How to determine whether outlets are on the same circuit?

[clowntown]

 

[Guest]

If you dont have access to your panel,you dont have many options.You could short out the circuit and see if it kills all the receptacles or what,but you'll still need to reset the breaker

 

[clowntown]

Ah, that's what I was afraid of.

How about with a voltmeter / multimeter? Might be able to borrow one from someone. Would I be able to connect it to one outlet (like the fridge outlet), power on my lights on another outlet, and see a significant or otherwise noticable voltage drop or such?

Thanks for the answer, SKELETOR.

 

[BudGood2006]

You really need to find out where you breaker/fuse box is. It is a necessity, what are you going to do if you accidently trip the breaker or pop a fuse? Sit in the dark and wonder? It would be to your advantage to find out, search, if you don't find it, call your landlord and ask him, just say something like "I was curious where the fusebox is, so I can see what kind of fuses to buy for it or know where to reset the breakers, just in case". Much better to find out now, rather than mid-grow with a bunch of stinky ladies.

Also, an ammeter will tell you how much amperage is running through a wire, but most (including mine) need a wire (usually in the breaker box) that the meter clamps around to take the amperage reading.

A quick and easy way to tell once you locate the breaker box : Turn off a breaker/unscrew a fuse, then walk around the house with a lamp (or you could get a circuit tester, basically it plugs in the outlet and tells you if it has power and is wired correctly) and start checking the plugs, noting which plugs the breaker turned off. Circuit testers are inexpensive, available everywhere, and are cheap peace of mind to a grower. Knowing that the outlet(s) you have your grow attached to is/are wired correctly is priceless, IMHO. Peace...

 

[clowntown]

I understand all of that. It's just that I live in the EEEEEEEEEEEEEXTRREEEEEEEEEEEEEMEEEEEEEE ghettos of Oakland, and the landlord does not reside here and having any "maintenance person" or anyone whatsoever of "service" come out for any reason whatsoever can be a bitch and a half, even to do something as simple as reset a breaker. So I really wanted to avoid this if necessary.

 

[Guest]

dude just go to your breaker box flip breakers till you find that outlet...no power to it...now go plug in an apliance untill you find one that works...than turn your cicuit back on...you have two circuits now...peace

 

[BudGood2006]

Still, how hard is it to call the land lord? How do you pay him the rent, or tell him somethings broken? You NEED to know where the breaker/fuse box is, it's that simple. If a maintenance guy has to come out to show you, bummer, it has to be done, period.

Unicorn, he doesn't even know WHERE the box is. Thats the first step...

 

[Guest]

dude you dont need maintance to find and flip a breaker you need an iq above 50

 

[Guest]

let me give you a clue grey box on the side of the dwelling...or in the garage...or master bathroom closet

 

[clowntown]

Just something I'd really really really prefer not to do. The subpanel / breaker box is locked, so I can't just go and flip things around. I have no access to it. Although I don't know how long it would actually take for someone to be sent out for an electrical outage, it has historically taken forever and two thirds for even the simplest fix requests around here.

When things are broken (and a lot of stuff was after I initially moved in), I had to call him. He kept dodging my calls, and when I finally got him to answer it took a long time for any action. It might be a bit difficult for you to picture how bad it really is, but I think I'd rather buy a meter from Home Depot and return it after one use than have to call him and bother him about it. Unless absolutely necessary. Honestly.

I mail in my checks for rent.

Anyways, thanks for the responses. On the way to HD this afternoon. Unless I can borrow one.

 

[clowntown]

let me give you a clue grey box on the side of the dwelling...or in the garage...or master bathroom closet

If you bothered actually reading my post, you'd realize I have no access to it. Thanks for the clue anyways!

Did you really need take three separate shots at attempting to diss me, without even reading a word of my post? Or is that just your style?

Edit: make that four shots. Also, there are no light flip-switches here... only ghetto "pull wires" from the ceiling.

