Do you think running 4~600w is going to tip off the electric Co.?
- Thread starter AKBud
- Start date
nuglets
New Member
depends on where you live and what type of house you are in. 2400w is basically a 4 ton air conditioner. if you are already running an a/c for the house then you are addind quite a load. plus you have all the other equipment in your room like fans, pumps, dehumidifier and probably an a/c as well. if you are in a legal state i would say no problem. if you aren't i would try and offset the power usage at your house.
+ WitchDoctor +
Well-Known Member
^That's actually good advice, I think I often forget as a lot of other people in medical states do, how much different things were before we were legal...not that were all THAT legal anyways.
I think most MMJ attorneys recommend using under 5000k total power, even in medical states. But 2400k is safe for you in my opinion as long as you didn't add the 2400k + all the other equipment in the grow room. The average 6" fan is over 100 watts, everything adds up.
I ran 4 600's in the same room for about 6 months, then added 2 1000w reflectors for about a year, then cut it in half again. As far as I know there was never any kind of suspicion. Most people will tell you as long as you pay your bill on time they don't interfere, which does seem to be the case most of the time.
I think most MMJ attorneys recommend using under 5000k total power, even in medical states. But 2400k is safe for you in my opinion as long as you didn't add the 2400k + all the other equipment in the grow room. The average 6" fan is over 100 watts, everything adds up.
I ran 4 600's in the same room for about 6 months, then added 2 1000w reflectors for about a year, then cut it in half again. As far as I know there was never any kind of suspicion. Most people will tell you as long as you pay your bill on time they don't interfere, which does seem to be the case most of the time.
budleydoright
Well-Known Member
2400 watts isn't shit. A blow dryer is 1800w. An electric hot tub or hot water heater is way more. Pay your bill on time, and like a gas station, they'll sell you all you need!
nuglets
New Member
i love it when guys say "that's nothing...your microwave uses that much." none of us know whether he is in a legal state or not first off. secondly, yes 2400w isn't much. 2400w running continuously for 12 or 24 hours is a lot. especially with new smart meter technology. not that the electric company is going to know what you are doing but a bump like that in your usage and you might just be getting an inspection. if you aren't in a legal state then that's the last thing you want. 2400w plus another 1000-2000w in other equipment and you are talking about adding a lot of draw to your service. if you don't know his exact situation then don't act like it's nothing cause i've seen dudes get busted for less cause they got inspected by the power company.
budleydoright
Well-Known Member
I would have no problem running 5k off of my residential service. If I wanted to go above that, I would convert my electric range and clothes dryer over to gas to help offset.
In my neck of the woods the power co hasn't taken over the duties of the police. If they are giving you up, then you likely did something that led the police to the PC, not the other way around.
In my neck of the woods the power co hasn't taken over the duties of the police. If they are giving you up, then you likely did something that led the police to the PC, not the other way around.
+ WitchDoctor +
Well-Known Member
Yea, if you run your blow dryer 12 hours a day for a month you might have a problem....lol. No offense.
And no, they won't sell you all you need. The electric company has BIG ties to the government, that's why electric companies have monopolies in a lot of states and the cost is so high. And the BIG ties are also why they inspect people for grow ops.
Sure, if you rack up $800 a month for 6 months and don't pay them, they will probably be more likely to inspect or involve law enforcement, but paying them doesn't mean they will leave you alone.
Good luck and BE SAFE!!
DoctorSmoke
Active Member
when i took my electrical trade we learned that houses with electric heat need a 200 amp panel. im guessing the pc would know the size of the wires attached to ur house and figure u have electric heat (assuming u get upgraded service panel). so u could run all ur lights like they were baseboard heaters and the pc would think ur heating ur house. then use gas dryer,stove and oil furnace to off set any electric costs.
or u could get a loan from the bank (in hopes of raising ur credit lol) and buy a gas generator and syphon ur tank after every refill.
or u could get a loan from the bank (in hopes of raising ur credit lol) and buy a gas generator and syphon ur tank after every refill.
what are these inspections you guys are speaking of? How do they work? I assume they call/write you to set one up....not just come to your house and let themselves in. Yes? I mean they can't do the latter w/o a warrant....that and they are only the PC.
I got a letter in the mail recently about the new smart meters. Kinda scary. Thoughts on those and what it means for those of us not in legal states?????
Thanks
I got a letter in the mail recently about the new smart meters. Kinda scary. Thoughts on those and what it means for those of us not in legal states?????
Thanks
+ WitchDoctor +
Well-Known Member
No, I believe an inspection typically entails them checking your meter and walking around your house looking for obvious signs that you could be growing. I don't think you would even know you had an inspection to be honest.
nuglets
New Member
When you get large jumps in residential draw sometimes they will ask you straight out if they can do a home inspection. Often times they will just send someone to check around your house but every once and a while they will ask to do an inspection of the interior and will want to know why you are using so much power.
Ahhh ok that makes more sense....but what exactly can be determined from outside the house...by the PC? Shouldn't we all know this as to avoid it??
Thanks
nuglets
New Member
first off they are looking for signs that you are stealing power. secondly they are looking to make sure that there are no problems with the installation and that things look to be efficiently setup.Ahhh ok that makes more sense....but what exactly can be determined from outside the house...by the PC? Shouldn't we all know this as to avoid it??
Oh so if you aren't stealing and having nothing jacked up on the outside....not much to be determined. Thats good atleast
A Kill-A-Watt meter, coupled with an electricity cost cal, are some of the smartest, and funnest, tools to get acquainted with IMO. I know what everything in my legal 11'x12', 14 plant grow room costs me to run, even down to the ceiling fan. I'm kind of a freak about keeping the electric bill down. Total i'm just under $100 a month for the grow room, and that's with around 1350 watts of LED, CFL, and HPS light, and a dedicated 7000BTU AC unit for the room running most of the 12 hours a day i have a timer allowing it to be turned on.