Generator Question

I'm planning on running a 600w MH for the veg state of 15-20 plants then switching them over to two 1000w HPS (about 5'x5' area for each light). With just the MH I'm not worried about working my generator too much, but when it comes to running two 1000w HPS w/ ballast and fans I'm assuming I'll be around 2200-2500 watts. I will not be running the MH while I run the HPS's. The generator I'm looking at says it's up to 3500 watts. Do you think I will be all right using this?

Thanks Guys,

personally a 600w light on 15/20 plants is not enough light and no i would never use a generator for growing
the are a potential fire hazzard as they are prone to going on fire and and if it says its upto 3.5kw then yes it will run all that but it will cos you well more in petrol

So a 1000w MH would probably be a better bet. They aren't going to be as big as they get while they are under it. A 5'x5' space should work fine I would think for veg.

tbh i would use 2x600w over 2x1000w but yeah its upto you mate it will work like but if you wanted good plants i would put 1 600 in for the 1st 3 weeks of vege and then the other 600 in from 3 weeks all the way to flower and i choose 600's because there heat is less than a 1000w and the give you a better lumen output compaied to a 1000w

babablacksheep said:

The generator I'm looking at says it's up to 3500 watts. Do you think I will be all right using this?

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3500 watts continuous or surge? The surge rating on generators is useless and typically listed in larger print for the generator to look more desirable on paper. The surge rating can only be sustained for short bursts. The continuous wattage rating is what the generator can sustain as long as it has oil and fuel. Also be aware that your lights will draw more wattage than the bulb is rated at. Depending on the ballast's efficiency, it could be as much as 30% more.

I also don't see a small generator being a realistic option for powering the lights. They are noisy, need frequent attention for refueling and oil checks/changes, andthe cost per kWh is much higher than grid power. The engines typically have an overhaul interval of 1000hrs and you might be able to stretch that to 2000hrs, so don't expect more than two grows out of it.

FYI, know of a grow house that got busted in a rural area a few years ago because they were running a big diesel generator all the time and people noticed. I'm sure it was an impressive setup, but not the best-planned. If they had put the genset in a sound-proof generator enclosure they might have still been growing today.

Generators (of any size, shape or form that can be bought) are only suitable as a back-up power system. You will epically fail at your grow ( lights will eventually shutdown without warning) if you choose to be off the grid continuously with a power source that is only intended to be a standby source. No generator will run continuously for an indefinite period of time. Look at the specs of all the characteristics of the generator you intend on buying and I can guarantee you will find some form of indication that it will not run for more than a certain amount of hours without expecting some kind of overhaul ( meaning a huge maintenance task). If you're willing to take the risk of unexpected shutdown and the higher cost burden of converting a fuel source into electricity just remember to have a dedicated exhaust fan for the generator. Also, remember to have it in such a location where if the dedicated exhaust fan failed you would have some other passive means of exhausting the fumes. Generators are very noisy too so be prepared for that as well.

The fuel cost would break you, would be cheaper to buy weed.It would cost like 40 bucks a day in gas.

Bad idea, I run gen sets of all sizes in construction for 30 yrs. everyone is giving you good advice nix the idea unless you have lotta extra cash for fuel and its the only way you can weed on the planet !! step up to a 5000 watt unit you would be really working a 3500 watt unit under that load continuous. go diesel if you can its a little cheaper to operate goog luck dude