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 Oatman2000
-=Outa Space=-
 
Registered: 03/05/09
Posts: 203
Loc: Planetary Nebula
Last seen: 12 years, 10 months
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 Saftey - hazardous ballast plug 
#384343 - 03/15/10 10:54 PM (14 years, 8 months ago) |
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I'm not sure where to post this, Currently I'm doing Hydro.
I have a ballast plug that is extremely hot to the touch and melted my power meter within the hour.
 
 
I need to turn this light on to save my recently transplanted clones.
right now I have them under fluorescent.
Please help, any Idea's?
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 Spawning to COIR
Building a flood table out of 2 kiddie pools
 Ebb and Gro - Buckets 2000w
----------------------------
4-PO-DMT; 4-phosphoryloxy-N,N-dimethltryptamine
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 Hawksresurrection
Registered: 12/04/08
Posts: 13,464
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Re: Saftey - hazardous ballast plug [Re: Oatman2000]
#384349 - 03/15/10 11:37 PM (14 years, 8 months ago) |
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Keep them under the fluorescent lights for the time being. They'll do just fine for awhile like that.
Was your meter rated to handle the proper amperage that your light is pulling?? I wouldn't use that ballast though until you get it inspected by a professional. No need to cause a fire.
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Dude she isn't as young as she use to be.
-niteowl
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mhbound
Ballin out at all cost
Registered: 09/22/08
Posts: 8,144
Loc: High 
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yea something isn't right here
explain more details of exactly to your knowledge is going on...
how can i know more than you if you don't tell me what you already know?
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Suck my balls America
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captain.koons
Failed Botanist
Registered: 06/25/08
Posts: 6,170
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Re: Saftey - hazardous ballast plug [Re: Oatman2000]
#384515 - 03/16/10 07:50 AM (14 years, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
Oatman2000 said:
I'm not sure where to post this, Currently I'm doing Hydro.
I have a ballast plug that is extremely hot to the touch and melted my power meter within the hour.
I need to turn this light on to save my recently transplanted clones.
right now I have them under fluorescent.
Please help, any Idea's?
I don't know that timer but maybe it's shitty? Crappy timers and power bars cause fires.
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TROLLS NEED LOVE TOO!
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pha3r0
Stranger
Registered: 12/21/09
Posts: 615
Last seen: 14 years, 7 months
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Re: Saftey - hazardous ballast plug [Re: captain.koons]
#384538 - 03/16/10 09:02 AM (14 years, 8 months ago) |
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to me it looks like your pulling to much amperage, you say that is a power meter? As in measures the current and tell you how much is being used?
If that thing is designed for small household stuff it is very likely to not be rated at more then 10amps and unless it's a really small HID it is probably pulling very near that or more.
DO NOT plug it back in though until you either inspect it yourself or have a pro check it if your not knowledgeable in the field. I can almost promise the problem is that meter though but check all the wires for shorts. I can see the ballast plug can be taken apart that would be a good first place to check.
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"The proverb warns that, "You should not bite the hand that feeds you." But maybe you should, if it prevents you from feeding yourself."
- Thomas Szasz
"if you arent good with electricity dont go touching it...ive electrocuted myself twice...its no fun"
- mhbound
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Oatman2000
-=Outa Space=-
Registered: 03/05/09
Posts: 203
Loc: Planetary Nebula
Last seen: 12 years, 10 months
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Re: Saftey - hazardous ballast plug [Re: pha3r0]
#384620 - 03/16/10 12:12 PM (14 years, 8 months ago) |
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Thanks all.. Yes it is a power meter.
(sorry I had a REALLY LONG technical post, then I tried to add the image locations and it jumped screens on me...loosing my whole post)
I will look at the recommendations on the package, it's a 1000w HPS with matching ballast.
it's an old one, but still works.
the flourescents are mounted far away, and I did not think they were going to do much.
