1000W Good Buy? Bad Buy?

RIPE

Active Member

• Sep 14, 2013

• #1

1. HYDROFARM DA LUMINAIRE SERIES Extras DAUN 6" AIR-COOLED REFLECTOR & used Hortilux Super HPS bulb, http://tinyurl.com/qc8u3va , and

2. 1000 Watt Xtrasun HPS Magnetic Ballast 120/240v BAS100A http://tinyurl.com/nhdxreq

The kilowatts per hour here is 35 cents. Wonder what that adds up to per hour to run this 1000W setup and the fan? For 2.5 plants still in one gallon pots is it worth it? You know I'm gonna try it if I can get up the will power to get the hardware to set it up. I can imagine all the lights in the condo dimming when it kicks in.

 

UOENO

Active Member

• Sep 14, 2013

• #2

for 2 plants um well 1000 watts is always good even for just one plant, It all depends how far you want to go, like how tall you want them, etc.

Also how big are they?

 

ButchyBoy

Well-Known Member

• Sep 14, 2013

• #3

At 35 cents per kwh with a 1000 watt light...... you would pay 35 cents per hour. so $4.20 per 12 hour period. or $8.40 per 24 hour period. Is this what you are looking for? I only pay .06 cents per KWH.... Hate to have your bill...LOL!

 

slowandsteady

Well-Known Member

• Sep 14, 2013

• #4

here is a calculator just punch in your numbers use heater for appliance http://www.rapidtables.com/calc/electric/electricity-calculator.htm

 

UOENO

Active Member

• Sep 14, 2013

• #5

Over here where I am at, they change their rates during am or PM hours. Myself I give em light from 10pm-10am,. Save a few bucks =)

 

ButchyBoy

Well-Known Member

• Sep 14, 2013

• #6

We have tiers. I just verified and my usage is currently set at 7 cents per KWH. I spend $1.61 per day in electricity.

 

RIPE

Active Member

• Sep 14, 2013

• #7

I was thinking of using the light for 8-10 hours at night and putting them in the window sun until dusk. Its an east facing window and doesn't get as much sun as I thought. I have a blue card to grow here but the condo association may have different thougts about that. The kids in the neighborhood are not known for returning lost and found wallets of money - better to lock yourself and everything you own to something they can't steal.

 

RIPE

Active Member

• Sep 14, 2013

• #8

I tied the plants down with light stress training (LST) except for the deformed plant. They seem to be doing okay but I think its about time to transplant them into five gallon containers I have. Today was a Craig's List - wait-for-the-seller, lets make a dope deal day. I cleaned up the bulb and hood and wiped down the ballast. The whole system is very bright. The plants are not very big yet.

 

ButchyBoy

Well-Known Member

• Sep 14, 2013

• #9

Do you really pay 35 cents per KWH??? That is just crazy!!

 

T

TreeOfLiberty

Well-Known Member

• Sep 14, 2013

• #10

35 cents per KWH ? wtf ? That about like Hawaii.

This is a 50 state graph of electrical rates.

http://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.cfm?t=epmt_5_6_a

No way I would ever live in Hawaii.

 

PeaceGrow

Well-Known Member

• Sep 15, 2013

• #11

you can never go wrong with a 1000 watt, make sure you are using good bulbs, so many people are buying these 10 cheapies, check out the 2013 growers catalog, And check some of those bulbs out and you may see you get what you pay for, i understand eveyone is on a budget, but you will buy 10 cheap ones before 1 AWESOME BOSS one, but im not sure on the unit you showed, but if your getting at right price and its 1000 GET IT! good luck man!!! onelove

 

RIPE

Active Member

• Sep 15, 2013

• #12

Butchyboy, the normal monthly bill when the condo is empty is $30. My wife knows the exact figures. Last month before I used any grow lights it jumped to $80 and I expect the next one to be bigger. If I can find a safe place outside I'll grow there - that was the original plan. I went on one site hunting for a grow spot on federal land but trespassing is bad juju and access was rugged. The kid who sold me the light said the 1000W will be more than the rest of the electrical devices combined.

slowandsteaddy, thanks for the online kilowat to $ calculator - it is really helpful.

 

ButchyBoy

Well-Known Member

• Sep 15, 2013

• #13

$80 per month isn't bad. This is my bill this month:

Amount Due $155.80*
Electric (kWh) - Current Period : 50 This Period Last Year : 28
Natural Gas (Therms) - Current Period : 1 This Period Last Year : 1
Temp (*F) - Current Period : 73 This Period Last Year : 72

As you can see natural gas is included but not much. This also includes the entire house and my greenhouse. You can also see the 22 Kwh jump from last year when I had no grow happening. The extra cost of electricity is cheaper than the cost of meds so It is a WIN!!

Your ladies are lookin good. Is that yellowing I see on one of them?