just curious as a general consensus...would would you guys say watts wise, that i can safely run through for my house and my setup remain discreet and not raise any red flags electric wise? i currently run 4 600s just wondering how far can i push it cause i have a lot more room
how many watts?
- Thread starter ag843
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mr.schroederific
Well-Known Member
You've already exceeded your limit. This is why your on here hoping that someone tells you that you're safe. When your not. The electric company knows what your doing....
vostok
Well-Known Member
4x 600w = 2400 watts on one domestic circuit is a lot, any more will require a separate circuit, then theres the extras like ventilation, fans etc etc,...it soon adds up, try and keep your bill at the same level as those that may play a band, or craft pottery in a kiln, or those guys that weld a lot or even crazy fish tank and train set guys ...keep it low and cool, test it out by renting a flir camera at your local Home Depot to get an idea of your thermal foot print!
mr.schroederific
Well-Known Member
Depends on your state, I reside in cali. I say fuck em, do what I need to do.
yeah im on top of the extra circuit thing which was the reasoning for my question. but if im already exceeding a safe amount of wattage no way i'll risk pushing it more. vostok can you pm me to give me more detail of this thermal foot print you mentioned.
vostok
Well-Known Member
I tried dude...but there is a word limit on the PM thing, so posted here ..
For guys in states where cannabis is still illegal, cops often snoop on suspect growers, with FLIR cameras, forward looking radar, or thermal imaging cameras like as used as SFX in movies like Predator etc,..emitted heat from fires, engines and lights easily registrar in these cameras, giving away you hanky panky operation, tho in many areas its still very difficult for cops to get a warrant with just flir images,
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Hot Diggity Sog
Well-Known Member
You call that a lot?
Where I live, people use 2400 watts just on dehumidifiers for their basements.
How many watts do you suppose it takes to run central air on a 4,000 sq/ft house?
I'm sorry to disagree, but 2400 watts is not shit.
Hot Diggity Sog
Well-Known Member
Just pay you bills and on time and don't worry so much about that aspect. What is the magic number? I have no idea.
mr.schroederific
Well-Known Member
Let me know when I said that is was a lot
GrowerGoneWild
Well-Known Member
I think it depends on where in the country you are and time of year.
Put it into perspective.
A 1500 watt space heater can run most of the day keeping the chill off. Even if your grow was exactly 2400 watts its not that bad, Hardly noticeable.
What concerns me is how the DOE is funding a program called "my power" where I live comparing the neighbors KWH usage. Im just trying to stay out of the top 20 out of a 100. If I were you, see what the average is amongst the neighbors.
Put it into perspective.
A 1500 watt space heater can run most of the day keeping the chill off. Even if your grow was exactly 2400 watts its not that bad, Hardly noticeable.
What concerns me is how the DOE is funding a program called "my power" where I live comparing the neighbors KWH usage. Im just trying to stay out of the top 20 out of a 100. If I were you, see what the average is amongst the neighbors.
purplehays1
Well-Known Member
u need to tell us a lot more info. If u have a 5br house you will raise a lot less suspicion running 6k watts through than say a 1 br apt. Like a large pool heater uses more energy than a MASSIVE grow, its all about the specifics. I live in a 2 br apartment, 6k watts would def raise a red flag, but a large house, 6k is nothing. Just my 2cents
Hot Diggity Sog
Well-Known Member
The other thing is this. If you have already decided to engage in an illegal activity, then you have already weighed the risk/reward. You have made the decision which means you are willing to accept the risks that come with it. There are so many reasons you could get "on the radar". This is only one of those and in my opinion a relatively small reason. Power companies are businesses. You are a customer. You really think a company is actively trying to harm it's customers? Where is your comfort level? Does 2400 watts cause you anxiety but 1200 does not? Stay within levels that don't adversely affect your state of mind and well-being.
There are a million different ways you could come under scrutiny...few of which you can control. What you can control is what if you are scrutinized?
Sticking with the electrical, if you were to chart your daily electrical usage, what does it look like? Does is go from near zero to a lot and then back to near zero on 12 hour intervals?
If so, are these high usages during a reasonable time of the day that could be perceived as normal such as 8 AM to 8PM?
If not, then you may be looked at more closely.
General rules of thumb:
Try and stick to *normal* people schedules. Normal people use more electricity during the day than at night, right?
Are you in a position where you can spread your usage out more evenly? For example, if you have a 2400 watt flowering room, can you instead create 2 flowering rooms each with 1200 watts and have them on opposite schedules so your usage is balanced.
There are a million different ways you could come under scrutiny...few of which you can control. What you can control is what if you are scrutinized?
Sticking with the electrical, if you were to chart your daily electrical usage, what does it look like? Does is go from near zero to a lot and then back to near zero on 12 hour intervals?
If so, are these high usages during a reasonable time of the day that could be perceived as normal such as 8 AM to 8PM?
If not, then you may be looked at more closely.
General rules of thumb:
Try and stick to *normal* people schedules. Normal people use more electricity during the day than at night, right?
Are you in a position where you can spread your usage out more evenly? For example, if you have a 2400 watt flowering room, can you instead create 2 flowering rooms each with 1200 watts and have them on opposite schedules so your usage is balanced.
purplehays1
Well-Known Member
The energy company isnt going to rat on you, or even notice, generally there is other suspicion that leads to the authority contacting your energy company in order to obtain a warrant.
thats what i was thinking