Crazy high energy bill

bclark44

Member
I am running a 600w hps/mh lighting system. I currently got a 400w mh bulb in there and am curious why my energy bill would be $326. Usually the bill is anywhere between 80 and 100. I know i am doing something wrong because from what i have read it should have only gone up maybe $50. Please someone help me out i am a broke college student and don't want to have to kill my babies.
 

violator kush

Active Member
no your not doing anything wrong, big light take big power, but u could do somethings to save u power, anything that runs other than the your set up pull them out when your not using them, keep the tem lower, and change your lights in your apt to cfls
 

Chronic Connoisseur

Well-Known Member
I am running a 600w hps/mh lighting system. I currently got a 400w mh bulb in there and am curious why my energy bill would be $326. Usually the bill is anywhere between 80 and 100. I know i am doing something wrong because from what i have read it should have only gone up maybe $50. Please someone help me out i am a broke college student and don't want to have to kill my babies.
that is crazy man... i really have no clue as to why that would be.

I posted a nice calculator in the grow room design/lighting forum. but you are right...50 bucks...

when i need to save on electricity, i take all of my bulbs in out or loosen them so i dont use them (not the bathroom..lol)
 

whythef*not?

Active Member
ouch man, I feel your pain.

I don't know where you live (house, apartment, dorm) and what else you're running (heater, etc) but have you ever considered that somebody might be stealing your power? Just a thought... if it's that high, sounds like a whole separate household. I run 2x1000w HPS and many fans and a 220 A/C unit and my bill is under $150.

Maybe you didn't pay last month? Look on the bill for any extra charges (I'm sure you did, but last month everybody I know got hit with a $50 fee out of nowhere, all our electric bills were through the roof)
 

bclark44

Member
I have been paying my energy bill. I am freezing in my house because i don't ever run the heater. I am running them 24hrs but still this is to crazy. My set up is just the 600w light reflector w/ 400w mh bulb connected to the ballast which is plugged in to the wall . What is going on here?
 

desertrat

Well-Known Member
it really does not make sense. the only thing i can think of is your electric company estimates monthly bills and occasionally reads the meter and you just got hit with a one month catch up bill - i have lived in a place where this happened
 

resinraider

Well-Known Member
Is ur heating electric? Not sure ur area but if ur in winter electric heat is expensive. Plus if ur in winter u use more lights and such as there is less day light
 

PurfectStorm

Well-Known Member
I have been paying my energy bill. I am freezing in my house because i don't ever run the heater. I am running them 24hrs but still this is to crazy. My set up is just the 600w light reflector w/ 400w mh bulb connected to the ballast which is plugged in to the wall . What is going on here?
wait so you're running 1000?
 

Big P

Well-Known Member
i think he said he has a 400 watt bulb in his 600 watt grow light???



that cant be right could it?
 

indyman

Active Member
that doesn't seem right look at kilo use on ur bill.and tell me what it is now and what it was then.but my bill with with 700w's went up 78 dollars so i went back to 400 mh/hps 32 dollars give or take a $ or 2 is all i pay extra to run 400w less drag than my clf's and all that wiring causes alot of drag!!there is some thing wrong and how are u running a 400w in a 600w ballast!!!!!!
 

oregon024

Active Member
For a bill like that.I wonder if you could have bought a used bulb.Never know thats a big jump.I ran 1 1000w used bulb for 2 weeks raized 150.00.Then I bought new bulbs and could run my 1000w plus 400w and about 140.00 increase.I don't know how people grow with 50 dollars of electricity.Try to keep it on till harvest your a college student.You can get help with money soon.Then just keep it flowing and growing.Oregon024
 

indyman

Active Member
I have been paying my energy bill. I am freezing in my house because i don't ever run the heater. I am running them 24hrs but still this is to crazy. My set up is just the 600w light reflector w/ 400w mh bulb connected to the ballast which is plugged in to the wall . What is going on here?
Get a timer and set it 18/6 and see if that helps,but i would call elec comapany and say what the fuck man i use the same elec all the time,so why is my bill 300+ $'s and let them tell u and if they dont have answer's get ur money back the elec company makes mistakes all the time.that would down right piss me off,i would def look into it!!:weed:
 

captiankush

Well-Known Member
Check your heaters...I had a HUGE spike like that from Nov to Jan because my sister in law turned the space heater on when she stayed over for thanksgiving, it was the one behind the entertainment center that we never turn on (gotta keep the 360 cool, ya know) she turned it on to get warm, forgot it was on, went home. Next thing we know, BANG, a fat ass bill.

CK
 
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