A grower just gave this advice

[Krippysmoker]

A good friend of mine just moved back from the Chicago area....he used to be a pretty good grower....now hes a computer guy. He told me to get some kind of computer back up....cant remember which one...but he did say it was in the 300.00 price range. You do have to check some numbers inside the ballast but he said if you run it off that you wouldnt have any spikes in your power meters....because it just runs it much like a computer would. The guy builds computers like Mcguyver so he usually knows his stuff. Not sure but hey it couldnt hurt to let everyone know. I will ask him more specifics if anyone is intrested.

[Rezinator]

Did your friend say the $300 unit was an Uninterruptable Power Supply or UPS?

[Krippysmoker]

Yea I think that was it....something about it reads like a computers power...of course this would not help in the event of a chopper with heat detection but just with the power company end of things

[Rezinator]

Krippy..

Normally a UPS is used to prevent computers from losing stuff/work/files when the power goes out. It's basically a battery that gives you enough time 5 - 15 minutes - to save your computer work, but I don't think any of them are meant to use for a longer time than that.

UPS's also do surge protection but that would not be an issue of security.

Could be your friend plugs in his lamp ballasts to the 6 new outlets on the UPS and maybe some UPS's have amp settings to assist the power "draw" when the ballast(s) power up.

Could be a primo UPS might help a grower make it look like nothing is on a timer, a strict 12/12 cycl,e say. Basically disguise the startup - shut off times. But average UPSupply's only give you a maximum of an hour and that's for running just a computer and a monitor.

So I dunno. You probably need to ask him how sophisticated the electric meters are in your area or something.

[HARDDON]

Let me get this straight...

A system that uses X amount of juice is converted to a Y amount of juice in appearance to fool the electric company?

No, I dont think so :)

Your friend would be a billionaire a few times over.

[red662]

sounds a bit 2 nice alright, whats the catch,lol?

[Krippysmoker]

Shruggs....I dont really know and he is back on another assignment in chicago. He will be stopping by my house on his way back to eastern Pa. I will ask him to clarify. All I know is he is a computer wiz who spends more time analyzing stuff than I have free time in a day. He usually is on point with most of his info but again I have not tried it. He just told me that if I began using a 1000 watt HPS then I should purchase this. I can always have him use my name on the computer when hes here...that way I cant screw up the details. All I know is he had several 1000 watt lights going when he lived in Indiana and he swears by them....but Im a novice....I was just passing along the info...But I will ask him to clarify. Sorry for any miscommunications on my part but all I remeber of most of the convo was 300 to 400 bucks for one.... and that the system reads like a computer to the electric company. Yadda Yadda Yadda blah blah blah....I will ask him and get a more complete answer! I will post it as soon as I can

[Krippysmoker]

Well my friend just dropped by so I asked him again. He said that you had to check inside of your Ballast for some kind of number. He said that the Power Supply hides the start up of the lamp which is when the power company sees the spike on your meter. As long as the battery backup is powerful enough for the light..<the reason for the expensive one>. That way the ballast draws the start up power off the battery which is then recharged through out the day. This is just another precaution for growers. Nothing more nothing less. Hope this clears it up

[red662]

so does it save cash in the long run r just stops the elec company sussin ur usin al that power(take the eye of u?)?

[HARDDON]

Ok now I know what he's talking about.

Pretty frickin clever as well.

Unfortunately, this works great on refrigerators and other things that are on and off on and off on and off.

FOr a grow room thats on once a day, it wouldnt be worth the effort.

When you first turn on anything rquiring juice, its the initial start up that sucks the most energy, thus the start up from battery.

Makes sense....just not for a grow room.

Thanks Krispy.....

BTW...I feeling kinda horney this AM.....got any more pics I can spank it to? :)

Thanks baby :) :)

[Krippysmoker]

Red it will not save you money....just saves you that BIG spike on your power grid at the power company....Thus giving you a added security if you feel your being watched. While power spikes alone will not give sufficient cause for a warrent..<UNITED STATES> It will obviously make the power company monitor you closer than you probably want....which usually leads to the cops watching.....Safety first.

Hard if you would resend me your email.....lol you can have anything ya want