Vick074-OG Kush Last Run in CocoSoil-CO2-1KHPS-5X5Tent-with Porta Scrogs!? Porta Wha?

[jon705]

Re: Vick074-OG Kush last run in CocoSoil-CO2-1KHPS-5X5tent-with Porta Scrogs!? porta

Im no pro either bro, I just know how to install a bigger breaker and run a line where it needs to go.You might be able to change the breaker but make sure the wire is a heavy enough gauge to handle the load otherwise the wire will get hot and possibly start a fire.If you have 2 plugs on different breakers available that would be ideal.put new breakers in both and only use them for 1 light each.regular house wire can handle 1 1000w light no problem from my experience in my house,I was told the hydro was updated in the 80's so its old enough lol..

 

[UrbanGrower]

Re: Vick074-OG Kush last run in CocoSoil-CO2-1KHPS-5X5tent-with Porta Scrogs!? porta

everythings looking smooth as always vick, keep it up


I just went through electrical hell!! lol

I'm in the same spot again for setting up 8 more lights, going to run me about 3-4k.

Also, remember that you can't surpass your maximum load for your breaker. I had to call the municipality and pay a lot extra to be able to run 600 amps. I think the max a house would have is like 250? mine was 200 prior and 70% loaded

jon, What about replacing the actual breaker that's prone to blow, with one to handle more wattage??
That way all the work could be done at the box, and wouldn't have to swiss cheese the walls trying to run new wires up 2 floors.
I mean don't get me wrong, I really don't know anything about domestic electrical, just looking for options..

Do you have a old sub-panel upstairs?? I would totally wire to that if it has the load/circuit space. I went around my house looking for any wires not in use lol and found a couple 40A that use to be used for oven/dryer/etc and just wired all them to my new subpanel. Unfortunately, next time I'm not so lucky lol I will have to re-wire everything on my main breaker to a new sub-panel, and use my 150A main breaker for the new space.


I'm not an expert on this shit. But the guy who did my shit has set up over 50 MMJ set-ups in B.C

 

[Hiker]

Re: Vick074-OG Kush last run in CocoSoil-CO2-1KHPS-5X5tent-with Porta Scrogs!? porta

jon, What about replacing the actual breaker that's prone to blow, with one to handle more wattage??
That way all the work could be done at the box, and wouldn't have to swiss cheese the walls trying to run new wires up 2 floors.
I mean don't get me wrong, I really don't know anything about domestic electrical, just looking for options..

Please don't do this Vick!

Home electrical isn't all that complicated, but it can be very dangerous. I'm not an electrician by profession, so assume everything I say is untrue and verify for yourself before doing any electrical work. That being said, I got into growing while studying electrical engineering in college (later switched to CS), so it was pretty easy to apply that knowledge to home circuits. I went to Home Depot, looked at all the stuff they sold and read a couple home improvement help books. I felt confident enough at that point to add a sub panel, for the lights and AC I was running, to the main panel in my one bedroom apartment. Eventually, I developed a rep within my little circle of other growers, and got to install the electric for many grow rooms. My favorite was the old prohibition era basement grow in San Francisco.

The wiring in the house can only handle so much current. If you try to push that, the wire will heat up and could lead to a fire! It is possible the wire is rated higher than that breaker, but this is not too common. When I have seen this, it's a 12g wire on a 15A circuit. 12g wire can usually handle 20A, but a house could be wired this way if it's a really long run. Longer wire means more resistance. Resistance is heat. If you're running the wire far, go up one size (smaller number).

At the very least, I would add a dedicated circuit for your grow room. If you're going to use a lot of power (more than 3000W, not just lights), you might consider a sub panel. Basically, you install a large breaker on the main panel, then run wire to another panel and then branch your smaller circuits from there. Either way, you will need to get a wire from the existing panel to the grow room. Step back and look at where the box is in the house and where you need to get a wire to. There will be a path with minimal holes. If all you're doing is drilling a 3/4" hole through a wall or floor, that is easily repaired. Keep in mind when trying to route the wait, you can go outside. There is wire than can handle being exposed to the outdoors. If you are making holes to the outside of the house, look for inconspicuous places to make the holes. Holes in drywall are easy to patch with no sign. Holes through something like vinyl siding, not so much.

