Learning that using any kind of cheap power strip to plug your lights into is a BAD idea.

I've got one in the flower room rated at 15 amps. on it's little breaker. The only thing plugged into it is 2 600W HPS ballasts that draw less than 6 amps apiece, yet, the slightest fluxuation in the current and the damn little breaker pops!

I only ran this thing as I was not too close to an outlet where I wanted to locate my timers, etc. That is going to change today as soon as the lights go out at 0900.

So, the point of the post (it's early yet..not writing clearly) is to suggest AVOIDING these kids of extention cord/power strip combo's. The breakers in them are very cheap, and don't tolerate any voltage fluxuations at all, even if the fluxuations are still well below the limit of the breaker. It may save you a lot of heartache!

ISO

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On thing I've been told (by an electrician, no less), is that it is not safe to exceed 80% of a lines rated electrical capacity for more than short periods of time. In this case, 80% of 15 Amps is 12 Amps, which is what you have on that power strip. Like you mention in the title, though, its probably just because the power strips are cheap azz.

Think I solved the issue. I trashed the power strip breaker, and changed over by plugging the timers direct to the wall outlets. Had to do some quick wiring before the veg lights went out, but got 'er done in time. Now they can sleep for 12 hrs. and hopefully wake up to a nice, 12 hr. day tomorrow.

Hopefully one fouled up night of lights won't make them turn into a bunch of "burly-girls"! (I read where GreenNobody once mentioned that it takes more than one day of messed up light schedule to make them hermie...I hope he's right!)

ISO

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I'm with you on that one. My babies have had more than a couple rough nights.

I am liking the power squid breaker strips
http://www.powersquid.com/the_powers...owersquid&lp=y

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any similarity my posts have to reality are purely coincidental. I love to steal pics from the net and post them as my own after using a photo editor on them. As usual the Lizard is a lier and talks out his butt.

yeah it takes more than one.. but it doesn't take a lot. I messed my light schedule and had them on a very odd flip flopping schedule for 2 days. Well, I watched for a few days and goddamnit, BALLS. I might as well have waited for it to grow a penis too!

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I grow my bounty and spread it to those who need it. Johny law Won't stop my crop.

Those powersquids, at the very least, look awesome.

Heya ISO and everyone else...

I agree..and I disagree. LOL.

First rule..... don't use any extension cords on ballasts/high wattage equip.

BUT....I think...as thenoffya also suggested...that you may have technically exceeded the amperage/wattage requirements of that strip by plugging in 2-600's to it.

what ya gotta remember is that while it is a 600 watt ballast..it draws MORE than 600 watts ...especially on *start up*. This spike could easily trip the breaker on a power strip.

On the flip-side.... I once had a flororescent fixture FRY (it shorted out) on me that was plugged into a power strip. I smelled a burnt smell upon entering the room... and saw the light was off/the breaker on the strip was tripped...

I flipped the breaker ON...and FIRE shot out of the outlet next to where the floro was plugged in! I FIRST though the same thing...DAMN POWER STRIP.... but as I dug into the problem I found it was the floro fixture itself.....

IMO...while I can't (THANKFULLY) prove it...I believe that had the light not have been plugged into the strip the short may have travelled THROUGH THE WALL back to the breaker box...75 ft or so away....and could have *possibly* overheated the wiring between the growroom and the panel, GOD FORBID...possibly causing a fire.

be safe everyone! Check yer wiring regularly! btdt

Oddly, in the filed of electronics I work in, we test electrical devices to make sure they can handle voltage spikes, transients, etc. I have some expensive higher quality transient/surge protectors, but their amp rating is less than acceptable for this task. Higher rated ones are too damn expensive (of this type). I will be adding a Hydro quality surge protection box to each of these outlets now.

In that testing we have blown up lots of neat stuff (literally) with surges and transient currents.

My lights are set to fire off 2-3 min apart, that way one transformer can be ramped up while the other one is starting up, reducing the load on the breaker dramatically.

Talk about "Pucker Factor"!

By running 20 amp breakers the breaker will fire before the wire burns. A KEY ther is using sufficiently heavy gauge electrical wire to your outlets. 10/2 Romex can carry 20 amps all day without heating up, but the 14/2 can get damn hot under the same load. By running 10/2 wire and 20 amp breakers, the device is protected from such fires.

ISO

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Hey ISO Those cheap strips are crap.You can run 12/2 romex It will carry 220 volt and 30 amps.The 10/2 will carry 220 volt and carry 50 amps. If you use 10/2 you would not have to worry about line draw,but 10/2 cost a bit more.Rule of thumb is 5 outlets per 20amp breaker.It has to do with how far from the breaker box to the outlets.The longer the distance bigger the wire.Less draw the less the wire will heat up.I dont use 14/2 at all,to small.If you are running a short distance the cost off set would be worth it.If I remember right your grow room is close to your breaker box.Yes I would use the 10/2.So how's the buds drying? Peace

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Anything I may say or do is stickly for entertainment only.This is all make believe and is not To believe by me or anyonehttp:\\www.greenpassion.org/f73/over-grow-government-ogg-2009-what-8722/