Electricity, Current, Overloade circuit

[SeedKing72]

I have a S51 400 Watt ballast. It says it current is 4.0. So this telling me that the ballast is 480Watts/120Volts=4.0 AMP Current. I needed an extentions cord that was rated at 15AMP and is 12 Gauge

Now I also have 5 2-40 Watt Flourescent fixtures in there for a total of 400 Watts.. So I am assuming that is a current of 400Watts/120volts/3.3 AMP (Am I doing this math right). The fixture has nothing on it to tell me the current.

So I am now at what 4.0 + 3.3 = 7.3 and the circuit it is on is 15AMP.
On that circuit there is also a 13inch TV, 2 Computers, 2 Monitors + plus the light fixture, + Sub boxes for the computers, a printer, etc.. I have NOT added up all their wattage.. So now I am wondering, will I blow the breaker, Is my math correct?

But I know some people are running 1000 Watt Lights in their grow room, and I have to assume there are other stuff in the room. How are they not blowing fuses. Am I tripping?

The furnance/Washer Dryer is right behind this bedroom I am using. All on their own circuit. In my laundry room there is an outlet that is tied to a 20 AMP breaker. So now I am thinking about making a hole in the back of my closet (high up) and running my extention cord to this outlet and isolating everything on this circuit (I would have to make sure its not tied to anything else). I guess that is the best thing to do.

Am I over worrried? (better safe than sorry). Arent people running 1000 Watt lamps + Fans + exhaust + Whatever else on one 15AMP circuit!

SeedKing72 Reviewed by SeedKing72 on 09-14-2005. Electricity, Current, Overloade circuit I have a S51 400 Watt ballast. It says it current is 4.0. So this telling me that the ballast is 480Watts/120Volts=4.0 AMP Current. I needed an extentions cord that was rated at 15AMP and is 12 Gauge Now I also have 5 2-40 Watt Flourescent fixtures in there for a total of 400 Watts.. So I am assuming that is a current of 400Watts/120volts/3.3 AMP (Am I doing this math right). The fixture has nothing on it to tell me the current. So I am now at what 4.0 + 3.3 = 7.3 and the circuit it is Rating: 5

[SeedKing72]

**DISCLAIMER**: You may ask yourself why are you telling us all this. Because I want other newbies to learn from my mis-steps. It aint worth burning down your house. Also I am hoping someome can point out the stupid things I am doing.. I will admit I dont have patience, but I am waiting for seeds and I am using every day until my seeds sprout + when I transplant to perfect this room. SAFETY FIRST!!


Update......... I decided it was BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY.. I am a newbie but I aint dumb...Okay There are 3 plugs behind my Washer/Dryer/ One is freebie (it only has one outlet, not like the regular two). Looks like they are all on a different circuit .. I shut the Breaker off it was rated 20AMP (most of the other were 15AMP).. I then ran the dyer it still ran, Ran the washer it still ran.. I then went to every outlet in the house plugged in a radio.. all outlets still on. So I am deducing that I have found one circuit that is all by itself, and I dont HAVE ANYTHING plugged in there but what is in my GROW closet. I ran a 12 guage extention cord rated at 15 AMP through the top of the drywall to the outlet. I feel a lot safer now, my grow closet is ISOLATED all on one circuit at 15 AMPS. This is what I plan to plug into that one extension:

1 Surge protector with timer that came with the ballast (it has two outlets)
Into the timer:
400 Watt Ballast for HPS
Another surge protector (Which will run 4- 40*2 Flourescent shop lights)
So all the Lights work on one timer
Into the first Surge protector another shop light not on the timer, I will use this for seedling/clones for first grow
2 oscillation fans

All that concerns me is the daisy chaining of the surge protector out of the timer.. Shouldnt be a problem!! ????????

All this cost me $14.00 for the HEAVY duty cord from SPRAWL-MART, oh and a Humidity/Thermometer for $6.00 bucks

[Joel]

Hi there seedking, I my self do not think you will have enough juice to run all of your shit including your lighting off 1 breaker. I would suggest using a different breaker for just your lighting.

PS , your math looks fine lol.

[SeedKing72]

I am assuming you read my 2nd POST, we both posted at the same time!

You dont think so, its a 20 AMP.. I assume you can run a 1000Watt HPS on one circuit. I am doing 400 Watts of HPS + 400 Watts of Flourescents + some fans (dont know wattage yet)

So lets add it up

4.0 (I took this off the ballast) + 3.3 for flourescents (400/120=3.3) = 7.3 Amps

I dont think 2 fans is gonna pull too much AMP but I will check when I buy them.. That will leave me with around 12.70.. For good measure, lets reduce it by 20% for safety purpose that leaves me around 10.16 (12.70 * .8). Now keep in mind I dont claim to be a electrical expert.. so my math and calculations could be wrong.. This is just what I was thinking.. If I am wrong.. Please tell me, I dont want to burn down the house

[Marc Benson]

I've got 11 fluorescents and three fans plugged into a system of 2 surge protectors with them all plugged in to a timer that's plugged directly into the wall plug in. No problems and no doubt it's a 15 amper. Looks like a freaking octopus hangin' in there and for sure worries me a little but I work out of my home so I'm here most of the time. If a fire starts at least I'll be here so I can piss on it. Course I might want to keep that...for my plants. ha (you probably get that little joke right 72?)

But if you go over the amps a circuit is rated for all it's going to do is heat up (a little) and kick out. That's what they're there for. Too much draw and they kick out. So if you have the breaker keep kicking, you'll know it's too much. Would only have a chance of burning your house down if the wiring was older and even then not much of a chance. Most fires are started by old fans or cords or plugs or appliances or grow lights (ha!...just had to throw that in there) that short out and throw a spark and start a fire that way.

Also of all the web sites I've been on with their forums I have never seen where someone came in there and posted a thread that was named "I BURNT MY HOUSE DOWN SO BE CAREFUL!!!" Just doesn't happen that often.

[SeedKing72]

Octupus,Yeah, that is what I had to. Also, I got the piss reference..LOL.. I just wanted to be safer than sorry. At one time I had a Associate Degree in Electronics ( I ended up getting a B.S in MIS).. You dont hear about people burning down their house, because they fry their computers and burn them. LOL ha ha.. I guess I am just paranoid, I really worry about being at work and having 800 Watts of light going on in a cabinet.. Better safe than sorry.. I feel alot better knowing I have it all on a 20 AMP ircuit.. My future grow is in my office in a sliding closet.. and there is all kinds of stuff plugged in there... I didnt want to fry up my house..

[Marc Benson]

Understand totally 72. I worry about it too. Have even thought it would be cool to design some little halon fire prevention system for home growers...just in case. I know they'd sell. Would be easy to come up with a compact fire extinguisher on a sensor that upon sensing smoke would go off. Ruin the grow but save the house. And there I go thinkin' again!

[fivefingerlid]

Just put a 30 amp breaker in then your covered

[red662]

i have a shitty ten euro timer which can stand up 2 4 kilowatts, so if urs r worht more im sure they can withstand a lot aoff power, im runnin a 1000 waats with my 2 flowerin lights, the fan, air control, 4 flouros and no worrys it says i could add 4 1000 watt lights and nothing else and work proper, thats a lot of power, so id say u r well within ur timers range, worrry not.

house goes BBooom,lol

[SeedKing72]

I feel alot better that I have it on a 20AMP breaker isolated on one circuit. Now all I have to do is get the air circulation going, control them temp and humiditiy and I am almost ready to go!