I plugged in a 14gauge extension cord and plugged the ballast back in... leaving the cord in the middle of the room, so If it did start a fire, it wouldn't do any damage.
I will test the temp of the plug when I get home tonight.
I also believe it's not rated for such power draw, and will give the specs I got off the meter tonight in a post as well.
ps.) I got the information I needed.. basically a 1000w light costs about $25 a month and measures 1kwh = $.07/hr
Thanks to all for your quick replies, I didn't even think people were that active on this site.
--------------------
Spawning to COIR
Building a flood table out of 2 kiddie pools
Ebb and Gro - Buckets 2000w
----------------------------
4-PO-DMT; 4-phosphoryloxy-N,N-dimethltryptamine
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Hawksresurrection
Registered: 12/04/08
Posts: 13,464
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Re: Saftey - hazardous ballast plug [Re: pha3r0]
#384782 - 03/16/10 06:23 PM (14 years, 8 months ago) |
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Well a 1000 watt light pull about 8.3 amps, not quite 10 but close. To figure out how many amps your pulling you need to take how many watts your using and divide by how many volt your using. Most outlets are 120 volts. So make sure you know how many volts the circuit your on has, but like I said it's probably 120.
Also in the future always check the rating of timers and power strips that your using, I have sen fires break out because people were careless or didn't know much about electricity. I hate seeing grow ops busted because people didn't take the time to research electricity.
A 1000watts is a lot of power. You should also check to see how many amps your circuit breaker is rated for. If it's only a 10 amp circuit breaker then I would recommend running the light and ONLY the light on that circuit i.e. no fans or air pumps etc. etc. You never want to run circuits at there max load, they call that running hot, and that can cause fires as well.
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Dude she isn't as young as she use to be.
-niteowl
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mhbound
Ballin out at all cost
Registered: 09/22/08
Posts: 8,144
Loc: High
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yea always check things like...
gauge of wiring, using too long or too short of a cord etc
you don't want a wire melting and causing problems like burning down your place of residence
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Suck my balls America
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Oatman2000
-=Outa Space=-
Registered: 03/05/09
Posts: 203
Loc: Planetary Nebula
Last seen: 12 years, 10 months
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Re: Saftey - hazardous ballast plug [Re: mhbound]
#385289 - 03/17/10 09:05 AM (14 years, 8 months ago) |
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thanks guys, I had a guy come look at the wiring. I run 12 ga.
It's good, great circuit breaker.
The plug is no longer as hot as it was being plugged into that unit.
I am currently running 3 lights and haven't had a spike yet.
i atleast feel more comfortable now knowing that the plug is not super hot.
--------------------
Spawning to COIR
Building a flood table out of 2 kiddie pools
Ebb and Gro - Buckets 2000w
----------------------------
4-PO-DMT; 4-phosphoryloxy-N,N-dimethltryptamine
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coda
Registered: 04/20/08
Posts: 4,736
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Re: Saftey - hazardous ballast plug [Re: Oatman2000]
#385994 - 03/18/10 04:50 PM (14 years, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
Most outlets are 120 volts.
I could be wrong here but I always thought it was either a 110 or a 220 line, with the majority being a 110 line. Not an electrician though so this is just hashed up memories from a long time ago.
Oatman - sounds like the problem was in the power meter then?
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MFDoom666: sobriety kills my buzz every time.
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Harry_Ba11sach
cannoisseur
Registered: 04/20/08
Posts: 11,753
Loc: Nepal 
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Re: Saftey - hazardous ballast plug [Re: coda]
#385995 - 03/18/10 04:52 PM (14 years, 8 months ago) |
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I'm pretty sure it's 120 and 240.... At least that's what it says out here...