There are some great howto's out there for doing home electrical. There are lots of videos if that's your preference.

One last piece of advise, don't rate the circuit such that it will be maxed out. If you're going to run a 20A 120V circuit to your grow room, Don't plan to run 19A on it. I would try to keep the continuous load closer to 15A. Remember that the lights, and anything with a motor (especially AC's) will have a large spike when they start up, so that's why you want to build in a little extra. You might be fine in regards to fire danger, but your AC will trip that breaker everytime it kicks on. This is also why you want to stagger the startup of your lights if you're running multiple lights.

---------------------------------------------------------------
I asked this earlier, but I think you missed it...

Did you post any details on your porta scrogs? I looked and don't see much about how you built them. Thanks in advance.


I can't wait to see these things start making huge buds!

 

[WizHigh]

Re: Vick074-OG Kush last run in CocoSoil-CO2-1KHPS-5X5tent-with Porta Scrogs!? porta

Dont burn the house down Vick dont do it!

 

[Xlr8]

Re: Vick074-OG Kush last run in CocoSoil-CO2-1KHPS-5X5tent-with Porta Scrogs!? porta

Update:
Photos at lights on tonight!
Day 7 of flower and things are right where they should be..
Even starting to get some goobers!

wiw!

Plants look great! You really have a green-thumb for this stuff, and grow really healthy, happy looking plants.

Love the new room plans - and super cool CAD program! That looks like me, praying to my plants, lol.

Not to be a buzzkill, but one disadvantage to running your ballasts "dimmed" is that it, supposedly, messes up the spectrum of the bulb somewhat. Now, how much or how important that is, I'm not sure. Might be worth calling the manufacturer of your bulbs and discussing perhaps. I really like how some of the newer e-ballasts have adjustable wattages that allow you to run a different bulb. In other words instead of "75%, or 50%" it's dialed from 1000 to 600 to 400 to 250, etc. This way, you can run bulbs at their optimum wattage and recommended spectrum. Again, I'm not sure how big of a deal this is, but something to consider.

We were lucky, there was a refrigerator and freezer where our grow space is, so lot's (well, enough) of power going to the area already. But, lots of other challenges (there always are right?).

 

[Vick074]

Re: Vick074-OG Kush last run in CocoSoil-CO2-1KHPS-5X5tent-with Porta Scrogs!? porta

everythings looking smooth as always vick, keep it up


I just went through electrical hell!! lol

I'm in the same spot again for setting up 8 more lights, going to run me about 3-4k.

Also, remember that you can't surpass your maximum load for your breaker. I had to call the municipality and pay a lot extra to be able to run 600 amps. I think the max a house would have is like 250? mine was 200 prior and 70% loaded



Do you have a old sub-panel upstairs?? I would totally wire to that if it has the load/circuit space. I went around my house looking for any wires not in use lol and found a couple 40A that use to be used for oven/dryer/etc and just wired all them to my new subpanel. Unfortunately, next time I'm not so lucky lol I will have to re-wire everything on my main breaker to a new sub-panel, and use my 150A main breaker for the new space.

Thanks UG!
Man you sound like you really have your hands full with electricity.
And you're setting up another 8 lights? holy shit!!
I just want to run 2 little old lights, so I don't think I'll be surpassing my amperage..
There isn't a sub panel upstairs, just one main panel in the basement/laundry room.
The thing is, I am renting here and I can't really be re-wiring the breaker box as it would be a dead giveaway. There are also renters living in the basement.
I have a small shop out back. And when I was in there working in the winter with my heater on, breakers would keep blowing over and over. Until I just got pissed off and asked my landlord to do something about it. Well he got an electrician to run a single wire to its own plug in the shop so that I could use it to run my compressor. So asking him to now need more power upstairs would be weird..
When the breaker blows, it's never me, (well it's partially me, lol) it's always the people downstairs tripping it! Which must make them pretty mad when they go to put on the kettle and POP, the breaker blows. And this has me puzzled too, because they live in the basement, but my room is 2 floors up! How the fuck are they blowing my breaker, unless the whole house shares the same circuit?
I may just have to stick with one light, as I don't want to be setting anything up that would be potentially dangerous.

