Some Florescents haves fuses or breakers that don't look like anything you've seen. First one I saw, I thought the guys house was bugged. A lighting shop is a good idea if it doesn't bust security.
Lighting Tripping The Circuit
- Thread starter ThaGreenBandit
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Some Florescents haves fuses or breakers that don't look like anything you've seen. First one I saw, I thought the guys house was bugged. A lighting shop is a good idea if it doesn't bust security.
ThaGreenBandit
Student of Herbal Alchemy
Have any idea where I'd look to locate the fuse/breakers, or what they'd look like? This is my first venture into the land of fluorescent lighting, so I apologize for my total ignorance
Can you shoot us a couple of pictures.
if its protected it can be inside the light or outside somewhere.
also check to see if its a 15 or 20 amp circuit that you have for your grow room.
I mean what does it say on the circuit breaker that keeps tripping?
if its a 15 amp then you may have to find another circuit to tap into or change the breaker to a 20 amp.
if its protected it can be inside the light or outside somewhere.
also check to see if its a 15 or 20 amp circuit that you have for your grow room.
I mean what does it say on the circuit breaker that keeps tripping?
if its a 15 amp then you may have to find another circuit to tap into or change the breaker to a 20 amp.
A4
11th Year Anniversary
Hey bro, is it tripping the breaker in your panel or the breaker on your outlet? From my reading, it sounds like the breaker on your outlet. If so, that sounds like something is wrong with your light. The link isn't working for me to look at your light, do you have any technical data on it?
Those GFCI outlets trip quick when a problem is sensed and it is quite possible you may need to change some wiring to the ballast. Maybe it is wired for 240 and you are trying to run it on 120.
If you can give me some info on the light I will have a look for some electrical drawings on it and see what we can work out.
Those GFCI outlets trip quick when a problem is sensed and it is quite possible you may need to change some wiring to the ballast. Maybe it is wired for 240 and you are trying to run it on 120.
If you can give me some info on the light I will have a look for some electrical drawings on it and see what we can work out.
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Hi GB,
The outlets in your kitchen are ground fault type outlets (that is the reason for that little reset button). If you are tripping it there is something wrong with the lights causing voltage to be present on the secondary ground. This is a potentially dangerous situation. I would return the lights as defective. You can purchase a cheap outlet tester at most hardware big box stores that will allow you to test the outlets in your tent to be sure there is no problem with how it is wired.
The only other possibility I can think is that the lights are set up for a different voltage than what your household voltage is causing them to fail and short out after you test them. If you are in North America your household voltage is 120v Europe is mostly 220v. There should be a label on the lights that say what it is set up for.
A lot of industrial lights in the US are set up for 277 volts and would fail quickly if used at 120 volts.
The outlets in your kitchen are ground fault type outlets (that is the reason for that little reset button). If you are tripping it there is something wrong with the lights causing voltage to be present on the secondary ground. This is a potentially dangerous situation. I would return the lights as defective. You can purchase a cheap outlet tester at most hardware big box stores that will allow you to test the outlets in your tent to be sure there is no problem with how it is wired.
The only other possibility I can think is that the lights are set up for a different voltage than what your household voltage is causing them to fail and short out after you test them. If you are in North America your household voltage is 120v Europe is mostly 220v. There should be a label on the lights that say what it is set up for.
A lot of industrial lights in the US are set up for 277 volts and would fail quickly if used at 120 volts.
A4
11th Year Anniversary
My thoughts exactly oldster, sounds like we have another electrician on board.
AndyBotwin
Weed Whisperer
I used T5 grow lights for many years and I don't recall seeing a fuse on the lights themselves. Usually there's nothing inside but the ballasts, and I've never tried to crack one of those open. I know there are resistors inside that act like fuses if the ballast burns out. Still, it sounds like a bad fixture, which is puzzling of you already replaced it once. If possible, I would try to find someone with a good volt meter and an amprobe to help you check the outlets and fuses in your breaker box. Just for piece of mind.
One other thing to point out is that using different outlets doesn't necessarily mean anything. If they are in the same room, they are probably on the same circuit. I had to run a new circuit to my basement to handle all my grow gear. Doesn't sound like the problem you have right now, but keep that in mind for the future. Also, it's recommended that you not exceed 80% of the rated amperage for a circuit, so a 20amp circuit should only have 16amps using it. That way you can account for any power surges that occur (such as when you first turn on an HID ballast).
One other thing to point out is that using different outlets doesn't necessarily mean anything. If they are in the same room, they are probably on the same circuit. I had to run a new circuit to my basement to handle all my grow gear. Doesn't sound like the problem you have right now, but keep that in mind for the future. Also, it's recommended that you not exceed 80% of the rated amperage for a circuit, so a 20amp circuit should only have 16amps using it. That way you can account for any power surges that occur (such as when you first turn on an HID ballast).
ThaGreenBandit
Student of Herbal Alchemy
??!! Seriously?!A4, you're like a virtual safety net! Any time I run into a problem, there you are, helping me out of another situation!!!
Try this link, it should get you directly to the page:
http://m.ebay.com/itm/380799248600?cmd=VIDESC
Oldster, thanks for coming through and helping me out, too. This place is insane and I love it ! It's so awesome how members rush to help out those of us in need!
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Good points AB
Breakers will have their rated amps printed on them. Some equipment will show their draw in amps others will show watts. Watts are simply voltage x amps. So if your voltage is 120 volts and your equipment is rated at 600 watts you would divide watts by voltage to get amps so in this example 600 / 120 = 5 amps.
Add up all your equipment ratings on one circuit and check against what your breaker is rated for. Simplest way to see what all is on a circuit is to simply turn off the breaker and see what stops working
Breakers will have their rated amps printed on them. Some equipment will show their draw in amps others will show watts. Watts are simply voltage x amps. So if your voltage is 120 volts and your equipment is rated at 600 watts you would divide watts by voltage to get amps so in this example 600 / 120 = 5 amps.
Add up all your equipment ratings on one circuit and check against what your breaker is rated for. Simplest way to see what all is on a circuit is to simply turn off the breaker and see what stops working
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