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Any electricians around?

hvac guy

Active member
Your electrical room will probably look like this....
 

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Hammerhead

Disabled Farmer
ICMag Donor
Veteran
Thats great the more people with the right information the better. I have been conversing with rives for years so this is why I recommended him. I dont know you yet.the more you post with the right info the better. People will ge to know you..

I was directing my posting to you hh. I'm a licesned electrician too, with 2 years of EE. Now I'm trying my hand at an hvac apprenticeship. If that padmount transformer is only allocated for your building, that is a big plus. If I was you Anferneybra, I wouldn't be advertising such a large undertaking on forums like this. Find a few electrical contractors experienced with high voltages and get their advice. They would love to make the money.
 

hvac guy

Active member
Thanx HH, so many larger growrooms require a bit of complex electrical. Should be able to find a local trustworthy electrical contractor to do the work. Ask him to sign a non-disclosure agreement and ask if he's leo in the agreement. I've signed a few confidentiality agreements, it's no big deal. Electrical contractors make good money so it's easy to keep the mouth shut...imho
 
Hey guys thanks for the info, I will PM rives and see what he has to say.

Yes, the grow areas are few and far between in industrial parks. I have found places with anywhere from 400 to 1600 Amps all in 3 phase to the building. I am deciding from about 4 spots at the moment, the dispensary will be open soon.

As far as trashing people's grow rights, talk to the shitty writing of the prop the people wrote for the state, not us. We are simply trying to make medication available to the patients, without using craigslist or the kid on the corner. I helped run one of the very first state licensed dispensaries in Colorado. It def is not all about the money with me or I would be growing illegally. I love people that come on here and think that all dispensaries are just after money.

In my honest opinion they will amend the prop to not include the 25 mile rule, not even because they are compassionate but because it is utterly unenforceable.

As far as NDAs and such, I am not concerned. Contracts don't mean shit in Arizona or Colorado, and since its still an illegal drug to the Fed the contract wouldn't mean anything. We play by all rules city/county/state and respect the Fed. We pay all taxes (47%) give or take a couple % and are truly non profit. We are actually the people in the trenches so to speak, carving the way for legit medical cannabis use.

I will be running all the ballasts on 277V @ 3.7 amps each 1000watt
All other stuff will be on 120V, fans, pumps, ect.
Ill get a switch gear to make the step down from the transformer.
Long road ahead but we hope to be up and running by the summer, just in time for double tier electrical rates! haha

As far as electricians knowing where its at that is fine. The security required by the state is INSANE. I am not worried at all about getting robbed. I thought Colorado was bad, this place is worse. We will blow at least 50k in security alone, not to mention hiring 3-4 full time guards as required by state regs. At least we are adding more jobs!

Cheers!

T
 

hvac guy

Active member
Three 500A 3 pole disconnects and 3 x 100KVA transformers, was an issue with having the cans indoor in a wooden structure, had to move them to a pole, even with a fuselink disconnect attached to a small winch, which would turn on for 2 seconds and pull the fuselink off, had to be manually put back, was set up to trip all the power in a major emergency.

Success on your endeavor, wish I was your contractor for all your needs....
 

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Treetroit City

Moderately Super
Veteran
Three 500A 3 pole disconnects and 3 x 100KVA transformers, was an issue with having the cans indoor in a wooden structure, had to move them to a pole, even with a fuselink disconnect attached to a small winch, which would turn on for 2 seconds and pull the fuselink off, had to be manually put back, was set up to trip all the power in a major emergency.

Success on your endeavor, wish I was your contractor for all your needs....

Curious if that is your work hvac guy? We have definitely seen those pics before. If so nice work!
 

N-P-Kali

Active member
@anferneybra. Is your 480v service a delta or wye system.. Reason I ask is if your planning on running your lighting @ 277v you will need 1 hot leg, a neutral, and ground. A delta configuration has no neutral and if your set on 277v lighting a neutral leg will need to generated. There are 480v ballasts systems on the market as another option, but I might mention they are 1⦰ 480v not 3⦰. If you do entertain that notion be sure to purchase the proper 2-pole 480v breakers as well 3-wire NEMA twist lock plugs and receptacles. Intermatic ET7000 astronomic time clocks work great for industrial lighting applications. The more 480v motors i.e. pumps, A/C's, Dehumidifiers, fans and lighting the farther your capacity will go.

I have done a couple of these and all I can say is you have a long road ahead of you my friend.
If I had to estimate your looking at 4-500K in electrical.





Very nice hvac guy. EE porn.
 

hvac guy

Active member
N-P-Kali you are so on the money. Forget the 277 ballasts, just use 120/240, depending on wye or delta, or if they are digitals, you'll be okay with 208V. I'm building a panel right now for 240 ballasts, 120 in either room. So frigging complex, buddy whined when I quoted him over 100K for all the gear and assembling the main panel. If you wanna grow big, gotta pay big...lol
 

N-P-Kali

Active member
Grow Big...Pay Big.. That is for sure brother. Sounds like you are giving him a bro deal. 120 lamps in each room, correct? You know its comedic how puckered someone's a**hole can get when you hand them a bid with that many zero's on it. Or how their eyes will glaze over as they stand there with a vacant deer in the headlights expression for a few seconds.

Employing a step down transformer fed from the main service panel works well to feed HID lighting and any miscellaneous general use. I do however prefer employing 480v, when available, to the lighting and all motor loads. On previous jobs we have installed the 480v/1⦰ powerhouse ballasts and they performed admirably. In cases where we have renovated an existing operation we noticed a somewhat significant savings on our utility bill. What is your opinion on the 480v ballast hvac guy?
 

hvac guy

Active member
Haven't installed that ballast. Never seen anyone using them.



Grow Big...Pay Big.. That is for sure brother. Sounds like you are giving him a bro deal. 120 lamps in each room, correct? You know its comedic how puckered someone's a**hole can get when you hand them a bid with that many zero's on it. Or how their eyes will glaze over as they stand there with a vacant deer in the headlights expression for a few seconds.

Employing a step down transformer fed from the main service panel works well to feed HID lighting and any miscellaneous general use. I do however prefer employing 480v, when available, to the lighting and all motor loads. On previous jobs we have installed the 480v/1⦰ powerhouse ballasts and they performed admirably. In cases where we have renovated an existing operation we noticed a somewhat significant savings on our utility bill. What is your opinion on the 480v ballast hvac guy?
 

N-P-Kali

Active member
The $300 is MSRP from the distributor but At the volume needed for your project $197 would be the cost per unit based on my previous invoices. The 480/277v 2-pole 15A bolt on circuits are pricey though @ $192 per unit but one breaker will cover one group of four lamps.
 
Wow thanks for the incite fellas. I am amazed at who I run onto on this site. Holy shit bro, 400-500k on electrical? I was assuming 40-50k....I really hope its not that bad, or I might be forced to just staying on 240V since it seems like less of a headache.

I just need to pull from the APS line in the ground, which they are upgrading for the area. Then have EE company install transformer, and breaker boxes on walls, then to 240V outlets on the rooms. I will calculate my total build and post it here and you can give me your best ideas. Thanks!

T
 
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