 

[Vick074]

Re: Vick074-OG Kush last run in CocoSoil-CO2-1KHPS-5X5tent-with Porta Scrogs!? porta

Please don't do this Vick!

Home electrical isn't all that complicated, but it can be very dangerous. I'm not an electrician by profession, so assume everything I say is untrue and verify for yourself before doing any electrical work. That being said, I got into growing while studying electrical engineering in college (later switched to CS), so it was pretty easy to apply that knowledge to home circuits. I went to Home Depot, looked at all the stuff they sold and read a couple home improvement help books. I felt confident enough at that point to add a sub panel, for the lights and AC I was running, to the main panel in my one bedroom apartment. Eventually, I developed a rep within my little circle of other growers, and got to install the electric for many grow rooms. My favorite was the old prohibition era basement grow in San Francisco.

The wiring in the house can only handle so much current. If you try to push that, the wire will heat up and could lead to a fire! It is possible the wire is rated higher than that breaker, but this is not too common. When I have seen this, it's a 12g wire on a 15A circuit. 12g wire can usually handle 20A, but a house could be wired this way if it's a really long run. Longer wire means more resistance. Resistance is heat. If you're running the wire far, go up one size (smaller number).

At the very least, I would add a dedicated circuit for your grow room. If you're going to use a lot of power (more than 3000W, not just lights), you might consider a sub panel. Basically, you install a large breaker on the main panel, then run wire to another panel and then branch your smaller circuits from there. Either way, you will need to get a wire from the existing panel to the grow room. Step back and look at where the box is in the house and where you need to get a wire to. There will be a path with minimal holes. If all you're doing is drilling a 3/4" hole through a wall or floor, that is easily repaired. Keep in mind when trying to route the wait, you can go outside. There is wire than can handle being exposed to the outdoors. If you are making holes to the outside of the house, look for inconspicuous places to make the holes. Holes in drywall are easy to patch with no sign. Holes through something like vinyl siding, not so much.

There are some great howto's out there for doing home electrical. There are lots of videos if that's your preference.

One last piece of advise, don't rate the circuit such that it will be maxed out. If you're going to run a 20A 120V circuit to your grow room, Don't plan to run 19A on it. I would try to keep the continuous load closer to 15A. Remember that the lights, and anything with a motor (especially AC's) will have a large spike when they start up, so that's why you want to build in a little extra. You might be fine in regards to fire danger, but your AC will trip that breaker everytime it kicks on. This is also why you want to stagger the startup of your lights if you're running multiple lights.

---------------------------------------------------------------
I asked this earlier, but I think you missed it...

Did you post any details on your porta scrogs? I looked and don't see much about how you built them. Thanks in advance.


I can't wait to see these things start making huge buds!

Great advice hiker!
You really know your shit too by the sounds of it.
Like I was saying to UG, I live in a rental and the option of re-wiring the main panel is pretty much out of the question.
I have a subpanel to run off 220 that a friend gave me, but I have no way to hook it up.

About the porta scrogs. I thought I talked a little bit about how I made them, but I guess not.
What I did was take 2 large tomato cages that I used on my previous grow, cut them, opened them up a bit, then joined the 2 to make one big ass tomato cage. I then bent them so that they had 4 sides. Then I got some chicken wire, and attached a piece on top with tie wire, wrapped some electrical tape around all the rough edges and that was it! Porta Scrog! And instead of sticking them in the medium I decided to strap them to the outside of the pots.

hope that explains them a little better.
And thanks a lot for all your sparky insight!
I'm going to have to do some thinking about weather of not I'll even be able to run 2 lights in this ancient house.

 

[Vick074]

Re: Vick074-OG Kush last run in CocoSoil-CO2-1KHPS-5X5tent-with Porta Scrogs!? porta

Plants look great! You really have a green-thumb for this stuff, and grow really healthy, happy looking plants.

Love the new room plans - and super cool CAD program! That looks like me, praying to my plants, lol.

