Wow what a busy few days. With the coming addition of an Ebb and Flow system we decided to split some circuits, add some outlets, get rid of all the extension cords, and most importantly get our HID lights on 240 volts to reduce our power consumption. Both lights were on 120v circuits, drawing twice as many amps as they would at 240 volts.
We ran a new 4-wire 10 gauge cable from the circuit panel to the grow room on Friday. The cable supports a new 30 amp circuit in the panel and a Power Box system with four 240 volt circuits and two 120 volt circuits. The Power Box has a built in timer that replaces the little timers each light was plugged into before. The two 120 volt outlets on the Power Box can either be constant on, or controlled by the timer.
Power Box makes several models in 30, 50, and 60 amps. The 30 amp unit we purchased doesn't have all the features of the larger models but is the right size (with growth) for our room. One feature that would have been great on this unit would be a "delay on" for HID lights after power outages. Funny, in the new catalog that came with the box it was shipped in...."New for 2010" - a separate "delay on" box that you can attach. Didn't see that on their website, or in any of the on-line Hydroponic stores.
I can proudly say that now all the extension cords are gone and the Power Box is up and running our HID lights.
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