tapping into the dryer outlet

[avgjoe]

Anyone have a method or a good product for tapping into the dryer outlet and still being able to use the dryer?


Obviously I can pull the faceplate, cut wires, and splice in - but cleaner solution would be nice.


Thanks

 

[Guest]

unplug your lights during lights out when you want to use the dryer and plug it in? you'll have to reset the timer a bit, but thats all.

 

[Guest]

Turn off the power, (dryer) remove the cover plate and dryer plug. piggy back a box extender to your in wall existing box, using a connector add a second standard box to one side or the other of the piggy backed unit. Fasten all boxes securely together and attach to the wall. Extend the existing wires into the piggy backed box and run a set of jumpers to the 2nd box. Re install the old plug and a new one on the 2nd box, put on the cover plates, flip the breaker and GO for it!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is a clean and safe way to go about it, just remember you can't run both if you have heavy electrical demands in your grow area.

Ty-Stik

 

[avgjoe]

hey ty-stik,

How would you suggest actually doing the piggy-backing on the wires? Just cut the originals behind the plate twist and cap splices in?

 

[PharmaCan]

I assume you are talking about hooking into a 240 volt dryer receptacle.

If you don't want to disturb the existing wiring, just make a short extension cord - one end would have a plug the same as on the dryer to plug into the 240v socket; a short cord would lead to a handy box (or something similar). The handy box would have two receptacles - one for your dryer, one for your lights. If you do this, make sure you use heavy wire for the cord! Better yet, get a bud who knows about electrical work to make it for you.

This would be easy to put together and you wouldn't have to mess with the house wiring.

PC

 

[humboldtseeds]

you should bypass the dryer outlet and just tap into the main box with a brand new wire and breaker rated for twice as many amps as you will be using. you don't want to burn out your dryer circuit wiring running your lights off of it. also you should get a gas dryer ASAP they use almost no juice compared to a electric dryer. if the wiring in your house is not brand new running lights on your dryer circuit is a fire hazard. make sure you check and see what gauge your wire is in your outlet if you decide to do it anyways.

 

[Guest]

I assume you are talking about hooking into a 240 volt dryer receptacle.

If you don't want to disturb the existing wiring, just make a short extension cord - one end would have a plug the same as on the dryer to plug into the 240v socket; a short cord would lead to a handy box (or something similar). The handy box would have two receptacles - one for your dryer, one for your lights. If you do this, make sure you use heavy wire for the cord! Better yet, get a bud who knows about electrical work to make it for you.

This would be easy to put together and you wouldn't have to mess with the house wiring.

PC

He would still have to use 2 boxes as they don't make cover plates for gang boxes that handle 2 240V dryer/stove receptacles. Also it is not the best idea in the world having a 240V set up laying on the floor of a "wet location" such as a laundry room, plus you save the cost of an additional Dryer Cord annnnnnnnnnnnd you won't damage existing wiring.

Ty-Stik

 

[Guest]

hey ty-stik,

How would you suggest actually doing the piggy-backing on the wires? Just cut the originals behind the plate twist and cap splices in?

No cutting required, just loosen the screws on the plug. And yes to the Wire Nuts. Also make sure the jumper wire is of the same AWG (gauge) as the outlet wiring.

Ty-Stik

 

[PharmaCan]

He would still have to use 2 boxes as they don't make cover plates for gang boxes that handle 2 240V dryer/stove receptacles. Also it is not the best idea in the world having a 240V set up laying on the floor of a "wet location" such as a laundry room, plus you save the cost of an additional Dryer Cord annnnnnnnnnnnd you won't damage existing wiring.

Ty-Stik

Anyone who needs to ask about basic wiring shouldn't be messing with it. And laying electrical boxes on a wet floor - ROFLMAO. Did I suggest setting the boxes on the floor?

PC

 

[DiscoDuck]

hey avgjoe, with all due respect, cutting and splicing is out for 220, not even a good idea with 110. even some of these other suggestions might be a little safer but no reputable electrician would recommend such a potential risk. irishSoCo has the best and safest idea to unplug the light whenever you need to use your dryer. be safe and happy.

 

[RED145]

Why are we tappin into the dryer again??I keep forgetting these things,during a power outage I can fire the hole trailer up thru the dryer plug,from the gen to the dryer,scary shit!!

 

[Guest]

you should bypass the dryer outlet and just tap into the main box with a brand new wire and breaker rated for twice as many amps as you will be using. you don't want to burn out your dryer circuit wiring running your lights off of it. also you should get a gas dryer ASAP they use almost no juice compared to a electric dryer. if the wiring in your house is not brand new running lights on your dryer circuit is a fire hazard. make sure you check and see what gauge your wire is in your outlet if you decide to do it anyways.

any sparkies wanna back this up? i wasn't aware

 

[avgjoe]

Why are we tappin into the dryer again??I keep forgetting these things,during a power outage I can fire the hole trailer up thru the dryer plug,from the gen to the dryer,scary shit!!

The place is 2-story. I have a 220v tap upstairs at the dryer/washing machine adjacent to the garden room. My breaker box is downstairs. Utilizing the dryer plug is the simplest option. Running a dedicated line from the box really isn't an option.


I guess the simplest solution is going to be manually changing the plugs and using the washing machine during lights out. I was trying to avoid complaints from the female half of my equation though.


hmmmmmm.


thanks for the input guys.

 

[humboldtseeds]

just make sure you check the gauge of your wire. one time i had them put some skinny ass wire in my dryer circuit. im just saying let the gauge of the wire dictate how much juice you use on that dryer circuit, don't just go by the 30 amp breaker and think you can run 6000 watts on it. you should never run more then 3000 watts off that circuit IMO. I use a massive wire to power my shit and you're going to have all your lights running on a skinny little wire. IMO if you get a bigger fatter power wire to power your ballasts you will probably get a better yield. electricity is like water, it flows better through a bigger pipe.

