cheap way to power 8000 watts of light

[DB2004]

the equalizer pf2 custom order from canada $750 - 800 they reduce a percentage of your bill.But with more load they knock off a bigger percentage. Its odd the more you put on it the better it works to a point. although I havnt used it i have seen on in use and will be trying one on my next run.

Stay away from Equalizer PF2, they DO NOT WORK. I know how they're built and the components alone are worth about $20.00.

Best Regards

DB2004

DB2004 Reviewed by DB2004 on 07-02-2006. cheap way to power 8000 watts of light My brother recently purchesed his first home and has decided to invest alot of money into a growroom. He wants to run 8 1000 watt lights but he doesnt want to get turned in by the electric company. What could he use to power his electrical needs? I dont know much about different kinds of generators ect. and he was stumped aswell. Rating: 5

[DB2004]

Tell your brother to use a 4 ballast flip for 8 bulbs. He'll have a constant 4KVA and that eliminates spikes in power, especially 8KVA on and off every 12 hours.

Best Regards

DB2004

[chongsboy]

My friend, an ex-commercial grower in canada stole power, paid some crooked electrician $5000 bucks to dig to the main wire, and bypass the electric meter.

Just to let you know:
AC units for single large rooms eat 1000-2000 watts
Your computer eats 350-500 watts
Your monitor eats 50 watts

So if you think, summer, you got 1 small ac on, and 1 big one, that's ~3000 watts (but ac's turn off and on...)
You got 3 computers in your house, that's 1000-1500 watts.

I would suggest in his new house, not to use a huge fridge, freezer, don't keep the tv on when not watching, turn off all other lights (cut down on outdoor lights, etc), don't use your microwave too often, don't vaccuum too often, don't use electric water heaters or electric heaters (if you have winters there), etc.

If you do that, you can easily get 1 AC unit for cooling, and 4 Lamps, and you looking kinda normal.

If you got a big house, then of course, it'll look more normal to use more electricity.

[Ole Smokey]

Tell your brother to use a 4 ballast flip for 8 bulbs. He'll have a constant 4KVA and that eliminates spikes in power, especially 8KVA on and off every 12 hours.

Best Regards

DB2004

what is a 4 ballast flip?

[Aaron385]

every 12 hrs it switches the output of 4 ballasts between 8 lights in two different rooms (4 each).. that way instead of 8k load for 12hrs you have a 4k load all day.

[Thehulkster321]

The growroom has not been completly set-up but its coming along.

He decided to go with an attic grow room
4 1000w MH's
6 SolaTubes (about same output as a 250w MH)
Everything is being planned to run off a diesal generator
2 Fuel Tanks were installed in the garage and his truck bed has been outfitted with a fuel tank aswell incase of emergency pickups when the fuel trucks cant make it.
Fuel deliverys are being arranged by vaious companys that supply diesal home heating fuel (cheaper then regular diesal)

The 6 SolaTubes were a risky idea but they way the roof is built it has bump outs so they are only visabnle by a chopper. The home location is also very good for growing ... not a house for almost a mile. The house isnt even visable from the main road you have to travel down a long dirt driveway to even get to it.

The room ahs been outfitted with various ventalation equipment, odor controll ect. I dont have all the detials yet becuase I have not been there in 2 months I only see him when he visits the family every month or so.

I should see him in the next month or so I will be able to update with exact equipment specifications.

[kushman45]

So how do you mask the sound of the generator and hide the exhaust fumes. And you have to deal with refueling good luck but man it sounds like a hassle. I am thinking you live in the boons somewhere to use this method.........

[Thehulkster321]

Not sure about the exhaust fumes but as far as sound proofing first he tried melamine foam but it wasnt good enough so he had to buy very EXPENSIVE foam used in aircraft manufacturing but I cant think of the name now. He says it works great.

[slowthestone]

8000 watts on the cheap eh.

Put a mule on a treadmill...convert kinetic energy into electrical energy.

Add a carrot on a stick and he'll be all set.

Though there'd still prolly be an issue of fumes to deal with if the mule is indoors!

[Aaron385]

curious on the name of that foam..