no drywall? If so this is a concern.
Lets say we were to have a fire say, from a ballast or a bad outlet. Don't laugh, I have seen ballasts screwed to bare studs! What is to stop this fire from spreading now? Nothing..
Why is drywall fireproof though?
Drywall contains gypsum, which contains alot of water, but in crystalline form. This is why drywall is fire resistant. As the gypsum gets hot, the existing water molecules begin to destabilize themselves and begin evaporating and keeping the drywall, and what's behind it cool. Pretty neat huh!
Cover those bare walls!
Fire extinguishers.
These will not prevent the fire from starting, but can stop it from spreading (if your home).
I bet most of you have one in your house, garage or workshop. But is there one in your room?
A fire extinguisher is a fire protection device used to control small contained fires. It is not intended for fires that have gone out of control and has already reached the ceiling. Basically, a fire extinguisher is composed of a handheld cylindrical pressure vessel which contains an agent that is discharged to extinguish a fire.
To better fight fire and extinguish them properly, fires are classified into 5 categories. Class A fires consist of ordinary combustibles such as wood and plastics while Class B fires are those caused by flammable gases and liquids. Fires in the Class C category come from electrical origin. Combustible metals such as aluminum causes Class D fires on the other hand Class K fires come from cooking oils and grease fires.
If your room is drywalled, the chance of fire is going to come from electrical side. Whether it is a shorted ballast, a fire at your outlet or a pump that goes up in smoke, we will want a Class C extinguisher.
Different extinguishers that work on class C fires are - ABC Dry Chemical, CO2, Halotron, Halotron 1211 High Performance Dry Chemical and Regular Dry Chemical.
Prices run from $20 to $200 depending on the capacity.
It is a cheap insurance policy!
Now onto Fire Detectors
Smoke detectors have led to a nearly 50 percent decrease in deaths in fires since the 1970s, according to the National Fire Protection Association. They are highly effective at quickly detecting smoke and fire and giving building
occupants enough time to escape unharmed. About 96 percent of U.S. homes have smoke detectors, accoring to a NFPA survey, but 65 percent of fire deaths between 2000 to 2004 were in residences with no working smoke detectors.
Read more : http://www.ehow.com/facts_4926225_smoke-detector-facts.html
Smoke detectors are typically housed in a disk-shaped plastic enclosure about 150 millimetres (6 in) in diameter and 25 millimetres (1 in) thick, but the shape can vary by manufacturer or product line.
Most smoke detectors work either by optical detection (photoelectric) or by physical process (ionization), while others use both detection methods to increase sensitivity to smoke.
Smoke detectors in large commercial, industrial, and residential buildings are usually powered by a central fire alarm system, which is powered by the building power with a battery backup. However, in many single family detached and smaller multiple family housings, a smoke alarm is often powered only by a single disposable battery.
In the United States, the NFPA (Nation Fire Protection Agency) estimates that nearly two-thirds of deaths from home fires occur in properties without working smoke alarms/detectors. This means check it regularly!
I know many people who do not run one in their room. The risk of this is huge. Smoke damage will not only ruin a room, but also ruin a plant quickly. This will give you the chance to catch it before it ruins the entire room!
I'd suggest a carbon monoxide/fire combo.
Surge Protectors
A surge protector (or surge suppressor) is an appliance designed to protect electrical devices from voltage spikes. Laymans terms, stops your electronics from being fried (usually).
A surge protector attempts to limit the voltage supplied to an electric device by either blocking or by shorting to ground any unwanted voltages above a safe threshold. This article primarily discusses specifications and components relevant to the type of protector that diverts (shorts) a voltage spike to ground; however, there is some coverage of other methods.
A power bar with built in surge protector and multiple outlets
The terms surge protection device (SPD), or transient voltage surge suppressor (TVSS), are used to describe electrical devices typically installed in power distribution panels, process control systems, communications systems, and other heavy-duty industrial systems, for the purpose of protecting against electrical surges and spikes, including those caused by lightning.
Scaled-down versions of these devices are sometimes installed in residential service entrance electrical panels, to protect equipment in a household from similar hazards.
