Pactivist
Active member
Well fellow growers, I don't know if any of you will get as much use out of this as i did, but here goes.
this link http://www.angelfire.com/pa/baconbacon/page2.html
has a calculator that will convert watts to amps or amps to watts, and is very helpful in maintaining a safe load for your circuits.
here is how i used it - i took each piece of equipment that i have and plugged them into the calculator, some i knew the watts and some i knew the amps, at 110 volts, and this was my results.
400w MH = 400w or 3.64 amps
400w HPS = 400w or 3.64 amps
400w switchable = 400w or 3.64 amps
extraction fan = 363w or 3.3 amps
oscillating fan = 32w or 0.29 amps
fluorescent light(2 tube shop light) = 68w or 0.62 amps
I grow in soil so there are no pumps to speak of, and i kinda figured that the timers use so little elec. that i didn't figure them in.
now you can also factor in your circuit to this calculator, for example, my room is run entirely on one 20 amp. circuit, so am i within the limits? let's check
20a at 110v gives a total of 2200 watts, now you only want to use 80% of a breakers capacity for safety reasons so 80% of 2200w = 1760w, and 80% of a 20a circuit breaker is 16 amps. so what were my totals?
i am currently running a grand total of 1663w or 15.13 amps, so as you can see i cannot add any more to my room without bringing in another line.
also i would suggest reading the post about wire sizing and safety located here http://www.icmag.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4573
i sure hope that this helps someone as much as it helped me.
peAce and keep it green pacT.
this link http://www.angelfire.com/pa/baconbacon/page2.html
has a calculator that will convert watts to amps or amps to watts, and is very helpful in maintaining a safe load for your circuits.
here is how i used it - i took each piece of equipment that i have and plugged them into the calculator, some i knew the watts and some i knew the amps, at 110 volts, and this was my results.
400w MH = 400w or 3.64 amps
400w HPS = 400w or 3.64 amps
400w switchable = 400w or 3.64 amps
extraction fan = 363w or 3.3 amps
oscillating fan = 32w or 0.29 amps
fluorescent light(2 tube shop light) = 68w or 0.62 amps
I grow in soil so there are no pumps to speak of, and i kinda figured that the timers use so little elec. that i didn't figure them in.
now you can also factor in your circuit to this calculator, for example, my room is run entirely on one 20 amp. circuit, so am i within the limits? let's check
20a at 110v gives a total of 2200 watts, now you only want to use 80% of a breakers capacity for safety reasons so 80% of 2200w = 1760w, and 80% of a 20a circuit breaker is 16 amps. so what were my totals?
i am currently running a grand total of 1663w or 15.13 amps, so as you can see i cannot add any more to my room without bringing in another line.
also i would suggest reading the post about wire sizing and safety located here http://www.icmag.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4573
i sure hope that this helps someone as much as it helped me.
peAce and keep it green pacT.