 

[Guest]

The method suggested is performed when folks want to extend power outlets in a surface mount application from an existing in wall power source. All junctions and connections are made up within approved metal boxes and are code legal.

Plugging and unplugging a dryer cord is a physical task, forget to do it and-----------you fill in the blanks. While I am not a state licensed electrician I am and have been for 32 years a General Building Contractor and the method suggested is not an uncommon practice in retro fit applications where the circuit being extended is a viable one. Surface mount runs are common in office retros.

30A circuits require 10 AWG wire, that is code.

What pray tell is a "skinny assed wire"?? Do you mean that an Electrician undersized your dryer circuit installation because you had him do it?

As to splicing wire, that is what they make wire nut connectors for, tens of millions of them annually world wide.

Regarding being unsafe to use wiring in an older structure, we have in the U.S. an untold number of homes that still have knob and tube wiring still going strong.

By the way Avjoe, how many conductors (wires) run to your dryer outlet?

Sincerely,

Ty-Stik

 

[humboldtseeds]

yeah the wire was 10 gauge, to me this seemed skinny as every place i'd tapped into the dryer circuit before was much bigger wire. you must be one of those shabby contractors as you don't seem very concerned with fire safety. who cares if old houses still have knob and tube wiring still going strong, running a grow on old wiring is stupid plain and simple. i don't know avjoes situation but if it was me id tap into the main box, remove the dryer circuit altogether replace it with a new 60 amp or 100 amp breaker and a brand new wire big enough for twice as many watts as i'd be running to another breaker box wired with 240 outlets, mount all the ballasts outside the room and plug them all into a flip box with a timer. AvJoe you should send your laundry out to be washed, or take it to the laundromat or buy a gas dryer like I did that way you don't run up your power bill with juice that isn't used for growing. may as well do laundry somewhere else and use as much juice as you can.

 

[PharmaCan]

Ty-Stik - While everything you said is correct, I think that with electrical issues you have to consider the skill of the person doing the wiring. Something that might be second nature to you or me can be quite overwhelming for someone with no experience.

... but I'll let y'all sort that out. I've already put in my $.02

PC

 

[Guest]

yeah the wire was 10 gauge, to me this seemed skinny as every place i'd tapped into the dryer circuit before was much bigger wire. you must be one of those shabby contractors as you don't seem very concerned with fire safety. who cares if old houses still have knob and tube wiring still going strong, running a grow on old wiring is stupid plain and simple. i don't know avjoes situation but if it was me id tap into the main box, remove the dryer circuit altogether replace it with a new 60 amp or 100 amp breaker and a brand new wire big enough for twice as many watts as i'd be running to another breaker box wired with 240 outlets, mount all the ballasts outside the room and plug them all into a flip box with a timer. AvJoe you should send your laundry out to be washed, or take it to the laundromat or buy a gas dryer like I did that way you don't run up your power bill with juice that isn't used for growing. may as well do laundry somewhere else and use as much juice as you can.

I don't know what school your parents paid to send you to Humboltseeds but one thing is for sure, they have a refund coming. You have demonstrated that you are extremely ill informed, ignorant, impetuous, rude, impertinent and insulting to people you have never met or know and all of this in the few short days that you have been a member of the IC Forums. Other than that I am sure you are just a wonderful fellow.

As to my business skills, If you young fellow knew what you were talking about you wouldn't be talking down to those that reasonably do. We all make mistakes and I am no exception, a man recognizes that, fixes it, and moves on to the next step. I have a clean license, 32 years without a complaint to the Bureau, and pay the lowest bonding and insurance rates in the industry, Why? Because the work is on schedule, on budget, code compliant and to the customers satisfaction.

Nobody wants anyone to get hurt, physically or financially, as a result of information that is just plain wrong. In your infinite wisdom, such as it is, you jumped on me, and that was a big mistake, because you made a fool of your self, big time, and on an International Forum without even taking the time to research the answer I provided Avjoe. He need only walk into Lowe's, Home Depot or an electrical supply house, tell them the size and type of his outlet box and a sketch and he will be walking out the door with what he needs in short order.

I like people and take pleasure in helping them and the smile when they succeed. There are some real good folks in here, at least I think so, get to know them and know your limits as well because from where I sit sir you appear to have a massive quantity of egg on your face that is in need of removal.

I'll show you mine, you show ALL OF US yours, how's that grasshopper? This grow photo is in my home, built in 1964, and as you can see it has not burned down because of old wiring or as a result of my shitty workmanship. So much for your theory, and by the way this is an all electric house with a 400 A panel 9 feet to the right of this photo.

Well folks this was a long and windy reply, but those that know me know I care about the people in here and help them when I can, but dammit I've got feelings too, and HE stepped on them and that is why I gave HIM both barrels up front and personal.




Regards and Happy Growing,

Ty-Stik

 

[humboldtseeds]

I sure as hell don't have my ballasts in my room nor do I have panda plastic on my walls. thats how I had my stuff setup when I was a teenager. I run lumatek digitals on a progressive growth flip remote ballasts with huge cords for each ballast not those little rinky dink factory cords. 400 amp panel my god man that is bad ass. you sure have me beat there. im not trying to get into a flame war with you, I just think that brand new wiring and brand new digital ballasts are better then 40 year old wiring and magnetics.

 

[avgjoe]

Hey everyone- thanks for the input.

Ty, it is a 4 prong outlet.


The place is only about 5 years old.