Not to be a buzzkill, but one disadvantage to running your ballasts "dimmed" is that it, supposedly, messes up the spectrum of the bulb somewhat. Now, how much or how important that is, I'm not sure. Might be worth calling the manufacturer of your bulbs and discussing perhaps. I really like how some of the newer e-ballasts have adjustable wattages that allow you to run a different bulb. In other words instead of "75%, or 50%" it's dialed from 1000 to 600 to 400 to 250, etc. This way, you can run bulbs at their optimum wattage and recommended spectrum. Again, I'm not sure how big of a deal this is, but something to consider.

We were lucky, there was a refrigerator and freezer where our grow space is, so lot's (well, enough) of power going to the area already. But, lots of other challenges (there always are right?).

Xlr8
Thank you so much my friend, those words really do mean a lot..
That's interesting information about the ballasts. And I'll have to look into that further. Right when you think you have some up to date gear, right around the corner something comes out that makes your "new" stuff obsolete.. But that's just the way it goes.
You're lucky you had the old W/D plugs near your setup!
It's funny because when we moved in here, not once was I thinking, hmmmmm I'm gunna light this place up!! And now being on my 3rd grow, I kinda wish that I had jumped on it a little earlier. Gould have been on my 6th grow! lol
I know for sure now, that when and if we do start looking for another place, the wife will be thinking "walk in closet, walk in closet!" and I'll be thinking "grow room grow room!!!"
,

 

[Wasmasjien]

Re: Vick074-OG Kush last run in CocoSoil-CO2-1KHPS-5X5tent-with Porta Scrogs!? porta

Awesome grow Vick

Look at all those buds, AMAZING stuff.

 

[Vick074]

Re: Vick074-OG Kush last run in CocoSoil-CO2-1KHPS-5X5tent-with Porta Scrogs!? porta

Awesome grow Vick

Look at all those buds, AMAZING stuff.

thanks Was!

 

[jon705]

Re: Vick074-OG Kush last run in CocoSoil-CO2-1KHPS-5X5tent-with Porta Scrogs!? porta

sounds like your sharing breakers with the basement apartement, im pretty sure thats ilegal lol...sounds like your stuck with one light unless you can figure out a way to run a wire up to your room from the panel bro

 

[Vick074]

Re: Vick074-OG Kush last run in CocoSoil-CO2-1KHPS-5X5tent-with Porta Scrogs!? porta

sounds like your sharing breakers with the basement apartement, im pretty sure thats ilegal lol...sounds like your stuck with one light unless you can figure out a way to run a wire up to your room from the panel bro

poop

oh well..
maybe one day.
for now I'll just stare at your grow room, and dream away.

or maybe I should pray?

 

[Bassman59]

Re: Vick074-OG Kush last run in CocoSoil-CO2-1KHPS-5X5tent-with Porta Scrogs!? porta

Thanks to you guys that are commenting on the electrical.

Some more questions:

This morning I went outside to the main panel. Flipped 1 of two 15amp bedroom breakers to see which it applied. Sure enough, it turned off power to my grow room AND the other bedroom that I have available to install a tent. BAH!

The other bedroom breaker looks to cover only a hall bathroom and my Master bedroom. My master BR has a 775w power supply computer on it, 42" tv, and little else. **Looking for ideas here**

The other thing I noticed was all the other breakers in the house are 20amp. (Obviously not for big stuff) Wouldnt the wiring in the living or dining or family room areas be the same gauge? This would make me think I could possibly bump the bedroom breakers to 20 amp w/o fear of overloading the wire?

Now, after all that, the laundry room is upstairs also. Electric dryer is running on 120v. But there is a 220v outlet with a dedicated breaker not being used! Now the distance from this outlet to the proposed expansion is about 20 feet. The 220 outlet in the wall is totally the wrong configuration and a ballast wont plug into it, but is it possible to splice in an extension of wiring and then make a unattached to wall plug in box for the ballasts?

 

[jon705]

Re: Vick074-OG Kush last run in CocoSoil-CO2-1KHPS-5X5tent-with Porta Scrogs!? porta

maybe 2 600's?

