Preventing electrical hazards and/or fires

[KMK0420]

So, when i eventually get everything i need and my setup completed, i'll be using a Homebox setup with a 400 watter (HPS).

I plan on having the entire system into a surge protector, or UPS.

Also purchased a first-alert smoke/CM detector along with a fire extinguisher.

are there any other preventative measures i can take to avoid a possible fire? i know buying quality equipment is one, i'll be purchasing the HPS from HTGS. (high tech garden).

Any other input?

 

[Pirate]

A few:
Do not overload circuits
Watch for lamps cords, strings or whatever touching HOT equipment like lights.
If your gonna build any electrical equipment yourself..........Don't if you don't know how.

Of course there are tons more but..........Just use common sense.

 

[KMK0420]

another few questions.

timers and extension cords. any recommendations? again i plan on only running a 400 watt HPS, along with a fan and some other small things, so the load will be from 500-1000 watts TOTAL.

i hear digital timers are garbage from some people, then others swearing by them.

any links to timers/extension cords that can handle high loads?

 

[SevenSeeds]

Watch floods around electrical equipment, always watch ballasts around flammable matieral.....milar faling and shit..lots of stuff

 

[Pirate]

another few questions.

timers and extension cords. any recommendations? again i plan on only running a 400 watt HPS, along with a fan and some other small things, so the load will be from 500-1000 watts TOTAL.

i hear digital timers are garbage from some people, then others swearing by them.

any links to timers/extension cords that can handle high loads?

Any 15 amp standard extension cords will be fine. 20 amp cords even better if you plan on adding heavy load items like AC or Dehumidifiers.

I be one of those that SWEAR by the digital timers. Get them at Home Depot if your in the US. The hydro shops are way over priced for junk. The best ones are the "Intermatic". They take a battery and last forever and only cost $20.00. I have never had one fail after years of use. Every single dial timer I've used has gone out on me within months. The newest model Intermatic has 28 settings per day with built in Daylight Savings Time which you can shut off if you don't need it. I also like digital because I run MANY different things on various timers and trying to Synchronize dial timers is impossible. With digital you can sync to the second if need be.

Hope that helps.

 

[LolaGal]

Smoke Detector: I like to hang mine on the chain below my 400 watter. That way if the light falls, the detector is right in the thick of things for early warning! I put a string through the back and tie it right on the chain!

Ballast: I put mine on a milk crate! That way I know it won't fall off a shelf, or god forbid the shelf breaks, etc. This eliminates shorting of the ballast in case of flooding or water leaks! Very Important!

Timers: I love my regular old Intermatic timers, but hate the on off pins because they are so easy to lose! I found some 15 amp GE grounded timers for $4! They don't have any pins to lose and work great for simple setups!

I also have a light sensitive outdoor timer that was meant for Christmas lights. It basically turns things on when it gets dark! So, I use that timer on my heater when lights off and I need a little heat!





Hope this helps and be safe. Oh, Be sure and put down several layers of thick plastic on the floor to keep water leaks from ruining ceilings and floors! (Of course, you probably thought of all this already!)

Lola

 

[KMK0420]

thanks for the tips! anyone also have any links/recommendations for an ACCURATE thermometer/hygrometer with remote sensor so i can have it inside the grow box and the temp outside?

also, a random dumb question...do grow chambers have to be ventilated 24/7? like if i get a vortex for the homebox, do i only vent and circulate air when lights are on, or is it all the time?

 

[LolaGal]

I leave the fans on 24/7, cause the wind don't stop blowing outside at night!

Got a Oregon Scientific Weather Station from Amazon...It was $225 marked down to $29. The great thing about it is the remote sensors. They tell the temp/humidity and relay it back to the main station, which I keep in living area. The sensors even have a display on them, so they are useful in the grow area too.

Unit comes with one remote sensor, but can handle up to 3 sensors. Remote sensors for this model are $89 each bought from Oregon Scientific!! So to bypass this expense, I just got 2 weather stations for $29 from Amazon! That gives me 2 sensors which work with both weather stations....sure, didn't need but one weather station, but no way I'm paying 89 bucks for a second or third remote sensor!

It was a S+ARCK or STARCK (wierd logo) Model with Oregon Scientific...Guess Starck is a fancy designer. Anyway not only tells Temps, Hi and Low, Humidity, Barometer, weather forecast, Moon's Phases, and has an alarm clock.

Product details from Amazon: Oregon Scientific PSL01A-Y Full Weather Station, Basic Large, Yellow




Probably more advice than you really wanted, but it's the bomb for this hobby! Can monitor temp/humidity and not even go in grow room!

 

[drow]

With the Timers and Surge Protectors/Extention cords, make sure they are RATED for the amount of electricity you plan on using. It will usually measure watt capacity, amps and joules for surge protector.

 

[sparkjumper]

Rating should be the word of the day for this thread.Fires are normally caused by underrated equipment or supplies,not by ground fault.Your grounding system is there to protect personnel,not property.For some reason a lot of folks seem cornfused by this.Undersized wire and devices are the cause of most electrical fires

 

[jaybee]

Be careful with the UPS. I had same idea and it did not work, blew out one UPS and then had second one almost catch fire from cord getting so hot.

If you get UPS to work with your lights without burning down the house let me know.

JB

 

[Kush09]

This thread has got me interested in fire sprinkler systems. I have done a little bit of research and figured out it would not be that hard to install a fire sprinkler system in a room. All you would really need to do is tap into your main water supply and run copper tubing or blazemaster cpvc to wherever you wanted your sprinkler head. You could run this throughout the whole house if you wanted to. Sprinkler heads do not all go off at the same time.

 

[cocktail frank]

http://icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=57585&highlight=thoro's+electrical+safety+thread

 

[Che]

Buy a fully charged Fire Extinguisher, capable of extinguishing electrical and chemical fires.

Always know the rating of the breaker you're using, as well as what your equipment consumes, and do not overload it.

If you have "Fuse" type breakers in your home, make sure that they have not been replaced with higher amperage fuses!