Powering an attic

[BevoLabs]

Hello all, how is it going? I am looking into making my attic my new grow room. I have lived in this place for 9 months and hadnt even noticed the attic. It is on the 3rd floor of a big town house, and is almost hidden in a 3rd floor bedroom, walk in closet. So I think it will be legit, as long as I can contruct some plumbing up there for dumping water.

Ok, onto power...We are wanting to run ~2400-3000 k in lights. 4-5 600 watters. We will also be running multiple 4foot T5's for vegging. We will have numerous fans, vortex blowers, timers, pumps, and a large portable A/C unit; thus, we are gonna need some power up there.

The main circuit box is in the garage...4 floors below, but there is a small box in the attic. Here are some pictures:

The breaker in the small box doesnt indicate its size, and I am not 100% sure what all it is powering...The light bulb, 2 120v outlets and the 3rd floor A/C or attic fan is what it seems to be powering. It does however look as if it has additional room for another breaker.

Anybody know if this box is possibly expandable to hold this wattage capacity? I would like to upgrade the breakers of course, and have 8-10 120v outlets and 2 or so 240v outlets. I would like to keep cost around $400-500, but if that isnt possible, I am not a cheap skate, so please feel free to give any scenario of advice! Any suggestions or advice is GREATLY appreciated!

 

[BevoLabs]

Here are just a few more pictures. I am very visual person, so I have to see the whole picture of what someone is talking about b4 I understand...

 

[BevoLabs]

No one with any electrical experience?

 

[Philosophelon]

You need to be more specific about your electrical requirements and available options before anyone can help you. I have few questions:

What gauge wire is running into the subpanel?

What gauge wire is running out of the subpanel?

Do you have access to the main breaker?

Do you have access to any existing 240V circuits?

How far away is the main breaker from the location of new outlets/subpanels?

How many amps will be drawn by your T5s, fans, blowers, pumps, A/C, etc.?


To be honest, it is highly unlikely that that subpanel can be expanded to fit your power consumption. You are going to have to install a new circuit(s) and snake cable up to your attic, or you are going to have to tap into existing circuits and reroute them up to your attic.

Regardless of what is required, you need to be absolutely certain that you are doing everything exactly right so that you don't get electrocuted or burn your house down. When I taught myself how to do wiring I just went to the library and got a bunch of books on DIY home electrical work, kept the good ones, and spent a few afternoons studying and designing my electrical plan. It's not very difficult to do your own electrical work, but if you make a mistake it could have serious repercussions, so just make sure you know what you're doing before you do it.

 

[BevoLabs]

You need to be more specific about your electrical requirements and available options before anyone can help you. I have few questions:

What gauge wire is running into the subpanel? Pictured, but i think it is thick.

What gauge wire is running out of the subpanel? Pictured

Do you have access to the main breaker? Yes, it is on the third floor, so 4 floors away. I do have a laundry shoot that runs from the laundry room all the way to the attic basically. I could cut a hole in the attic and run whatever I needed into a 240v outlet...

Do you have access to any existing 240V circuits? Above, and it is the closet/most accessible.

How far away is the main breaker from the location of new outlets/subpanels? 4 floors

How many amps will be drawn by your T5s, fans, blowers, pumps, A/C, etc.?
Total power consumption should be under 5kW.


To be honest, it is highly unlikely that that subpanel can be expanded to fit your power consumption. You are going to have to install a new circuit(s) and snake cable up to your attic, or you are going to have to tap into existing circuits and reroute them up to your attic.

Regardless of what is required, you need to be absolutely certain that you are doing everything exactly right so that you don't get electrocuted or burn your house down. When I taught myself how to do wiring I just went to the library and got a bunch of books on DIY home electrical work, kept the good ones, and spent a few afternoons studying and designing my electrical plan. It's not very difficult to do your own electrical work, but if you make a mistake it could have serious repercussions, so just make sure you know what you're doing before you do it.

Check the bolded text above for my responses... Also, I plan to hire an electrician next week, but I would like to have some kind of idea of what all options I will have, so I can start weighing them now and not make a costly decision.

I have been told something like this(below) will work:

But it doesnt seem to have normal 120volt plug-ins...

 

[I N Hail]

Check the bolded text above for my responses... Also, I plan to hire an electrician next week, but I would like to have some kind of idea of what all options I will have, so I can start weighing them now and not make a costly decision.