 

[Vick074]

Re: Vick074-OG Kush last run in CocoSoil-CO2-1KHPS-5X5tent-with Porta Scrogs!? porta

maybe 2 600's?

Well I was just going to use the 2 1000 dimmables, and run them at 50% or maybe 75%.
But 75% would be too much, and 50% wouldn't be enough. fak
I just don't want to have to buy new lights, ballasts, AND hoods. that would break me.
But 2 600's would probably be doable, if I could find some used ones.
I'd just run each of them off their own plugs, because there is (2 in the room)
And then run a short Heavy Duty extension from the room next door to run the fans/CO2/ and airpump.
Does that sound like it'd work??

 

[Hiker]

Re: Vick074-OG Kush last run in CocoSoil-CO2-1KHPS-5X5tent-with Porta Scrogs!? porta

the wife will be thinking "walk in closet, walk in closet!" and I'll be thinking "grow room grow room!!!"
,

They can be the same thing. Better make sure your next place has 2. One for each of you

 

[jon705]

Re: Vick074-OG Kush last run in CocoSoil-CO2-1KHPS-5X5tent-with Porta Scrogs!? porta

Thanks to you guys that are commenting on the electrical.

Some more questions:

This morning I went outside to the main panel. Flipped 1 of two 15amp bedroom breakers to see which it applied. Sure enough, it turned off power to my grow room AND the other bedroom that I have available to install a tent. BAH!

The other bedroom breaker looks to cover only a hall bathroom and my Master bedroom. My master BR has a 775w power supply computer on it, 42" tv, and little else. **Looking for ideas here**

The other thing I noticed was all the other breakers in the house are 20amp. (Obviously not for big stuff) Wouldnt the wiring in the living or dining or family room areas be the same gauge? This would make me think I could possibly bump the bedroom breakers to 20 amp w/o fear of overloading the wire?

Now, after all that, the laundry room is upstairs also. Electric dryer is running on 120v. But there is a 220v outlet with a dedicated breaker not being used! Now the distance from this outlet to the proposed expansion is about 20 feet. The 220 outlet in the wall is totally the wrong configuration and a ballast wont plug into it, but is it possible to splice in an extension of wiring and then make a unattached to wall plug in box for the ballasts?

if you disconnect that dryer plug and wire one of these to it you could run up to 6 1000"s off of that 1 plug.
Solatel 6-Light 240V Power Expander (PWX-240)
theres all kinds of them some cheaper than this one.hope this helps Bass

 

[jon705]

Re: Vick074-OG Kush last run in CocoSoil-CO2-1KHPS-5X5tent-with Porta Scrogs!? porta

Well I was just going to use the 2 1000 dimmables, and run them at 50% or maybe 75%.
But 75% would be too much, and 50% wouldn't be enough. fak
I just don't want to have to buy new lights, ballasts, AND hoods. that would break me.
But 2 600's would probably be doable, if I could find some used ones.
I'd just run each of them off their own plugs, because there is (2 in the room)
And then run a short Heavy Duty extension from the room next door to run the fans/CO2/ and airpump.
Does that sound like it'd work??

you can get complete 600 w dimable hps kits with vented hoods for around $250.00 on fleebay,I think it would all work bro

 

[Bassman59]

Re: Vick074-OG Kush last run in CocoSoil-CO2-1KHPS-5X5tent-with Porta Scrogs!? porta

jon, Thanks for that link.

I just realized an issue. The trigger on your link item is awesome. But that means all lights are on same schedule. I don't want that. I want to have flowering periods 1 month apart in two grows, and on diminishing schedule.

So I assume there are 240v timers out there somewhere, but would they be able to plug in with a cord, on said box to set timing on that dedicated light?

 

[Bassman59]

Re: Vick074-OG Kush last run in CocoSoil-CO2-1KHPS-5X5tent-with Porta Scrogs!? porta

you can get complete 600 w dimable hps kits with vented hoods for around $250.00 on fleebay,I think it would all work bro

And probably have crap quality, shitty hood, cheapo bulb.

Last thing you want is a leaky ass hood with hot spots of reflection and a ballast that goes poof.

I really do prefer to buy quality components in this area.