Looking for advice on power management.

[ZukisGarden]

I am looking to power my grow room in my new rental using the pre-installed 240v 30a dryer outlet.

Essentially I am looking for a power controller that would allocate a certain % of the amperage to the grow room for a portion of the day ( lights off) while still leaving the remaining % available to the dryer, and then allocate the entire amperage another portion of the day (light on) in which all power would go to the room.

Ideally the controller would power 240v and 120v as I would like to run a mini split + 2k-3k watts off of it.

I know DX Hydro has produced units similar to this before (The Power Thief), but have no been able to contact the company.

Is something like this commercially available?

 

[_tessarecting]

I just run my controller to its own breaker and plug and only use the dryer when the lights are off. It was easy.

 

[ZukisGarden]

I just run my controller to its own breaker and plug and only use the dryer when the lights are off. It was easy.

Thanks for the reply, _tessarecting!

I have thought of this, but I am trying to avoid adding any outlets to my rental. I know it sounds silly, but I would rather just unplug things when I move rather than removing entire outlets. But this is growing.

Also, I have other people living with me who use the dryer while I am at work so things need to be easy for them as well.

 

[Bababooie]

Not gonna happen my man. You're stuck with running the dryer when the lights and AC or off, or get a gas dryer.

 

[EastCoast710]

ya that's rough.. we are using plugs right now. but I told myself this harvest I get a controller.. luckily.. the house I rent has a stove in the basement I can unplug and use the 30amp outlet !!

 

[EastCoast710]

that dx hydro power thief.. thing says it doesn't allow the dryer to be used while lights on.. solves your problems right there lol..

the only problem u have now is having ROOMMATES your growing with lol. NEVER SMART.

 

[mowood3479]

There isn't anything that I know of that will allow both the dryer and lights to be on at the same time... (If they r using the same circuit.)
If u find something post it up.

 

[ZukisGarden]

that dx hydro power thief.. thing says it doesn't allow the dryer to be used while lights on.. solves your problems right there lol..

the only problem u have now is having ROOMMATES your growing with lol. NEVER SMART.

I understand the units DX Hydro has made in the past don't allow the dryer to run, that was I am looking for something similar.

 

[EastCoast710]

lol . if he can make it. it can be recreated.. the guy felloff the wagon. lol. as far as I heard he looked like meth or heroin had taken over his life.

 

[ZukisGarden]

lol . if he can make it. it can be recreated.. the guy felloff the wagon. lol. as far as I heard he looked like meth or heroin had taken over his life.

That's what I was thinking, someone might have recreated it.

Its a shame to hear what became of the guy. Some of his panels do look impressive.

 

[Jhhnn]

A clothes dryer normally has a 5000w heating element & a 1/2 hp motor which is ~375w, 5375w total.

A 30A breaker will deliver 7200w which must be de-rated by 20% for continuous loads like clothes dryers or lights. That's 5760w.

you don't have the power available to run both the dryer & lights at the same time. Just the way it is.

 

[ZukisGarden]

A clothes dryer normally has a 5000w heating element & a 1/2 hp motor which is ~375w, 5375w total.

A 30A breaker will deliver 7200w which must be de-rated by 20% for continuous loads like clothes dryers or lights. That's 5760w.

you don't have the power available to run both the dryer & lights at the same time. Just the way it is.

Thanks for the reply with the useful info!

My goal was never to run the dryer and light at the same time, but possibly the a/c and dryer. But with your info the numbers don't work out either way.

I checked my specific dryer and it does pull the full 30a line, so running it with anything else is out of the question.

Never the less a panel to assure no popped breakers while away from the grow would be reassurance.