Many power strips have basic surge protection built in; these are typically clearly labeled as such. However, power strips that do not provide surge protection are sometimes erroneously referred to as "surge protectors"And yes, you can you a surge protector with a GFCI outlet. This is explained below.
GFCI Outlets
A GFCI outlet is an electrical outlet which is designed to protect people from deadly electrical shock. What this really does is help you from being shocked to death if you come in contact with water, or a short.
In addition to preventing electricution, GFCI outlets can also reduce the risk of house fires caused by electrical problems, and reduce damage to appliances caused by faulty electrical circuits.
These outlets use ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI or GFI) technology; it is also possible to install a GFCI at the breaker box, or to use a portable GFCI device.
The way in which these outlets work is rather ingenious. The GFCI outlet monitors the flow of energy through the circuit. If an imbalance between the “hot” and “neutral” poles in the circuit occurs, indicating that there is a ground fault, the outlet trips off.
Ground faults can be caused by a wide variety of things, including a human being touching an energized part of the circuit, and this can be deadly.
An example of a ground fault would be a reservoir pump shorting, and you coming into contact with the water.
Do you HAVE to have these? Nope. Will it protect your ass for $15? Yep!
Now, if your no electrical guru, do not go attempting to replace your regular outlet without doing your research. You must first flip the breaker at the box. I highly suggest a test pen, which will let you know for SURE that the outlet is dead!!
I hope some of you can take this info and use it to your advantage. Fire safety is usually not the first thing on the list of to do's, but should be.
Please add to anything i may have mistaked or missed!!
Enjoy
I wanted to do this little thread and possibly have it stickied.
My post will be about fire prevention. From extinguishers to GFI's, smoke alarms and more.
This thread will be about grow room essentials, and possible problems. I would love for any and all of you to add to this so we can pack it full of useable information. Its all about the sharing.
A little about myself, I started in 1999 with every book i could get my hands on. From George Cervantes to Rob Clarke to Ed Rosenthal. Boy did i know it all, and diddn't have one plant in the pot!
Well that journey led to multiple obsticles. From mites to lockouts it was a learning experience to say the least. So back to the drawing board. I found a site called OG.com and became very active within the community. Not only reading all I could, but trying everything I could from multiple nutrient lines to various bulbs and techniques. I am in no way saying all the books i read weren't helpful, but these forums are able to answer questions that maynot be covered in any book.
I use this as stepping stone to help myself and others succeed.
So, here we go!
I would like to start fire
Imagine coming home to the fire department dousing your place in water
So, where do we start.
Drywall
Are the rooms walls bare, as in no drywall? If so this is a concern.
Lets say we were to have a fire say, from a ballast or a bad outlet. Don't laugh, I have seen ballasts screwed to bare studs! What is to stop this fire from spreading now? Nothing..
Why is drywall fireproof though?
Drywall contains gypsum, which contains alot of water, but in crystalline form. This is why drywall is fire resistant. As the gypsum gets hot, the existing water molecules begin to destabilize themselves and begin evaporating and keeping the drywall, and what's behind it cool. Pretty neat huh!
Cover those bare walls!
Fire extinguishers.
These will not prevent the fire from starting, but can stop it from spreading (if your home).
I bet most of you have one in your house, garage or workshop. But is there one in your room?
A fire extinguisher is a fire protection device used to control small contained fires. It is not intended for fires that have gone out of control and has already reached the ceiling. Basically, a fire extinguisher is composed of a handheld cylindrical pressure vessel which contains an agent that is discharged to extinguish a fire.
To better fight fire and extinguish them properly, fires are classified into 5 categories. Class A fires consist of ordinary combustibles such as wood and plastics while Class B fires are those caused by flammable gases and liquids. Fires in the Class C category come from electrical origin. Combustible metals such as aluminum causes Class D fires on the other hand Class K fires come from cooking oils and grease fires.
If your room is drywalled, the chance of fire is going to come from electrical side. Whether it is a shorted ballast, a fire at your outlet or a pump that goes up in smoke, we will want a Class C extinguisher.