I have been told something like this(below) will work:

But it doesnt seem to have normal 120volt plug-ins...

THat box has a 110 and 220 coming out of it

the breaker box u show in pic look's like maybe 220
and this is for ur heating/AC

You have a electrician so he will know if u can pull off that.

Ur laundry shoot sounds like a good way to get water up there .
after your electrician comes let us know what he says

Good luck I N Hail

 

[I N Hail]

I missed the 4/5 600w. don't think you'll be able to pull off it you gonna need a subpanel up there hope ur electrician is cool ,have a reason just incase he ask why.

 

[Philosophelon]

Yes, something like that will work, but you need to have a 30A or 50A 240V receptacle to plug it into. You don't have one in your attic, so you would have to either install a new 240V circuit or tap into an existing one. If you have an electric dryer or electric range circuit that you don't use, you can tap into that. Otherwise, you will have to install a new circuit, and possibly a new subpanel.

Does your A/C run on 120V or 240V?
Can your T5s run on 240V?

You will probably need at least 2x 15/20A 120V circuits for your fans, blowers, pumps, and veg lights. If your veg lights run on 240V, you may only need 1x 20A 120V circuit. If your A/C and veg lights run on 120V, you'll probably need 3x 15/20A 120V circuits.

You will only need 1x 30A or 50A 240V circuit for your lights.

A 600w ballast uses ~3A @ 240V.
5x3A=15A total draw for flowering lights.

This leaves you ~9A for 240V veg lighting and/or a 240V Air-Conditioner, if you are using a 30A circuit (max draw is 80% of 30A = 24A max), or ~ 25A if you are using a 50A circuit.

Keep in mind that maximum load on your 120V circuits as well. A 15A circuit will safely handle 12A, and a 20A circuit will safely handle 16A.

I hope this helps a bit, but I don't have many details about your setup, so I can't be too specific.

 

[BevoLabs]

I missed the 4/5 600w. don't think you'll be able to pull off it you gonna need a subpanel up there hope ur electrician is cool ,have a reason just incase he ask why.

Turning the attic into our recording studio...recording equipment, instruments, speakers, A/C...sound recording in general has a ton of multiple sources pulling anywhere from small to large amounts of power.

Would this excuse work?

Ive contacted a few guys on craigslist who are offering electrical work, and I found a 20 year old guy who is certified and seems like a down to earth, normal dude...So maybe he will work out.

 

[moses224]

isnt it 240v coming out thats same one i have

 

[BevoLabs]

isnt it 240v coming out thats same one i have

Can you be more specific? I am not sure what you are referring to, or how it relates. If you have a similar situation, please share!

Thanks again guys!

 

[BevoLabs]

Moses, I am also guessing from your flowering list that you bought the Greenhoue Sativa Mix Pack? Did you get your beans before or after they started color coating them? The color coating on those things is TERRIBLE! 2 out of 5 didnt(HS and Strawberry Haze) even try to pop, and I think it is because no heat or water got past the waxy outer coating. Right now my SSH looks piss poor, Arjan's #1 looks amazing, and Nevilles #1 looks good. VERY disappointed... My Utopia Hazes, germed at the same time are 2 nodes larger and about 3 inches taller. These Utopia Hazes have been growing amazing!

 

[sparkjumper]

That breaker enclosure is used as a disconnect probably for AC and heat,you cant touch it.You'll definately need a 60A 240V subpanel, a 30A would be cutting it close with no room for expansion

 

[BevoLabs]

That breaker enclosure is used as a disconnect probably for AC and heat,you cant touch it.You'll definately need a 60A 240V subpanel, a 30A would be cutting it close with no room for expansion

Yea man, that is what I am thinking now. Going to have to bite the bullet and do it... I am guessing this is going to be the most expensive scenario, since the breaker is one the first floor, and this new subpanel is on the 4th... We shall see!

 

[I N Hail]

Turning the attic into our recording studio...recording equipment, instruments, speakers, A/C...sound recording in general has a ton of multiple sources pulling anywhere from small to large amounts of power.

Would this excuse work?

Ive contacted a few guys on craigslist who are offering electrical work, and I found a 20 year old guy who is certified and seems like a down to earth, normal dude...So maybe he will work out.

Sound's great, I love hearing when someone has thought thing's through.+rep
keep in touch.


I N Hail