looking for info on electrical breaker boxes

[sticky icky]

If i had a 2 bedroom house running 2 flower rooms of either 1200 or 1800 watts, on counter times using of 11 hours and 55 minutes cycles. Can you run a 240v extinsion cord from my 240 dryer plug to one room, and hear is the question to a hot tub circuit breaker box. then run 120volt lights of breaker to plug in to run 2 to 3 600 watters. Was also going to try this with the range 240 plug as well. Unplug fridge, and any other appliances not using. Have a veg chamber as well with floros, and 400watts. Also would 1800 watts be to much of a draw, and would it raise to many questions on electrical bill. If hot tub breaker box won't work maybe you could point me in right direction of something that would. Or any other ideas would be much appreiciated. Thanks SI

 

[Pops]

Your dryer outlet is probably on a 30 amp circuit, and if your hot tub breaker box(never saw one of those) has a master 30 amp breaker and space to put in 2 15 amp 120 volt lines, you could do it. Having never seen one, I can't confirm. Basically, you need a 30 amp sub-panel that is capable of breaking the 240v down to 2 120v 15a circuits. Any time you use an extension cord, you could have problems with the cord overheating or frying. If you are going to just use the whole house for growing, 3 600 watters are only going to draw 16 or 17 amps with the ballasts. If you are going to use both bedrooms, why not see if they are on different circuits?

If they are on different circuits, you could just plug into the wall jacks, which are probably 15 amp circuits. Two 600 watt lights with ballast draws approx. 11 amps ,which should be safe if you ran nothing else on that circuit. If both bedrooms are on the same circuit, by using a flip=flop , you could use one circuit, however timing would have to be precise, as 3 600watt lights would blow one circuit. As long as your fluoros and 400 watter are on another circuit, they could just be plugged into the wall plugs. If you are not living there and not using fridge, stove and dryer, your electrical use would be low. assuming 3 600w on for 12 hours each and 1 400 watt on for 18 hours, you will use around 950 kwh per month, not counting the fluoros and any fans, filters and ac.

 

[MTF-Sandman]

Have you thought about just running a flip/flop off one of the 30a circuits to both rooms? Most ballasts are capable of running 220v/240v with only a very minor modification (connecting the 220v lead instead of the 110v inside the ballast box). 2200w really isn't that much as long as you're not abusing your other electrical appliances in the home...

 

[Guest]

Your "hot tub circuit breaker box' is not considered a "load center" like a distribution panel or subpanel,what you are referring to is most likely called a "breaker enclosure" which resembles a panelbox but like I said is not a load center.Its basically used as a disconnecting means to the appliance.

 

[sticky icky]

hey guys thanks alot for the input i have seen some of the flip flops boxes and am looking into it a little more. MTF any suggestions on thread to build one, or spot to purchase one. I was looking at them and the price of some where very high i could buy another light and run timers. On one 15 amp breaker I can't get it to run all equipment I have in one room. And also each room is seperate own 15 amp breaker. But with 2 maybe even 3 lights ,4 fans, CO2, pumps recirculating dwc, air pumps, and ect is to much for 15 amps. They have the heavy duty weilder extention cords rated to 30, 50, and 60 amps. So i need to figure out how to run a sub panel, or flipflop. Guys thanks again and any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated

 

[Pops]

Sticky, depending on where your main panel box is and whether there is room in it for another breaker, you might just put in a 60 amp breaker and run a wire close to your bedrooms and connect it to a 60 amp sub-panel. Then install 4 15 amp breakers in the sub-panel and run wires from them to your grow areas. This should give you the needed circuits for your grow. If each bedroom has its own circuit, now you would have 3 15a circuits for each room. Should be plenty. You don't say in your post how many total amps the house has or where the main panel is.

 

[sticky icky]

Hey pops and everyone else thanks for the help, and staying with me on this one. I think my house is wired for 120 amps. Which is plenty i just need to figure out how to run power with out making to much of a mess. Something once i'm done remodeling i can tear and make a small version. But i have room now i would like to see the potential. Have to figure this out though. If i did as you suggested pop could i run 3 20 amp breakers of the 60 or is 15 amps better to keep you well under the amprege. been reading diagrams on this so trying to grasp this info and stay within code and be safe. Going to also try and run heating out of grow room light usage for house it is small and should save a little extra power. going to unplug everything fridge, stove, everything. run heat at around 65 degrees. Try and make power usage some what within the norm. I don't now how i could explain this to an electrician, but do have some electrical experience so i think i can figure it out if i take my time. thanks again and any other ideas or suggestions or how to's are appreciated. SI

 

[Pops]

Sticky, you can run 3 20 amp or 4 15 amp, makes no difference. A 600w light and the ballast runs about 660watts divided by 120 volts, gives you 5.5 amps per light. Two light is 11 amps. Do not load your circuit over 80% of rated capacity. 80% of 15 amps is 12 amps, so 2 lights are fine on a 15a circuit. Could even run a couple of fans on same circuit. If you use a 20amp circuit, you could run the 2 lights, a pump and fans all on the same circuit, just don't go over 16 amps, to be safe.

Houses are usually wired for 60, 100 or 200 amps. The really old ones have 60 amp service. Usually there is no central ac in those houses. If you have gas heat, you don't need to worry about power draw, as fans are all that are drawing power. With electric heat, you could have from 30-50amp breaker for heat. If you have room in the main box, you can install a 60 amp breaker and run the wire up around the ceiling or through the attic ,then to your bedrooms. Mount the subpanel on a wall between the bedrooms and run wire from the subpanel into the bedrooms for your sockets. Mounting near the ceiling or running through the attic keeps the wire out of your way so you won't trip over it. Your cfl(fluoro) lights, you can just plug into reg. wall sockets. Regular useage in a house could be from 1000-3000 kilowatt hour per month. Power companies don't get too excited unless you forget to pay the bill.

Some power companies, like BCHydro, who have tons of theft, are working with police to spot high power usage, but not many companies here in the U.S. are doing this. I understand that San Diego will be putting new smart meters in homes within a year or two, that let them see your useage at any time of day, and will allow them to cut your useage in times of high useage to avoid brownouts.

Most places, you won't have to worry about useage. I have been using 4500-5000 kilowatt hours each month for a year. I was paranoid about this, but as long as I pay the bill, there has been no problem. I understand that if you go over 3 times normal useage, it could cause eyebrows to be raised, but what is normal useage. Thank God for Mexican families who put 3 families in a 4 bedroom house.

 

[Pops]

By the way, Sticky, you don't have to unplug the fridge or stove. If you are living in the house as well as growing, just time your cooking, laundry etc, when your lights are off so that you don't overtax your system. I think as small as your grow is, you won't have problems. I have seen houses with 200 amp services handle 10 1000w lights, fridges, central ac and dryers all at the same time.

 

[Guest]

Good info pops,I remember my first year running a little over 5K with everything man I was a bundle of nerves I pay my electric bill literally the day after I receive it,always.I used 3700 kilowatts last month in a small house by myself for about a 380 dollar bill,it got paid the next day of course.I'm convinced as long as you dont go seriously stupid with your power consumption and always pay your bill immediately,you wont have any problems.It can be a little scary at first,but its no big deal at all compared to other issues like odor.I'm always there when the guy reads my meter so I can shut down for a minute so it doesnt look like its spinning like a frisbee on crack,probably not necessary but not a bad idea anyway

 

[sticky icky]

Thank you very much everyone appreciate all the info. you guys are making me feel alot better about the power usage. I will definatley take your advice pops and run power the way you suggested. Thanks again everyone. SI