I forgot how to figure out what size breaker you need when running x amount of watts. Anyone know the formula for that? I would just post how many watts I am running and get the answer but I am still not sure how many watts are going to be in use. ****EDIT**** Nvm I'm high. I remembered. W/I=A
You got standard 2 breaker sizes for 110/120 lines. 15A and 20A. 15A you got about 1500 watts, 20A 2000 watts. Do not use the entire amount. Only about 75-80% to keep within a safety margin. So 0.75*1500 for a 15Amp and 0.75*2000 for a 20Amp.
Watts Divided by Voltage = Amps ITCC= I knew not to max it out, but they do not have a 25 amp breaker? I know Ill be pushing 2,400 Watts with just lights alone, not including fans, air/water pumps and who knows what elese.
To me...and I'm no electrician...there's no real saving's from a 20 to a 15, so why not just use a 20 and be done with it?! And then multiple power strip's(the fuse's!!!), to the point that it's obviuos you are anal/paranoid!!! :icon_confused:
A. you want to use a big enough breaker to handle the power B. you don't want to go over kill and have the thing never trip if theres a problem. ( elec guy told me that ) you can also run more then one breaker to a room with high power usage is really the safest way methinks but im not an expert, I'd clear out your grow room hide all your goodies and have an elec guy come in if you can. mine runs off 2 15's
He's not being anal, he's trying to prevent an electrical fire in the walls. They have 60Amps and more but if you need more than 2000W you can't use the standard house wiring, its not suited for that at all unless you tap into a 240 line. All your normal 3 prong outlets are either 14 or 12 gauge runs. NEC says for 14 gauge max amps is 15 as part of a 3 wire conduit and for 12 gauge its 20 for a 3 wire conduit as per the table quoted. Free air is like a power line, 3 wire conduit is household w/ power (black) , common (white) and ground (green). So you either have to run your own wire from the main circuit breaker box sized to match the breaker for 25A+ OR you tap into an existing 240 line (240 is just 2 120 lines out of phase) OR you break up your lighting over multiple circuits and save a lot of work. I'd suggest really sharing what you are intending to run, power consumption, how many circuits are availible to you, their breaker amperage, etc and really let some of the real electricions on here break it down for you before you attempt to do any of this. You will be seriously playing with fire if you fuck up.
I Should Clarrify That! I meant that I'AM VERY NAL/fire PARANOID!!! That what I meant to say...anyhooo...
