Avoided a fire, setup changed, need some quick input!!

[RSA]

Ok, I think I just solved my own problem...

the wall outlets in the room are on 15a breakers, assuming the usual 14g wiring. they say don't go beyond 80% load if it is continuous, due to heat issues/fire hazards. that means a 1500w heater, running on high, is constantly pulling 12.5 amps (above 80% limit) which, in a sense, is a fire hazard and problem waiting to happen. YES it may not immediately break something, trip your breaker or cause a fire, but it is not recommended by what most electricians say.

SO, that being said,

i run 3 x 400 w ballasts during veg. in the big tent I flip out the 400's for 1000's for flowering.

right now, i could basically run all of the ballasts off the room wiring/outlets and have no problem with just 400's.

so, even when I flip to the 1000's, wouldn't it technically be safe to run a 1000W ballast on a 15a breaker? that's only 8.3A, well below the 80% threshold....so then plug the space heater into the 20A outlet that freed up?

 

[TribalSeeds]

Have you flipped the breaker that the heater was plugged into to see what else was on it in the house?
What probably did it was the other stuff connected to that breaker in your house.
The manual on mine rated at 12.0 amps says 15a circuit.
Most people that buy these are gonna have 15a in their pads.
You could free up a breaker and run all your lights off of one 220V breaker.
Is your house service 100A?
Did you have the electrician service the outlet that fried?
Its best to always check to make sure the connections are tightened every year or so if you are running constant loads.
When the wires start getting hot they contract and expand. That can loosen the connection and cause problems.
Probably never a bad idea to upgrade or go the next size up on the wiring so it can handle more heat.

 

[RSA]

Have you flipped the breaker that the heater was plugged into to see what else was on it in the house?
What probably did it was the other stuff connected to that breaker in your house.
The manual on mine rated at 12.0 amps says 15a circuit.
Most people that buy these are gonna have 15a in their pads.
You could free up a breaker and run all your lights off of one 220V breaker.
Is your house service 100A?

well, the main panel downstairs has (after i had the subpanel installed) a breaker labeled ATTIC (100A) - since it's the 100A subpanel.

on the subpanel, you can see the breakers in the picture.

the outlet that the heater was plugged into only damaged the ONE plug...the plug directly below is works fine. not sure what this means electrically, or what needs to be done to fix it. the plastic molding around the plug area is melted, i can take a dummy item plug it in and see if it works, but more than likely needs repaired.

anyway, the house service is 150A. you're right about the fact most people have 15a breakers, but if you read closes in the owner's manual, i bet you it says '20A circuit recommended' or something similar. google produced a bunch of people on forums, websites, retail sites, talking about how people's 15a circuits keep getting tripped with a 1500 heater, or how one guy used a space heater on an extension cord that couldn't handle the wattage.

i'm going to have to use an extension cord with the space heater, if i use the 20A outlet. i'm going to the store tomorrow to buy a 10ft 12gauge extension cord that can handle 15amps. what doesnt make sense to me is why these companies make super thin cords for such high-wattage heaters.

 

[noyd666]

keeping all that in mind, i can't have an electrician go past the sub panel...there's a grow room in the other room. no plants yet, but it would be blatantely obvious so the most i can do are these things:

find a space heater that, even on maximum setting, runs @ 1000w or under.

or

hire electrician, add 20A breaker with own dedicated outlet (if possible) or swap 15a breaker for 20a breaker, have him go into the grow room and upgrade the wiring in the outlet - which obviously isnt possible

it literally is impossible to find a new (digital in best case) space heater that rolls at max 1000w.

hi i'm using a matrix 220-240v-50hz 1500watt ceramic fan heater modpt902. heres what i like''' it has split heat range low 750w or high 1500w. has thermo etc i spotted one for sale awhile back , reckon if ya google you nwill find. hope it helps. had a look cheaper now lol 30 bucks aus. run mine over 3 years.

 

[TribalSeeds]

Running your heater on all the time with an extension cord is a bad idea. Probably no safer than running it off the 15a stuff you already have.
Hopefully an electrician stops in, but I wouldnt recommend you start plugging anything in to the outlet below the fried outlet.
I know if my room almost burned down Id have someone come out and check it out for me just to be safe.

 

[RSA]

maybe i was overzealous with the description of the damage, i've seen worse damage to my motherboard on my computer due to a surge and no electrician was required. you're right though, i'm avoiding that outlet at all costs and am even going to narrow the breaker down and flip it off.

here's probably what is going to be best. i'm answering a lot of my own questions, so i apologize for repeatedly posting but it's helping me get my thoughts out and with the input here and there, it changes direction of thought, has opened my stoner eyes which has REALLY helped my situation.

I have 4 plugs (2 for each 20a) at the sub panel.

I have 3 outlets in the room itself, but for safety's sake going to say that only 2 are available due to the burned outlet (not touching either plug until it's repaired)

Small Tent:

I will run the small tent - 400W + BOTH TENT FANS (the biggest is 198w) off a nice big ole 15A surge protector (which it's rating is 15A/125/1875W) - this clearly is overkill but will handle the ballast and fans just fine from any surges. These, strictly, will go to outlet ONE in the room itself which is on a 15a breaker. This will be the permanent setup.

Big Tent:

Veg

2 x 400W on the one 20A breaker/circuit @ the sub panel. obviously if it's safe to run 1000w on a single 20a, 800 is fine as well.

on the other 20a outlet/circuit, have any 1500W typical space heater. sticker on current space heater that works (tossing the one that fried the outlet) says make sure extension cords are at least 14g / 1875W if you need to use one. i'll go that or higher to be safe. still doesn't make sense to me as to why the cords for the heaters themselves have the thickness of a pencil? dumb design decision.

Flower

Run 1 x 1000W to ONE of the 20a plugs.

Run 1 x 1000W to ONE of the 15a ROOM wall outlets (being the safe max load is 12A on a 15A breaker/circuit, 12A = 1440W, and I'll be 440 under the safe continuous load rating)


*when summer hits, simply reverse space heater for air conditioner. use same high-rated extension cord. so essentially, at all times one 1000w ballast will always be running into a ROOM outlet, which each are on 15a breakers. this mathematically and according to code, should be safe even for continuous use given no other issues with the outlet itself.


Does anybody see any obvious things i've missed or overlooked to ensure proper system function? Planting tomorrow, placing ebay order now and hitting store for extension cords tomorrow.

 

[greekgardner]

dangerous stuff your doing

 

[RSA]

dangerous stuff your doing

LOL

have you read the thread? you have two posts on this forum, and your 2nd post is to criticize someone by saying what they're doing is dangerous?

everything is being mathematically calculated and discussed with other growers, there are growers on here who are electricians i can name a few usernames if you like...

although i admit i overlooked some obvious safety protocols, at this point my above post should have corrected them and i should be safe to continue growing....unless someone sees something i missed.

 

[noyd666]

i am on 240 and have run extension cords all my life everybody i know runs em, no hassals at all????? i run all safety gear of course buttttt, have you checked behind wall outlet maybe wire off , i have a safety plug with lights in it which allowes you to check all outlets. our h=duty leads 15 amp have big fat earth on them.

 

[noyd666]

thats the safety wall outlet checker, very handy. did you see the mention of 750=1500 heater?