4 1000watt hps

[pmorris]

I have a question i live in a condo that i am renting would using 4 1000watt lights (HPS), raise my bill a large amount and raise suspicion ?

[Dutch Pimp]

Your neighbors would wonder why it never gets dark, after the sun goes down. Plus you would need the A/C on even in the winter. Smell would be problem. Your electic meter would spin like a top. You could grow at least 50 plants with that much light. Maybe just one light, until you figure things out. I take it, you have not done this before?

[SpiritLevel]

Use a silent running LPG generator, it would eventually pay for itself.. Or if u know how to extract Hydrogen from water you can achieve free energy and overunity

[jamstigator]

My personal opinion is that if you're renting, anything beyond one 1k light is pretty risky. Up to you. I wouldn't try that if I were you though, not until you have your own place.

[pmorris]

Your neighbors would wonder why it never gets dark, after the sun goes down. Plus you would need the A/C on even in the winter. Smell would be problem. Your electic meter would spin like a top. You could grow at least 50 plants with that much light. Maybe just one light, until you figure things out. I take it, you have not done this before?

I have grown before, and i am starting back up just never used that many lights. Also i have built a sealed grow room. So light leaks will not be a problem same with smell. I am just wondering if using that much electricity is like a red flag in any type of way. Since i am not in a huge house.

[pmorris]

Use a silent running LPG generator, it would eventually pay for itself.. Or if u know how to extract Hydrogen from water you can achieve free energy and overunity

Thank you for your input.

[growkind]

4 lamps would be to much. If your elec company is able to monitor your elec
use with a graph they will be able to see the spike of power everyday at the same time.
To risky

[mscaboo]

how would you explain the power usage to the electic company?remember you will be not only be running lights,but all the other necessary equipment to run a grow op,which would be considerable with 4 1000's.the rule is 1-1000 light per bedroom.if your electric bill is 2-3 times the amount of your neighbors you are going to have a problem

[sjacobs713]

i live in a condo and 1 1000w , blew my bill up... to the point where i am paranoid they will notice... jumped up at least 320 during 24/0... too damn much!!!

[Racerx]

For each size of house or apartment, the electric company gives a range of what is considered normal acceptable use. When you go beyond this, they have other ranges. Like if you use maybe 130%, you move to a different bracket. Over 200%, another one. It gets more and more expensive as you use over what is considered appropriate.

I do not know the specific amounts alotted, and its not as if you go over that people will notice by any means. A good example. I have some friends who live together in a 4 bedroom hours. 6 people live there. They are not energy friendly. Another friend of mine lives with only 1 other person in a 4 bedroom house. They run 6000 watts in lights but are very energy conscious. Nothing left on, all CFL lights in the house, etc. They use LESS energy then the people who dont even grow weed.

I know people who have run 4000 watts in a 2 bedroom apartment. They had an absolutely insane bill, but nothing ever happened as far them being approached by anyone or anything like that.

[jamstigator]

I wouldn't worry about the electric company much; as long as you pay their bills on time, they should be happy. It doesn't benefit them to report high useage to anyone, and it *does* benefit them not to report it. People with huge bills who pay them on time are exactly the kind of customer they want.

The main issue is...it's not your place. If other people rent in the same apartment, one of them falling asleep with a cig, or causing any type of disturbance (and the police get the apartment number wrong), that kind of shit, can screw your whole life over. You can spend a decade in prison entirely because of someone else's stupid fuckups, and you have virtually no control over that when you're renting.

[UMrocksmysocks]

I wouldn't worry about the electric company much; as long as you pay their bills on time, they should be happy. It doesn't benefit them to report high useage to anyone, and it *does* benefit them not to report it. People with huge bills who pay them on time are exactly the kind of customer they want.

The main issue is...it's not your place. If other people rent in the same apartment, one of them falling asleep with a cig, or causing any type of disturbance (and the police get the apartment number wrong), that kind of shit, can screw your whole life over. You can spend a decade in prison entirely because of someone else's stupid fuckups, and you have virtually no control over that when you're renting.

very good point... i back this statement up :thumbsup:

[pmorris]

Thx guys you made some very good points. I think i will be fine as long as smell and security is under control.