 

[Guest]

let me guess...you dont flip light switches either because of the danger....there is no difference between flipping a light switch and a breaker switch.

 

[Guest]

i read it... i know you can get acess to your breakerbox...it is a house...its mostlikely on the outside of the building

If you bothered actually reading my post, you'd realize I have no access to it. Thanks for the clue anyways!

 

[clowntown]

i read it... i know you can get acess to your breakerbox...it is a house...its mostlikely on the outside of the building

It's locked. I guess I should go ahead and blow the lock off, eh?

Thanks for the trolling. I really do appreciate it.

 

[BudGood2006]

F**k that. I hate landlords, thus I own. Obviously that isn't possible for you right now, if you can move, do so, you really need to have access to that panel just in case. Do you really want to have your girls (and you) in darkness for hours, maybe days, waiting for the "maintenance man"???? Better hope you're only doing soil, if hydro, no electricity, no water pumps, no air pumps, etc. Why waste your time?

And, as far as the ammeter goes, you still need access to the panel, and it wouldn't be adviseable for someone who can't even FIND the panel to go poking around in a hot one. Electricity is dangerous stuff, not for everyone.

BTW, I wouldn't shoot the lock off....Cut it maybe...It IS your place, you need access to that box! Maybe you can use that trip to home depot for something useful, like bolt cutters.

 

[Guest]

as a paying tenent you have a rite to know how many circuits you have....if you have not started your grow yet trip a breaker using to much power then have the landlord give you a key or unlock the breakerbox...not trying to be an ass...just trying to help...and im a little high rite now...sorry for being harsh

Just something I'd really really really prefer not to do. The subpanel / breaker box is locked, so I can't just go and flip things around. I have no access to it. Although I don't know how long it would actually take for someone to be sent out for an electrical outage, it has historically taken forever and two thirds for even the simplest fix requests around here.

When things are broken (and a lot of stuff was after I initially moved in), I had to call him. He kept dodging my calls, and when I finally got him to answer it took a long time for any action. It might be a bit difficult for you to picture how bad it really is, but I think I'd rather buy a meter from Home Depot and return it after one use than have to call him and bother him about it. Unless absolutely necessary. Honestly.

I mail in my checks for rent.

Anyways, thanks for the responses. On the way to HD this afternoon. Unless I can borrow one.

 

[Guest]

and by the way bubbles would blow that lock off...lol

 

[clowntown]

Yeah, I'm not in a situation where I can afford to live anywhere but here, really. I'd rather not have to write a book on my life to explain why I'm where I'm at at the moment, but the bottom line is that the situation is as described.

If it's absolutely necessary, yes I can do things via subpanel, but if absolutely necessary. These are extremely unsavory people who really really really don't want to do anything except sign the back of my checks. And for the amount of money they're getting, I guess I could understand that. But that's besides the point.

Anyways, thanks for the responses and the information, and guiding me in the right way w/ the meter information.

And unicorn: if you don't have anything better to do than read two words of someone's post and make five troll responses, please go back to bed. Or better yet, just kill yourself. Don't have too nice a day. Thanks.

 

[Guest]

how manytimes do i have to apologize...again i WAS trying to help you

Yeah, I'm not in a situation where I can afford to live anywhere but here, really. I'd rather not have to write a book on my life to explain why I'm where I'm at at the moment, but the bottom line is that the situation is as described.

If it's absolutely necessary, yes I can do things via subpanel, but if absolutely necessary. These are extremely unsavory people who really really really don't want to do anything except sign the back of my checks. And for the amount of money they're getting, I guess I could understand that. But that's besides the point.

Anyways, thanks for the responses and the information, and guiding me in the right way w/ the meter information.

And unicorn: if you don't have anything better to do than read two words of someone's post and make five troll responses, please go back to bed. Or better yet, just kill yourself. Don't have too nice a day. Thanks.

 

[BudGood2006]

Huh?