ballast about got me busted

[racerboy71]

Im sticking to 125w cfl's when i become legal. I like how they veg and flower plus its a cfl, so they gotta be cheaper then hid's

cheaper how oly?? sure, they're cheaper to buy, but to run 125 watts of cfl uses the same 125 watts as an hid uses..

 

[olylifter420]

Lol. Im not a good electrician.

Arent cfl's supposed to use less energy?

I dont know man, im smoking some reggie with a bunch of keef

cheaper how oly?? sure, they're cheaper to buy, but to run 125 watts of cfl uses the same 125 watts as an hid uses..

 

[2footbuds]

best to keep the grow equipment running in my opinion. get some tomatoes or sweet peppers in there instead though. if you get busted, this would be the explanation to any suspicion they may already have. if they ask why you lied to the cable guy then you can just say you value your privacy.

 

[racerboy71]

Lol. Im not a good electrician.

Arent cfl's supposed to use less energy?

I dont know man, im smoking some reggie with a bunch of keef

yah, this is the reason why cfls are cheaper oly.. most of them, well, shit, here's an example to explain what i mean.. the number aren't going to be right as i'm making them up out of thin air, so don't pay attention to that part, lol..


with cfls, you buy say one that is 23 watts.. they say right on the box that they are 50 watt equivelants.. this means that they put out the same lumens that a 50 watt incadesent bulb would put out.. therefore the cfl would be about 40% or so more efficient than incadesent bulbs..

but say you have a 125 actual watt cfl, it would use the same 125 watts that an hid uses..

i know it can get confusing at first..

hope that makes sense m8..

 

[olylifter420]

Thanks bud and it does make sense.

Well, either way, i am still sticking to cfl's... I do think they give off less heat right?

yah, this is the reason why cfls are cheaper oly.. most of them, well, shit, here's an example to explain what i mean.. the number aren't going to be right as i'm making them up out of thin air, so don't pay attention to that part, lol..


with cfls, you buy say one that is 23 watts.. they say right on the box that they are 50 watt equivelants.. this means that they put out the same lumens that a 50 watt incadesent bulb would put out.. therefore the cfl would be about 40% or so more efficient than incadesent bulbs..

but say you have a 125 actual watt cfl, it would use the same 125 watts that an hid uses..

i know it can get confusing at first..

hope that makes sense m8..

 

[HotShot7414]

This is an old problem alot of people had,just keep the ballast away from any electronics and wiring (at-least 6 feet).I didn't read all the post so i wouldn't know if anyone mentioned using a am/fm radio to test it.

 

[racerboy71]

Thanks bud and it does make sense.

Well, either way, i am still sticking to cfl's... I do think they give off less heat right?

yes, cfl's put off less heat oly.. the problem comes when people keep adding more and more cfl's to get more light, and therefore add more heat in doing so..
a 250 hps doesn't put off all that much heat, and is surely better than any cfl's imho.. and hids will always grow better, tighter buds than cfls...

not trying to change your mind, just trying to inform is all..

also, just my $.02..

 

[olylifter420]

I am thinking about hid but as the op says, these potential problems are a turnoff per se.

You got e thinking though, a 150 or 250w hps would get the job done?

yes, cfl's put off less heat oly.. the problem comes when people keep adding more and more cfl's to get more light, and therefore add more heat in doing so..
a 250 hps doesn't put off all that much heat, and is surely better than any cfl's imho.. and hids will always grow better, tighter buds than cfls...

not trying to change your mind, just trying to inform is all..

also, just my $.02..

 

[dank smoker420]

I think he might have a smart meter?

I know they have been goin all out here to switch everyone to a smart meter.

My apartment has one

so they looked at his usage and saw it was from 7pm-whenever. because he did say that the guy said something was coming on at 7 pm. hopefully they dont look at mine. or anyones with a smart meter. what makes them look at your usages?

 

[olylifter420]

Ive read they check for consistensies in spikes of usage. Like a pattern of on off and if it is consistent. I also think these smart meters also can check the usage for each room and the ac etc... Not so sure on that since its been awhile that i read about that

so they looked at his usage and saw it was from 7pm-whenever. because he did say that the guy said something was coming on at 7 pm. hopefully they dont look at mine. or anyones with a smart meter. what makes them look at your usages?

 

[SFguy]

smart meters only digitally report the electricity used at a specifig residence.. no more analog spinning wheel crap, just a digital number like an alarm clock.. so the retarded meter reader can look at the number and record it. i have a smart meter have for almolst a year, and its been all gravy man, running digi ballast/ and mag/ 2200 watts worth.. no issues

 

[SativaMe@420]

What racerboy71 recommended will solve your problem, you can build a Faraday cage with some copper mesh (steel would be cheaper, pictured below, but I believe copper works better), 1x1's, screws, ground wire, a couple hinges for a door and some hot glue, very simple, cheap and you won't have any RF problems with anything you put in it, here's an example of one:

You could build one for every ballast cheap and easily, problem solved, no need to buy new ballasts.

 

[olylifter420]

Im sure these smart meters do more then that,


http://stopsmartmeters.org/how-you-can-stop-smart-meters/

http://www.cmpco.com/smartmeter/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_meter

smart meters only digitally report the electricity used at a specifig residence.. no more analog spinning wheel crap, just a digital number like an alarm clock.. so the retarded meter reader can look at the number and record it. i have a smart meter have for almolst a year, and its been all gravy man, running digi ballast/ and mag/ 2200 watts worth.. no issues

 

[dank smoker420]

Ive read they check for consistensies in spikes of usage. Like a pattern of on off and if it is consistent. I also think these smart meters also can check the usage for each room and the ac etc... Not so sure on that since its been awhile that i read about that

well i guess it would be a pattern since it is consistent. but i have a fish tank which is on a timer also. but at night im not running alot. its about maybe 200w.

 

[Smoking Loon]

Yeah I have a lot of lizards and I used to have a bunch of reef tanks so thats my cover. My only problem is I have a ballast that I am to scared to use and have to now go buy ANOTHER . So nothing but lettuce tables and tomato plants here for at least 6 months to a year. Dont need a blemish...just a plain ol horticulturist for now...well at home anyways

 

[miztaj]

My 1000 watt digital lumatek is giving off hella interference. Switched isp providers. everything was fine until my lights came on. Thought it was due to bad install, called cable company and they ran all new lines and still couldnt figure it out. The next day a different tech came by and said there was RF interference causing the outage. After they left i thought about it and it dawned on me. Did the A.M. radio check, im getting interference from the ballast but most of it seems to come from the output cord. Gonna try wrapping with copper wire and grounding properly.