Generator?

[MIKE JONES]

need to get a a generator for my room to power 4 thousand watt HPS and a small portable ac unit,i have it going now but really want to get of the grid for more privacy,i hear that hondas are the best and quietest for the money.does anyone have a certin model or know how many watts i should go with for my needs? thanks

 

[MIKE JONES]

>>>>>>>>>>>???????

 

[VICTORYGARDENSHYDRO]

eu 3000, very quiet and has a power saver mode when your girls are sleeping.
you can also get a couple eu2000's and they can be hooked together or used by themselves.

 

[angelsbandit]

You will need at least 6.5 KW to fire the lights, ballasts, and AC.
Generators are not cheap to run - your cost will be significantly higher than using electricity thru your power company.
Most of the lower KW rated generators are not designed to be run constantly, so the life of the unit will be reduced if run continually.

 

[roosterhead7435]

I agree with Victory, the EU3000 series from Honda looks like it can handle your needs. I've seen on many grow lights that it voids the warranty if you use them with a generator, not sure why, but I would also keep everything plugged into surge supression devices just to be safe.

 

[angelsbandit]

You guys need to quit posting when you don't have a clue - your advice is absolutely wrong:

The Honda EU3000 only produces 3000 watts at peak,and 2800 watts continious load - not even half the power he would require to run his grow.
As I stated before he will need a minimun of 6500 watts peak, and 5500 watts continious load to run this grow.

If you were to buy the Honda EU6500 which is the minimum for this grow your fuel costs would be approx $32.40 per day to run just 12 hours per day flowering, and $48.6 per day vegging at 18 hours per day. This is based on fuel prices where I live, so your cost may be slightly higher or lower depending on local fuel prices.

So $1458 in fuel to veg. for 30 days, and $1814.4 to flower for 56 days (8 weeks) total electricity cost for one grow $3272.40, and this does not take into account the initial purchase price for the generator or any maintenance required to keep everything running.

That is an average of $272.70 per week just for fuel, and you will still have the power bill for the rest of your home on top of these costs.

The cost of buying the same amount of electricity thru my local electric Co. would be less than $500, or about $41 per week - again your local costs could differ slightly higher or lower.

 

[MIKE JONES]

You guys need to quit posting when you don't have a clue - your advice is absolutely wrong:

The Honda EU3000 only produces 3000 watts at peak,and 2800 watts continious load - not even half the power he would require to run his grow.
As I stated before he will need a minimun of 6500 watts peak, and 5500 watts continious load to run this grow.

If you were to buy the Honda EU6500 which is the minimum for this grow your fuel costs would be approx $32.40 per day to run just 12 hours per day flowering, and $48.6 per day vegging at 18 hours per day. This is based on fuel prices where I live, so your cost may be slightly higher or lower depending on local fuel prices.

So $1458 in fuel to veg. for 30 days, and $1814.4 to flower for 56 days (8 weeks) total electricity cost for one grow $3272.40, and this does not take into account the initial purchase price for the generator or any maintenance required to keep everything running.

That is an average of $272.70 per week just for fuel, and you will still have the power bill for the rest of your home on top of these costs.

The cost of buying the same amount of electricity thru my local electric Co. would be less than $500, or about $41 per week - again your local costs could differ slightly higher or lower.

hey man u helped me out alot, were gettin the smart meeter installed in a few weeks, and i was scared of my electric bill i have the oldschool meeter right now witch i use a magnet when my lights are on witch stops the meeter for 12 hrs but now the damn smart meeter s are coming looks like its still cheaper than running a generator,thanks for everyons help

 

[jemstone]

Thanks Mike for the break down. I would recommend a propane generator. Cheaper fuel and more efficient. It could even be cheaper than buying it from Major Monopoly Electricity Corp. MM&E has set electricity costs given an x amount of electricity or "baseline". If you go over that amount then its 100-150% baseline, 150-200% then 200%+. Each group has a higher and higher kilo watt hour rate.

 

[kingofqueen]

Yeah gotta love when someone tells ya to run 4kw lights and an ac unit with a 3 kw generator .!
Angelsbandit got u the right calculations there . I also agree with running a propane generator . Fuel cost is cheaper . Honda generators are pretty quiet . I would go with one rated for continious use though , the industrial rated ones with cast iron blocks are best . Depending on how much you got to spend they do make quiet enclosures for them too. You could get a big propane tank too and have a delievry service fill it , no chance of running out of fuel once you time it all right .

 

[VICTORYGARDENSHYDRO]

Yeah gotta love when someone tells ya to run 4kw lights and an ac unit with a 3 kw generator .!
Angelsbandit got u the right calculations there . I also agree with running a propane generator . Fuel cost is cheaper . Honda generators are pretty quiet . I would go with one rated for continious use though , the industrial rated ones with cast iron blocks are best . Depending on how much you got to spend they do make quiet enclosures for them too. You could get a big propane tank too and have a delievry service fill it , no chance of running out of fuel once you time it all right .

gotta love when people don't comprehend what they read, I also say after the eu3000, that he should get a couple 2000's to hook into it.

 

[chazbolin]

we had one of the new digital 'smart' meters installed and with absolutely no significant difference in what I've been running from month to month the bill went up from $840.00 p mo to $1,170.00. It's not like I'm going to have anyone going through my house for an energy audit so wtf. plus as I look at the bill now it shows every our of the day that I've used how much power. So wtf. lower wattage on the grow lights less AC other then that generator maybe? bring back my old meter.

 

[bigv1976]

Do you realize what a 4-5 kw generator is going to cost you in gas?