Need to forward usefull info.

[bantos44]

Buddy is in a 2bedroom pad and wants to set up a 4k garden. He wants to know if this is too much electricity for a 2bedroom? He knows that if u pay the bill power company shouldn't bother him but he's not sure. Anyone who lives in a non mmj state would like to comment?

 

[shnkrmn]

Totally personal opinion. I live in a 3 bedroom house and I run about 3K total on the grow. I wouldn't feecomfortable going any higher. I do pay the bill the day it arrives.

 

[Illegal Smile]

I think his biggest concern is that won't leave much amperage to run anything else. He might find himself tripping breakers all the time, and shutting down his lights without him knowing it.

 

[shnkrmn]

Ah, so. If it's a house that's not too old it should have at least 100 amp service. What do you say, OP? what's in your breaker box?

1000 watters. Usually you can't run more than one per 15 amp circuit. I think the startup load for a 1K is around 9 amps. so you would need 4 available circuits for your grow, most houses usually don't have 4 circuits located in one room.

 

[bantos44]

Ah, so. If it's a house that's not too old it should have at least 100 amp service. What do you say, OP? what's in your breaker box?

1000 watters. Usually you can't run more than one per 15 amp circuit. I think the startup load for a 1K is around 9 amps. so you would need 4 available circuits for your grow, most houses usually don't have 4 circuits located in one room.

Im sure an electrician can fix the amp issue. He just fears that 4k +equip might b much for a 2 bedroom. Even if he pays and stuff

 

[bantos44]

No sure about breaker box.

 

[shnkrmn]

It all comes down to whether that has the capacity to run 4k on top of the regular household needs. So you have to find the box and see what's there to go forward (or your friend does, lol)

No sure about breaker box.

 

[CheapJoe]

4k watts at 240 volts would need about a 20 amp service, 25 to be safe. 30-35 and 8 gauge to be smart and extra safe, but a short run of #10 might suffice.

4000/240v=16.6 amp or 33 amp for 120 volts.

 

[bantos44]

It all comes down to whether that has the capacity to run 4k on top of the regular household needs. So you have to find the box and see what's there to go forward (or your friend does, lol)

Seriuosly. I'll ask him. He's paranoid about getting on here. Lol

 

[bantos44]

4k watts at 240 volts would need about a 20 amp service, 25 to be safe. 30-35 and 8 gauge to be smart and extra safe, but a short run of #10 might suffice.

4000/240v=16.6 amp or 33 amp for 120 volts.

So if guy goes out and increases amps for room should b ok? Or is it a possibility that breaker box might not allow it?

 

[brimck325]

i believe a 1000 watt light uses 9.5 amps....peace

 

[CheapJoe]

^ That's possible with ballast I didn't consider those. I'd say 9.5 amps at 120 volts 120*9.5=1140 watts, 140 watts lost at the ballast.

No bantos, house wiring barley meets 10 gauge if you're lucky. You will likely burn down the house unless you run your own service.

 

[smokey mcsmokester]

Lets say his power company charges a rate of .10 cents per killowatt hr.

1 killowatt = 1000 watts

Now lets say he has 4000 watts of hid lighting running at 18-6...

4000 watts= 4000 killowatts= .10 cents per kwh= .40 cents per hour to run 4000 watts of metal halide lighting

.40 cents x 18 hrs.= $ 7.20 a day @ 30 days (month) = $216.00


Now lets switch to 12-12 with HPS for flowering....

.40 cents x 12 hrs. = $4.80 a day @ 30 days (month) $144.00

That's quite the electric bill for a 2 bedroom in a non mj state....However...

There is a way to do this without the power company raising a brow.....

Do this grow in the winter...
Electric baseboard heaters use quite a bit of electricity... A 4' baseboard heater on high uses 1500 watts of power...
Say you heat your 2 bedroom with electric heat...Well, there ya go.......

Hope this was the info you were looking to find...

 

[bantos44]

^ That's possible with ballast I didn't consider those. I'd say 9.5 amps at 120 volts 120*9.5=1140 watts, 140 watts lost at the ballast.

No bantos, house wiring barley meets 10 gauge if you're lucky. You will likely burn down the house unless you run your own service.

Is 9.5 include all equipment? Bcause the digital ones I've seen say 4.5?? And Can be put @120 or 240.

 

[bantos44]

Lets say his power company charges a rate of .10 cents per killowatt hr.

1 killowatt = 1000 watts

Now lets say he has 4000 watts of hid lighting running at 18-6...

4000 watts= 4000 killowatts= .10 cents per kwh= .40 cents per hour to run 4000 watts of metal halide lighting

.40 cents x 18 hrs.= $ 7.20 a day @ 30 days (month) = $216.00


Now lets switch to 12-12 with HPS for flowering....

.40 cents x 12 hrs. = $4.80 a day @ 30 days (month) $144.00

That's quite the electric bill for a 2 bedroom in a non mj state....However...

There is a way to do this without the power company raising a brow.....

Do this grow in the winter...
Electric baseboard heaters use quite a bit of electricity... A 4' baseboard heater on high uses 1500 watts of power...
Say you heat your 2 bedroom with electric heat...Well, there ya go.......

Hope this was the info you were looking to find...

Great info, thanks. Problem is its NEVER cold in this state so can u give me more ideas..

 

[shnkrmn]

But Smokey, good calculations but if it's winter, he already has to heat, so. . . .

4K is just a lot of power for a residence to consume on top of the normal load.

I run my lights (two 1ks) on two 20 amp dedicated circuits. There's enough left over for pumps, fans, disco ball,etc. I don't have to worry about bad wiring, or load surges.

Anyway, what your friend wants to do has a lot to be considered. There's some good info in this thread.

 

[smokey mcsmokester]

Great info, thanks. Problem is its NEVER cold in this state so can u give me more ideas..

That sucks...lol... I had that feeling... Truth is, If he conserves all other power useage and pays his bill in full on time every month, the power company will care less... Another tip is to run your power at night, Most power companies charge a lower rate during non peak hrs...

 

[shnkrmn]

Smokey, you just made me realize; he can divide his grow room in two and alternate 2k on, 2k off, 12/12. It's the same amount of juice, but cuts the load in half. There are even timers designed to split a single ballast to two lights like that.

 

[smokey mcsmokester]

Smokey, you just made me realize; he can divide his grow room in two and alternate 2k on, 2k off, 12/12. It's the same amount of juice, but cuts the load in half. There are even timers designed to split a single ballast to two lights like that.

Ahhh, good idea.... With the scenario I stated above, I was assuming he wasn't using electric as a heat source....

 

[bantos44]

Smokey, you just made me realize; he can divide his grow room in two and alternate 2k on, 2k off, 12/12. It's the same amount of juice, but cuts the load in half. There are even timers designed to split a single ballast to two lights like that.

So r u saying have 2k on from 12am-12pm and the other 2k 12pm-12am???