lights shut off for 7 hrs what now?

Hello there, This is my second grow

The plants in week 5-6 of flower with a 400w hps 12/12.

They are all looking very awsome and healthy! Bag seeds but some are incredible...

I was going to work today, and my circut breaker popped, my lights turned off, and usually take some time to cooldown before they can come back on, So I couldnt get it back on before I head to work.

They have now missed 7 hours of light. :mad:

Question :

Should I turn the lights on for the remaning 5 hours and shut off at normal time? or should I turn the lights on for 12 hours and change the on/off time of the lights?

Also, I was curious about switching the time, I need it at a better time maybe 8 hours from what it is now, so I'm home when it comes on, Will this mess up the plants?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! :pimp:

I'd get the lights back on ASAP.

I'd cut 'em off at the usual time--the plants'll get a short day today...

Possibly more important: What popped your breaker? Hot wiring's scary.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DreadedHermie

I'd get the lights back on ASAP.

I'd cut 'em off at the usual time--the plants'll get a short day today...

Possibly more important: What popped your breaker? Hot wiring's scary.

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Thanks for the suggestion much appricated Looks like they get a short day.

I'm not sure what pops the breaker. I think it just may be a big load on it. Ever since I hooked this light up it does it every now and then. Its a hanging 400w MH lamp from a warehouse, using an HPS conversion bulb. Its wired to the right voltage. plugged into an extension cord, into a power strip, and into the wall, along with 3 fans. And on the other side of the wall, computer/printer/camera charger/desk light/monitor/clock/router/modem.

Maybe I should hook it to a diff breaker in the room? there is another outlet on a seperate breaker. And also I have another lamp, should I try swapping the lamps out perhaps?

Thanks again :)

Get rid of the daisy-chained extension cords / power strips.

As you're doing that, notice if they're warm from the electrons coursing through them. (They should never be warm.)

Replace with the shortest cable that will reach, of the heaviest gauge you can afford.

Definitely, try to split up your electrical load. Different breaker circuits are better, but even running to different outlets on the same breaker will spread out the load / heat some. Giving the electricity as many paths as possible can lower the total 'resistance' to current flow. (So does keeping the path as short as possible, and the wire as fat as possible.)

If you're running those lights you were inquiring about in your other posts, you should have a pro look them over. Fire safety is not where you cut corners. :hippy:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DreadedHermie

Get rid of the daisy-chained extension cords / power strips.

As you're doing that, notice if they're warm from the electrons coursing through them. (They should never be warm.)

Replace with the shortest cable that will reach, of the heaviest gauge you can afford.

Definitely, try to split up your electrical load. Different breaker circuits are better, but even running to different outlets on the same breaker will spread out the load / heat some. Giving the electricity as many paths as possible can lower the total 'resistance' to current flow. (So does keeping the path as short as possible, and the wire as fat as possible.)

If you're running those lights you were inquiring about in your other posts, you should have a pro look them over. Fire safety is not where you cut corners. :hippy:

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Awsome thanks so much for the help! I have an electrition friend who said he will check both of them out for me. And yeah I guess all your tips make sense now that I read up on circut breakers!

First thing I'll do is try to shortin that extenstion wire(maybe get a bigger one)/remove powerstrips/ and maybe put the fans on another circut in the room. But definatly the lamp is the cause (sometimes right when it turns on, sometimes an hour later), could be a too heavy load, could be the lamp itself, the house wiring im sure is fine. I'll be doing these suggestions soon to make my light more safe.

But thanks again I appreciate your help and suggestions! And seems you have answered my questions for the day! :hippy: awsomee!

If you are changing the time of your light schedule, I suggest you do it slowly by adding an hour or two to your "night" time then run it like that for a few days until the daylight start is where you want it to be.

Definitely get a thicker, shorter extension cord. Don't mess with this stuff. If you can get your pal to put a slightly higher amp breaker in, do that as well.

The girls will be fine.

In addition to being a trip hazard long cords also cause a voltage drop. Only use 80% of the rated current for a breaker to avoid tripping it.

Correct-a-mundo on the 80% rule. Try to utilize that outlet that is on its own breaker, hopefully it is a 20-amp one. If not, have it changed to one. Then as long as you use either a 12 or 14 gauge cord to your outlet strip, then out to the various components, you should be fine up to 100 feet away - and total load of up to 1600 watts. :thumbsup: