alternative power

bluntmassa1

bluntmassa1

Well-Known Member
I was wondering what the best cheaper way like wind, solar,hydro or generators I do have access to water and can do something and a good amount of wind I was wondering wich is cheaper and more productive I'm sure generators are the most costly to operate so I'd perfer something else just like to know how much a generator would be to run
 
ScoobyDoobyDoo

ScoobyDoobyDoo

Well-Known Member
i don't know anything about wind but if it's like solar it has extremely high setup costs for the equipment, invertor, battery banks, etc... in order to produce the constant power needed to run a grow. i looked into solar for my house a few times and therefore have some knowledge. in order to run something like a 4,000w grow you would be looking at around $35-$50k. it's the continuos draw of grow rooms that make them so hard to find alternative power sources. generators are much cheaper setup costs but will run you a constant fuel charge. any generator will list it's rated amps capacity and then will give you a fuel consumption (diesel, propane, natural gas) based on half load and full load.

how many watts are you going to be running for veg and for flower?
 
superstoner1

superstoner1

Well-Known Member
hydro electric is by far more efficient and i know a few people around me that are getting paid for the extra electricity thwy put into the grid.
 
ScoobyDoobyDoo

ScoobyDoobyDoo

Well-Known Member
Corso312 said:
did you look into buying direct from the manufacturer and installing yourself?
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there was a threa around here somewhere that myself and gastanker were involved in. we both posted at the same time and had basically the same numbers for a 5,000w grow. it was $50k. the installation is not a major part of the cost. what is really hard is the continuos draw that grow rooms have. you are talking about a steady amp draw for 12-24 hours everyday. this means you have to have a large battery bank in order to store power for your nightime runs and days with bad weather. my quote was based on purchasing direct from the manufacturer (i'm a developer so i always purchase direct) and the installation was maybe $4000 of that $50k.
 
bluntmassa1

bluntmassa1

Well-Known Member
definatly sounds like hydro is the way you get a steady flow all year all day so you shouldent need battaries just a turbine and dam
although I seen them using five gallon buckets with car alternators to generate electricity in viatnam on wikapedia just diverted water from the stream though it would be suspicious having 50 5 gallon buckets on a stream I think I could probaly build a dam and rig a turbine in it I have plenty flow all year I got to look at some hydro dams see how much the start up would be and save my pennys for sure but I realy want to do something with this water flow I do have a water fall that should be enough to power a big wheel does any one know about those I think that would be the cheapest although a dam and turbines are probally a lot more productive
 
bluntmassa1

bluntmassa1

Well-Known Member
I have flowage rights to a big pond on deed their was a old saw mill here that was powered buy the dam the dam is in ruff shape but their is a big pipe sticking out the bottom of dam I dont know if its cloged or not but there is a plug on it and we own flowage rights so i could replace the whole thing but that would be pricey and dont want to fuck with the plug cause it will drain the pond and theres good bass fishing
ScoobyDoobyDoo said:
i don't know anything about hydro electric. do you need to have a river on your property though?
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Nukebisket

Nukebisket

Well-Known Member
I bought a top of the line 10k wind generator, inverter controller direct from china manufacturer for less than $15K. Similar setups here in usa cost $35k. you will still need to get a HUGE battery bank. those will cost about $6K - $10K maybe more. For best initial cost, use a harbor frieght gas generator to get you through your first grows. make sure to get the warranty so you can replace the generator when they crap out.
 
mike91sr

mike91sr

Well-Known Member
I'm powered almost entirely by my solar system. I chose a higher end American-made company for my system, priced about $55k, but ended up going through a leasing company that charges $200/mo for 20 years, I can buy it out during or at the end of the lease. If I buy it out before year 10, I'll have paid under $60k for it anyway, so not much money lost by not paying up front. My electric bill went from ~$800 to ~$250+$200 lease. And like I said, a good portion of that $200 is becoming equity.

I know solar is less efficient than other methods, but the suburbs don't leave me many options. I'm happy with my decision regardless. 40% off my bill until I buy, then it's about 75% off, plus equity in my house.
 
