Some Electrical Advice, Please.

[East Valley]

Currently, I have a sub panel outside my indoor grow. There are 30 amps going to that sub panel at the moment.

In the main breaker box, there is a 50 amp breaker.

I turned the 50 amp breaker off, and went around the house looking for what turned off. I found that the oven no longer told what time it was on it's clock. The oven is a gas oven, so Im thinking if it is the only thing connected to the 50 amp breaker and uses gas, there is 50 amps to use.

Is running a line directly from the main breaker to the sub panel the best way to go, or should I try and come off the oven outlet for some reason?

 

[pico]

Directly from the main breaker would probably be best. But you probably won't have a problem going from the oven either if it is closer to your grow than the main breaker.

 

[Guest]

I'd be kinda surprised to see a dedicated circuit to a 120V clock on a range..

 

[East Valley]

Thanks Pico!

 

[imnotcrazy]

soilman, it may have been an Electric range that was upgraded to gas and they didnt bother to change out the orig electric supply....Possibly..

Pico: I hope he isn't confused by what you typed, you CAN NOT pull a subpanle off the main breaker. You MUST set a new breaker into the Main panel and pull your subpanel off of that Dedicated breaker. NEVER put two wires under one breaker terminal...

 

[East Valley]

Heres a little more information.

Yes I believe things used to be electric in the kitchen and are now gas.

The subpanel I have comes out of a drier outlet.

So, I shouldn't run a wire from the main panel to the existing sub panel?

Please don't worry that I'll attempt this myself, without help from someone who knows what they are doing, I need to come up with an idea of what amount of wire I need to buy etc. I need to know if i have the money.

 

[East Valley]

another possibility, since I need 50 amps in the room, i could disconnect the 30 amp line from the sub panel, and connect a new line coming from the main panels 50 amp breaker to the sub panel?

 

[Guest]

Are you in the US?Subpanels come 30A and 60A,install a 2 pole 60A breaker in the main panel and run #8 or #6 AWG sized wire depending on length of run and anticipated load.You're not trying to power up for an actual 50A load are you?You shouldnt overload any circuit or panel,a 60A panel will safely handle a 48A continuous load with proper sized conductors.

 

[East Valley]

Thanks for helpin soilman

Here is what I am trying to run

6 1k hps 240 volt, using 30
3 6 inch hurricane and an 8 inch adding up to about 5 amps
1 dehumidifier, around 5 amps
1 ac window unit at 5 amps
a couple pumps, not high pressure, not sure on amps
timers, and a couple room fans

theres a 50 amp breaker in the main panel now, i should take that out and put in a new 60 amp? run off that?

 

[Guest]

You are pushing the limit on a 2 pole 60A breaker to 60A subpanel(48A).Thats a continuous load rating.That is the NFPA "maximum safe guideline" for continuous loads 80%.The NFPA mandate is perosnnel safety sooooooo..you can assume if you exceed 80% by a skosh who's to give a rats ass?If you have a good breaker,proper gauge wire and proper wiring,its going to trip before anything bad happens.Guidelines are just that and should be taken seriously,but you have to realize all ratings are absolute maximums designed for personell safety sake.soooooooo.Dont exceed 55A on a 60A #6AWG circuit.If anyone has a new codebook handy dandy to look up #6 THHN amperage ratings for me it would be most cool.I know all you guys didnt retire from the trade to grow the scurvy like me...

 

[pico]

soilman, it may have been an Electric range that was upgraded to gas and they didnt bother to change out the orig electric supply....Possibly..

Pico: I hope he isn't confused by what you typed, you CAN NOT pull a subpanle off the main breaker. You MUST set a new breaker into the Main panel and pull your subpanel off of that Dedicated breaker. NEVER put two wires under one breaker terminal...

Yeah I used the word breaker when I meant to use the word panel. Deffinately have the sub panel run off its own breaker in the main panel.