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mhbound
Ballin out at all cost
Registered: 09/22/08
Posts: 8,144
Loc: High 
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Re: Saftey - hazardous ballast plug [Re: Harry_Ba11sach]
#385997 - 03/18/10 04:55 PM (14 years, 8 months ago) |
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yea its 120,240
it used to be 110, 220
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Suck my balls America
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mhbound
Ballin out at all cost
Registered: 09/22/08
Posts: 8,144
Loc: High
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Re: Saftey - hazardous ballast plug [Re: mhbound]
#386000 - 03/18/10 04:56 PM (14 years, 8 months ago) |
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but it was always 120...something about how they did the ratings made it 110 but it really was 120...
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Suck my balls America
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Oatman2000
-=Outa Space=-
Registered: 03/05/09
Posts: 203
Loc: Planetary Nebula
Last seen: 12 years, 10 months
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Re: Saftey - hazardous ballast plug [Re: coda]
#386016 - 03/18/10 05:09 PM (14 years, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
coda said:
Quote:
Most outlets are 120 volts.
I could be wrong here but I always thought it was either a 110 or a 220 line, with the majority being a 110 line. Not an electrician though so this is just hashed up memories from a long time ago.
Oatman - sounds like the problem was in the power meter then?
Yea Coda,
I do believe it was with the power meter (they are cheap. It's called a P3 Kill a Watt)
I have yet to post my electrical findings... I am trying to pass gallstones right now and man I am in some serious pain!
-May have a couple days off work coming up to not be so forgetful in uploading stuff.
PS.) My flowering girls are looking FANTASTIC, can't wait to smoke it!
--------------------
Spawning to COIR
Building a flood table out of 2 kiddie pools
Ebb and Gro - Buckets 2000w
----------------------------
4-PO-DMT; 4-phosphoryloxy-N,N-dimethltryptamine
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pha3r0
Stranger
Registered: 12/21/09
Posts: 615
Last seen: 14 years, 7 months
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Re: Saftey - hazardous ballast plug [Re: Oatman2000]
#386702 - 03/19/10 10:27 AM (14 years, 8 months ago) |
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US power is 120/240. In other parts of thee world they have 110, 115 and maybe some others. They are usually close enough for shit to work universally. Almost all PC power supplies are 115v actually not 120v but the extra 5v is inconsequential.
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"The proverb warns that, "You should not bite the hand that feeds you." But maybe you should, if it prevents you from feeding yourself."
- Thomas Szasz
"if you arent good with electricity dont go touching it...ive electrocuted myself twice...its no fun"
- mhbound
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Harry_Ba11sach
cannoisseur
Registered: 04/20/08
Posts: 11,753
Loc: Nepal
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Re: Saftey - hazardous ballast plug [Re: pha3r0]
#386708 - 03/19/10 10:32 AM (14 years, 8 months ago) |
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yeah. you'll never find a house current reading at exactly 120 or 240v anyway, usually like 117 or something in the ballpark
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Oatman2000
-=Outa Space=-
Registered: 03/05/09
Posts: 203
Loc: Planetary Nebula
Last seen: 12 years, 10 months
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Re: Saftey - hazardous ballast plug [Re: Harry_Ba11sach]
#387309 - 03/20/10 04:15 PM (14 years, 8 months ago) |
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Here's what the meter read running a 1000w hps light and quite an old ballast for exactly 1 hour.
I don't know what any of it means
Volt - 118.2
Amp - 9.35
Watt - 1083
VA - 1099
Hz - 59.9
Pf - .98
Kwh - 1.00
--------------------
Spawning to COIR
Building a flood table out of 2 kiddie pools
Ebb and Gro - Buckets 2000w
----------------------------
4-PO-DMT; 4-phosphoryloxy-N,N-dimethltryptamine
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Harry_Ba11sach
cannoisseur
Registered: 04/20/08
Posts: 11,753
Loc: Nepal
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Re: Saftey - hazardous ballast plug [Re: Oatman2000]
#387528 - 03/20/10 10:31 PM (14 years, 8 months ago) |
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Volts x amps = watts.
118.2 x 9.35 = 1083
that's basically all that applies here 
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