Different extinguishers that work on class C fires are - ABC Dry Chemical, CO2, Halotron, Halotron 1211 High Performance Dry Chemical and Regular Dry Chemical.
Prices run from $20 to $200 depending on the capacity.
It is a cheap insurance policy!
Now onto Fire Detectors
Smoke detectors have led to a nearly 50 percent decrease in deaths in fires since the 1970s, according to the National Fire Protection Association. They are highly effective at quickly detecting smoke and fire and giving building
occupants enough time to escape unharmed. About 96 percent of U.S. homes have smoke detectors, accoring to a NFPA survey, but 65 percent of fire deaths between 2000 to 2004 were in residences with no working smoke detectors.Read more : http://www.ehow.com/facts_4926225_smoke-detector-facts.html
Smoke detectors are typically housed in a disk-shaped plastic enclosure about 150 millimetres (6 in) in diameter and 25 millimetres (1 in) thick, but the shape can vary by manufacturer or product line.
Most smoke detectors work either by optical detection (photoelectric) or by physical process (ionization), while others use both detection methods to increase sensitivity to smoke.
Smoke detectors in large commercial, industrial, and residential buildings are usually powered by a central fire alarm system, which is powered by the building power with a battery backup. However, in many single family detached and smaller multiple family housings, a smoke alarm is often powered only by a single disposable battery.
In the United States, the NFPA (Nation Fire Protection Agency) estimates that nearly two-thirds of deaths from home fires occur in properties without working smoke alarms/detectors. This means check it regularly!
I know many people who do not run one in their room. The risk of this is huge. Smoke damage will not only ruin a room, but also ruin a plant quickly. This will give you the chance to catch it before it ruins the entire room!
I'd suggest a carbon monoxide/fire combo.
Surge Protectors
A surge protector (or surge suppressor) is an appliance designed to protect electrical devices from voltage spikes. Laymans terms, stops your electronics from being fried (usually).
A surge protector attempts to limit the voltage supplied to an electric device by either blocking or by shorting to ground any unwanted voltages above a safe threshold. This article primarily discusses specifications and components relevant to the type of protector that diverts (shorts) a voltage spike to ground; however, there is some coverage of other methods.
A power bar with built in surge protector and multiple outlets
The terms surge protection device (SPD), or transient voltage surge suppressor (TVSS), are used to describe electrical devices typically installed in power distribution panels, process control systems, communications systems, and other heavy-duty industrial systems, for the purpose of protecting against electrical surges and spikes, including those caused by lightning.
Scaled-down versions of these devices are sometimes installed in residential service entrance electrical panels, to protect equipment in a household from similar hazards.
Many power strips have basic surge protection built in; these are typically clearly labeled as such. However, power strips that do not provide surge protection are sometimes erroneously referred to as "surge protectors"And yes, you can you a surge protector with a GFCI outlet. This is explained below.
GFCI Outlets
A GFCI outlet is an electrical outlet which is designed to protect people from deadly electrical shock. What this really does is help you from being shocked to death if you come in contact with water, or a short.
In addition to preventing electricution, GFCI outlets can also reduce the risk of house fires caused by electrical problems, and reduce damage to appliances caused by faulty electrical circuits.
These outlets use ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI or GFI) technology; it is also possible to install a GFCI at the breaker box, or to use a portable GFCI device.
The way in which these outlets work is rather ingenious. The GFCI outlet monitors the flow of energy through the circuit. If an imbalance between the “hot” and “neutral” poles in the circuit occurs, indicating that there is a ground fault, the outlet trips off.
Ground faults can be caused by a wide variety of things, including a human being touching an energized part of the circuit, and this can be deadly.
An example of a ground fault would be a reservoir pump shorting, and you coming into contact with the water.
Do you HAVE to have these? Nope. Will it protect your ass for $15? Yep!
Now, if your no electrical guru, do not go attempting to replace your regular outlet without doing your research. You must first flip the breaker at the box. I highly suggest a test pen, which will let you know for SURE that the outlet is dead!!
I hope some of you can take this info and use it to your advantage. Fire safety is usually not the first thing on the list of to do's, but should be.
Please add to anything i may have mistaked or missed!!
Enjoy
