Question of lighting/unattended hid

I have about 4 weeks left of flowering and for the next 2 months I won't be home from 4-11pm. (My seasonal job is starting back up) so I will be working 6am to 2pm daily, go home and change then off to my other job from 4-11.. *I was hoping to be done flowering by now, but I'm a shitty estimator apparently or I got greedy during veg. *

Currently I run a 400w hps from 5pm to 5am on a timer.

I'm planning on turning on my 2 65w cfls for the time I'm not home, then turning on my hps when I get home for the rest of the night. *I don't want to split light cuz my buds are getting fat and frosty, but I also don't want to leave my house when my 400watter is on.*

I guess my questions are:

Do any of you leave your hid lights unattended for extended periods of time?

*Is it safe to do that?

Am I just being paranoid?

Is giving them flourescent lighting a few hrs a night then switching to hps going to cause me a problem other than lower yield?

I was also thinking of switching the light to 13/11 to help offset the lower intensity of light from the fluorescents. Maybe even go pick up a couple t5s and put them in my closet. **

This is an apt grow in a 22cf freezer with a 400w hps cooltube, 435cfm 6" fan and a 400cfm phresh air filter. 6" dryer duct hooked to my ac unit run as passive intake (works great).

Any advice?

Thanks!

Dumb questions?

Well, in a couple a more days, I'll have internet and I'll post pics of how they look now and what they look like when they finish under mixed light. I'm bummed. Wish I could just put em on the balcony and let Ma nature do her thing but it's too hot here yet. Still 105 degree highs and 80 degree lows. Besides, everyone would probably smell them even tho I live on the 5th floor.

Btw, I added molasses water for the first time yesterday @ 1 1/2 tsp per gallon and wow, my plants seemed really happy about it. Especially my sativa who got really burned a couple weeks ago. Haven't seen her look that happy since before the accident.

I think everyone worries about leaving HID lights on when they have to leave, especially for long periods. It is a piece of equipment just like anything else electric in your apt. I think anything has the ability to fail...what you do to make sure you are running it safe is the biggest thing. You are in an apt so if you F up, it affects a lot of people and you will likely be in some deep shit. Make sure you have it plugged into breakers so that if something did go wrong, it would at least trip it and cut power to the shit.

i never worry lol.... i have been using my light and ballast for 2 years and i never worry. i leave my plants un-atended for up to 3 days at a time (timers take care of everything except water/food...) im running a 1000 watt light, 2x120v fan, 1 185 CFM exaust fan AND a bubbler stone for my CO2 set-up........

i wouldn't be worried if i was you.

I do have it plugged into a surge protector, but I don't know if that would work If something went wrong. It's kind of funny that I trust every other electical appliance to run while I'm away, but I don't trust my grow light. Ha! Electricity, the one part of home building I don't understand......and I come from a family of electricians.

Wow, 3 days with a 1000w? Holy crap, before mine kept burning out bulbs prematurely, I practically lived in the grow room. Man that thing put out the heat. It was kind of a relief to downgrade to 400w. You are much braver than I am, btw I love your avatar.*

Thanks for your advice guys
*

Corbat420 said:

i never worry lol.... i have been using my light and ballast for 2 years and i never worry. i leave my plants un-atended for up to 3 days at a time (timers take care of everything except water/food...) im running a 1000 watt light, 2x120v fan, 1 185 CFM exaust fan AND a bubbler stone for my CO2 set-up........

i wouldn't be worried if i was you.

Click to expand...

I always leave my 400 watt running.

A 400 watt with Fans an all is not going to pull more than 5-6 amps (check what is on your circuit).

As long as you don't have a bunch of extension cords jury rigged together or something, or pulling more than 80% of the rated circuit, why worry.

I guess I have an overactive imagination. All my cords are plugged directly into a surge protector and that is plugged into my timer. I believe everything is well within safe operating range for the outlet, timer and surge protector but I will double check when I get home. I'm sure I checked everything before I plugged it all in, but I guess I didn't make it a point to remember all that since I've been micromanaging my grow.

I do feel better that I moved my grow to the freezer because when it was in the closet with 1000w I was waaay more paranoid of something going wrong.

I guess the longer you've been doing it, the more comfortable you get?

If you are using an extension cord to connect to the wall make sure it is a Heavy Duty one.

They are much heavier and are marked a such. A little more expensive, but peace of mind.

Circuit Breakers (code) can only run 80% capacity if they are on for more that 2 hours at a time. They will burn up the breaker.

So on a 15 amp breaker, you only want to run 12 amps total, etc.

Good Luck