using a power board?

[Ford Fairlane]

Is it ok to use a power board for, say, two 400w lights and three fans???

[STONEDAJ69]

not really. you can, but it's not really too smart. 400W @ startup will draw more power than 400W, sometimes a 400W alone COULD be enough to trip a powerboard.

[pisspotgrower]

Pends what ya power board is rated at......my ones from wollies r rated at 2000 watts so dont go above that and there is no problems at all.

[Ozzy420]

For me i wouldent be pulling all that power from one out let.

 

I would set say fans from one out let and lighting from a diffrent one so u aint pulling to much current through one out let that could over heat and cause a fire.

 

I only run a 400w in a small robe but have it set so the lighting it pluged into one socket and the fans and if i have automated watering setup into another not to draw to much current through one socket, i do this as my place is an older one and have no clue what the wiring is like through the place.

 

Rather be safe than sorry...

[wayno86]

Gday puka...

Most powerboards rated at 10 amps 2400 watts, whether they be 4 or 6 way boards. 2 400W lights should draw about 3.33A continous current, but as mentioned the power spike at startup could be up to 6 times that, maybe enough to trip the 10A overload on the powerboard.I was under the impression that fans and ventillation in general should be running 24/7, so they wouldn't be plugged into the same powerboard as timer controlled lights? I have just built first growroom, new to growing, so correct me if im wrong about the fans. I am a qualified sparky btw dont like to rub it in but could be handy to know sparkies on OS

[The Hash Nibbler]

Gday puka...

Most powerboards rated at 10 amps 2400 watts, whether they be 4 or 6 way boards. 2 400W lights should draw about 3.33A continous current, but as mentioned the power spike at startup could be up to 6 times that, maybe enough to trip the 10A overload on the powerboard.I was under the impression that fans and ventillation in general should be running 24/7, so they wouldn't be plugged into the same powerboard as timer controlled lights? I have just built first growroom, new to growing, so correct me if im wrong about the fans. I am a qualified sparky btw dont like to rub it in but could be handy to know sparkies on OS

 

 

heya Wayno, sweet, a voice of reason, . I was wondering so checked my magnetic 400w HPS ballast Running Current is 2.2 amps

Starting current is 3.0 amps, so two on a 10amp board are fine, drawing roughly 4.5 amps running and 6 amps starting.

 

If ya worried run two seperate timers and stagger them a bit so the lights start at slightly different times.

I run all fans etc, seperate to the lights circuit just in case. dib dib dib, dob dob dob. Peace. gh72

[Pleb Scrubber]

I run 2 x 400w and a 130w light, and 5 fans during full flower

 

along with all the pumps and what not from a single wall outlet, via extension leads and power boards

 

never trips

 

I asked an electrician and he said that the fuse would just blow if it were too much load

 

and its no good running from 3 different outlets if they are all on the same circuit, the load would be the same

usually a house has 2 circuits for the power points, u could spread the growroom load across the 2

[wayno86]

I run 2 x 400w and a 130w light, and 5 fans during full flower

 

along with all the pumps and what not from a single wall outlet, via extension leads and power boards

 

never trips

 

I asked an electrician and he said that the fuse would just blow if it were too much load

 

and its no good running from 3 different outlets if they are all on the same circuit, the load would be the same

usually a house has 2 circuits for the power points, u could spread the growroom load across the 2

 

If you are running anymore than 2-3 lights, plus fans, water and air pumps, etc, i would suggest having a dedicated circuit for the grow room... just so if there were any overloading probs it wont trip-out half the house

[Ford Fairlane]

Well as much as I enjoy triping out myself, My house is another matter entirely.. So maybe I should run one light and one fan on one board and one light and two fans on the other....Thanks for all the great info everyone. And good on ya wayno, it's good to know there's a sparky on board for these types of questions

[brick]

I have seen power boards melted inside, they look fine outside but a mess internally. Due to over loading and just about continuous running of motors (high starting torque for a second or two) off them. I would never use a power board for my lights. Too risky. Ok shoot me down in flames all you sparky's. Just my experience with them over a very long period of time.