Corso312

Corso312

Well-Known Member
any pics man? sounds like a good plan..need great credit? and how many watts can you get from that solar?
 
mike91sr

mike91sr

Well-Known Member
No pics sorry. The company I went through doesn't have very tight credit requirements(even though I have really good credit), but some do. I produce about 2000kwh/month on a 9.5kw system.

Sunny socal here though, keep in mind your weather trends of course. My inverter lets me see exactly how much is being produced at any given time, and even a lower visibility day(from LA smog) can reduce my power production by a little bit, clouds just fuck my world up. Twice the reason to get mad about shitty weather now.
 
sfttailpaul

sfttailpaul

Active Member
bluntmassa1 said:
I was wondering what the best cheaper way like wind, solar,hydro or generators I do have access to water and can do something and a good amount of wind I was wondering wich is cheaper and more productive I'm sure generators are the most costly to operate so I'd perfer something else just like to know how much a generator would be to run
Click to expand...
Solar and Wind are way too costly in their set-up costs alone. Batteries are really expensive too...
Hydro is the way IF and only if you have clean and legal access to the flow that is necessary. If you do, after your set-up costs (lowest of the three for sure) your energy is virtually free and has really low maintenance costs too. Nothing would be suspicious.
I thought about making a Hydro system in my basement letting gravity be my source to fall the water from the city source. My problem is the size I'd need +7,500 watts of continuous current.
 
jujubee

jujubee

Active Member
mike91sr said:
I'm powered almost entirely by my solar system. I chose a higher end American-made company for my system, priced about $55k, but ended up going through a leasing company that charges $200/mo for 20 years, I can buy it out during or at the end of the lease. If I buy it out before year 10, I'll have paid under $60k for it anyway, so not much money lost by not paying up front.
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Do they replace the batteries if needed, or do you have to do that?

What kind of batteries do you have, how many, and how often do they need to be replaced?

I need to get some, and I am thinking about AGM batteries. I have a 24V 4kw inverter and a 5.5kw genny. I don't want to be able to power everything, but I want a few circuits for the garden if the grid goes down.
 
bluntmassa1

bluntmassa1

Well-Known Member
ya does sound the best although city water would cost you a bit of money but I do have legal access to water flow I have also heard of the goverment giving grants for natural electricity probally just high output systems. you would get a constant flow from hydro so I wouldn't need battaries probally the cheapest overall and most productive I should look into some turbines 10-20kw should give me money back for my electric cause it should pull that continuosly so lights out will be spinning the metter backwards
sfttailpaul said:
Solar and Wind are way too costly in their set-up costs alone. Batteries are really expensive too...
Hydro is the way IF and only if you have clean and legal access to the flow that is necessary. If you do, after your set-up costs (lowest of the three for sure) your energy is virtually free and has really low maintenance costs too. Nothing would be suspicious.
I thought about making a Hydro system in my basement letting gravity be my source to fall the water from the city source. My problem is the size I'd need +7,500 watts of continuous current.
Click to expand...
 
bluntmassa1

bluntmassa1

Well-Known Member
a water wheel would probally be the cheapest and easiest probally I do have a water fall that should power a wheel if I could find a turbine to use with a wheel with good output would probally be my best bet I don't know I got to check out turbines anyone know a good site cheaper like the guy who got a wind mill from china I don't mind buying foriegn
 
bluntmassa1

bluntmassa1

Well-Known Member
I just saw a nice hydro system on youtube it produces 12kw costed the guy $85,000 but I don't need mine half as fancy they ran it off an old man made dam 12kw should power atleast 9 or ten 1000 watters thats a good size grow plus at night youll be feeding a good amount back to the grid and make some extra plus I would be happier than pigs in shit with just a 8kw system they don't look to hard to rig up just I would need an electrician I could rig the piping up my self and build the shed that should take 15-20 thousand or more off the cost definitly the way to go and check out youtube they have a bunch of home made contraptions for energy
 
jujubee

jujubee

Active Member
Corso312 said:
gotta assume a generator can last 4-5 years no?
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Depends on the generator, and how often it is used. Most generators are for standby/backup power. They are designed for intermittent use. If you run them 24/7, they won't last long.

Generators designed to be the primary power source are a lot more expensive. How long they last depends on how well they are maintained.
 
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