[gorillafarmer]

dude I dont mean to be negative but unless you understand circuts and
there capicity your just begging for trouble, i am surprised it hasnt been said
Your bedrooms i bet only have a 15 amp circut to start with, be damm careful
4 x MH will pull between 28 to 36 amps depending on equipment. Peace

[Racerx]

MH use quite a bit more energy then HPS (except during ignition). As long as your grounded and you know which breaker it is, keep an extra one on hand. Thats what breakers are for. That said, what I try to do is distribute the energy around. Instead of everything hooked up in one room, get it hooked up on a few different circuits.

A good surge protector (this way you have 2 failsafes), basic knowledge of how circuits work, and an extra breaker or two and he should be fine.

Last, the only time I ever popped a switch is when I started up 3000 watts all at once and didnt realize that the A/C somehow got switched to the same circuit. We then made it so each light turned on 1 minute after the other. HPS draw the most amperage when they ignite, however for a 1000 watt Id say it barely hits 15 amps (which is still quite a bit) and only for a few seconds.

Now obviously, all this doesnt matter if you have some super old shabby spot with nasty wiring thats beginning to be overloaded.

[Dutch Pimp]

..like I said....."spin like a top"....

[kameo77]

The only problem with keep replacing breakers is that it eventually damages the wire over a long period of time. Spreading it out over the house will defiantly help. I think you said you live in apartment, you could always do what I did. I live in a high rise and I just opened up the wall in the closet and patched on to the building power and put a out let in the closet that is ran buy there power. Its such a big building that they will never notice the spike in the power bill. The only problem with that is you have to know what your doing and hook it up with out cutting off the power. I'm a contractor so it's wasn't that big of a deal for me but good luck

[gorillafarmer]

look I dont normaly get to involved, but racerx with all due respect your dead wrong and giving dangerous advice. Breakers are ment to stay on and only trip when when overloaded, if they trip then its telling you there is a problem. Replacing a circut breaker because it tripped is kinda (no offense) stupid. There triping for a reason, and a surge pro. has nothing to do with it, and you should plug into timer and directly into the receptical make sure the timer is rated 15 amps. Im not saying this shit to be rite im saying it because its true and important. If you dont bealive me - plug them in let it rip and just remember 911. Peace

[Racerx]

look I dont normaly get to involved, but racerx with all due respect your dead wrong and giving dangerous advice. Breakers are ment to stay on and only trip when when overloaded, if they trip then its telling you there is a problem. Replacing a circut breaker because it tripped is kinda (no offense) stupid. There triping for a reason, and a surge pro. has nothing to do with it, and you should plug into timer and directly into the receptical make sure the timer is rated 15 amps. Im not saying this shit to be rite im saying it because its true and important. If you dont bealive me - plug them in let it rip and just remember 911. Peace


I think we have some miscommunication. Circuit breaker and fuse...2 very different things. I aplogize for not being clear. Circuit breakers pop, they dont blow and need to be replaced. If they do, damn right there is something very bad going on and unsafe. I have lived in a lot of old houses lately which use fuses, no breakers. I forget most people have breakers :D Even with the fuses, I still wasnt cleear enough I guess, because what I meant is that if your fuse (or god forbid your breaker) busts, then you have one to get it running again. If this happens, I would cut half the lights off when you run them again until you can figure out the issue of course.

I never meant to say to even use fuses continously, just so that you dont screw your plants light schedule if you cant immediatly run to the hardware store or figure out what is wrong. Comprende? This is why I use 240 1000watts. 240 can handle something like 5000 watts on a single circuit, whereas an average wall socket is a lot less. You can always install a GFCI plug as well.

PS. What is wrong with a good surge protector? It will keep your balasts from frying.

[gorillafarmer]

Hi racerx, there is nothing wrong with surge pro. My only advice on that is make sure its a good one, timers and strips are everyones weekest link, i have seen
to many times where someone buys a $600.00 hps or MH and a $10.00 timer
rated @ 8 or 10 amps and they melt. This info is for newbees and just starting
amatures who in there excitment overlook or are just not aware of certain dangers. I ask all of them to ask ? and know your limits before setting up. A circut can only handel what it is rated for and we all know we have 15,20,and30 amp circuts.A 30 amp 240 is always best but thats another subject . I hope this helps. Be safe
Peace

[Dutch Pimp]

That's good info-advice on the juice boxes.