Power Consumption / Light Cost
- Thread starter -=4:20=-Guy
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Gdaddy
Active Member
What the fuck is going on? I keep reading on here about people spending like a couple hundred bucks more a month, some less than that even! My bill QUADRUPLED to $1200 from running a 1000w at 18/6 on off peak hours even! Am I missing something? How can there be such a huge difference from one place to another? I'm shitting my pants I've still got 2 more months before harvest. It will help a little now that I'm on 12 but I'm still looking at what 700 800 on top of my usual 250?
RIXUK
Active Member
Ive done some looking in to this and hps lights dont use as much electric as people think,well then what I thought.
http://www.mhi-inc.com/Converter/watt_calculator.htm
http://www.asknumbers.com/kwh-to-watts-hour.aspx
http://www.paystolivegreen.com/2008/09/energy-savings-calculator/ with costs
They should do you but I did find a real good one but i cant find it now.
Another thing I learned to,the less you use the more you pay,the more you use the more discount you get and lower costs.
Check your power supplier or meter and use the calculator and change company if you find it cheaper as you may well do so.
http://www.mhi-inc.com/Converter/watt_calculator.htm
http://www.asknumbers.com/kwh-to-watts-hour.aspx
http://www.paystolivegreen.com/2008/09/energy-savings-calculator/ with costs
They should do you but I did find a real good one but i cant find it now.
Another thing I learned to,the less you use the more you pay,the more you use the more discount you get and lower costs.
Check your power supplier or meter and use the calculator and change company if you find it cheaper as you may well do so.
Dominique Florian
Member
Hey guys, have been following this thread for a while now - you know there are lights that reduce electricity costings as well as maintenace costing, and still yield you maximum "crop" - No A/C needed to cool down your grow op and last twice as long as led grow lights and even longer compared to HPS / HID lighting set-ups ( 12 times longer)
I am talking about the Induction Bi spectrum grow light ; Super Grow light (also known as induction lamp) relies on the fundamental principles of electro magnetic Induction and gas discharge to create lights. No electrodes and no filament to be damaged, its life time is up to 100000hrs - HPS and HID lighting are high energy consumption, short lifetime, high level of brightness declines, while the super-light for plant is superior to LED lights for plant. Super light plants, mainly rely on electromagnetic induction and the basic principles of gas discharge with the main issue of red light 680 nm, and 450 nm blue light.
Compared to the HPS lights and the usual use of air conditioning to calm temperatures down, especially in the summer - this light could save you alot of money in the longterm, and further can prevent you from being caught -.-
There is another article about the energy consumption compared by HPS and LED grow light... Definately worth googeling...
I am talking about the Induction Bi spectrum grow light ; Super Grow light (also known as induction lamp) relies on the fundamental principles of electro magnetic Induction and gas discharge to create lights. No electrodes and no filament to be damaged, its life time is up to 100000hrs - HPS and HID lighting are high energy consumption, short lifetime, high level of brightness declines, while the super-light for plant is superior to LED lights for plant. Super light plants, mainly rely on electromagnetic induction and the basic principles of gas discharge with the main issue of red light 680 nm, and 450 nm blue light.
Compared to the HPS lights and the usual use of air conditioning to calm temperatures down, especially in the summer - this light could save you alot of money in the longterm, and further can prevent you from being caught -.-
There is another article about the energy consumption compared by HPS and LED grow light... Definately worth googeling...
Shangeet
Active Member
When to Turn Off Your Lights
The cost effectiveness of when to turn off lights depends on the type of lights and the price of electricity. The type of light is important for several reasons. All types of lights have a nominal or rated operating life, which is the total number of hours that they will provide a specified level or amount of light. However, the operating life of all types of light bulbs is affected by how many times they are turned on and off. The more often they are switched on and off, the lower their operating life. The exact number of hours that switching lights on and off reduces the total operating life depends on the type of light and how many times it is switched on and off.
Incandescent Lighting
Incandescent lights (or bulbs) should be turned off whenever they are not needed. Nearly all types of incandescent light bulbs are fairly inexpensive to produce and are relatively inefficient. Only about 10%15% of the electricity that incandescent lights consume results in lightthe rest is turned into heat. Turning the light(s) off will keep a room cooler, an extra benefit in the summer. Therefore, the value of the energy saved by not having the lights on will be far greater than the cost of having to replace the bulb.
Fluorescent Lighting
The cost effectiveness of turning fluorescent lights off to conserve energy is a bit more complicated. For most areas of the United States, a general rule-of-thumb for when to turn off a fluorescent light is if you leave a room for more than 15 minutes, it is probably more cost effective to turn the light off. Or in other words, if you leave the room for only up to 15 minutes, it will generally be more cost effective to leave the light(s) on. In areas where electric rates are high and/or during peak demand periods, this period may be as low as 5 minutes. Fluorescent lights are more expensive to buy, and their operating life is more affected by the number of times they are switched on and off, relative to incandescent lights. Therefore, it is a cost trade-off between saving energy and money by turning a light off "frequently" and having to replace the bulbs "more" frequently. This is because the reduction in usable lamp life due to frequent on/off switching will probably be greater than the benefit of extending the useful life of the bulb from reduced use. By frequent we mean turning the light off and on many times during the day.
It is a popularly held belief that fluorescent lights use a "lot" of energy to get started, and thus it is better not to turn them off for "short" periods. There is an increase in power demand when a light is switched on, and the exact amount of this increase depends on the type of ballast and lamp. The ballast provides an initial high voltage for starting the lamp and regulates the lamp current during operation. There are three basic types of ballasts: magnetic (of which there are energy-efficient and not so energy-efficient types), cathode-disconnect, and electronic. All types can operate two or more lamps simultaneously. There are three main methods that are used in a lamp's ballast to start the lamp: preheat, rapid-start, and instant-start.
In any case, the relatively higher "inrush" current required lasts for half a cycle, or 1/120th of a second. The amount of electricity consumed to supply the inrush current is equal to a few seconds or less of normal light operation. Turning off fluorescent lights for more than 5 seconds will save more energy than will be consumed in turning them back on again. Therefore, the real issue is the value of the electricity saved by turning the light off relative to the cost of relamping a fixture. This in turn determines the shortest cost-effective period for turning off a fluorescent light.
The value of the energy saved by turning a fluorescent light (or array of lights) off depends on several factors. The price an electric utility charges its customers depends on the customer "classes," which are typically residential, commercial, and industrial. There can be different rate schedules within each class. Some utilities may charge different rates for electricity consumption during different times of the day. It generally costs more for utilities to generate power during certain periods of high demand or consumption, called peaks. Some utilities can charge commercial and industrial customers more per kilowatt-hour (kWh) during peak periods than for consumption off-peak. Some utilities may also charge a base rate for a certain level of consumption and higher rates for increasing blocks of consumption. Often a utility adds miscellaneous service charges, a base charge, and/or taxes per billing period that could be averaged per kWh consumed, if these are not already factored into the rate.
Energy Savings
To calculate the exact value of energy savings by turning a light off, you need to first determine how much energy the light(s) consume when on. Every bulb has a Watt rating printed on it. For example, if the rating is 40 watts, and the bulb is on for one hour, it will consume 0.04 kWh, or if it is off for one hour, you will be saving 0.04 kWh. (Note that many fluorescent fixtures have two or more bulbs. Also, one switch may control several fixturesan "array." Add the savings for each fixture to determine the total energy savings.)
Then you need to find out what you are paying for electricity per kWh (in general and during peak periods). You will need to look over your electricity bills and see what the utility charges per kWh. Multiply the rate per kWh by the amount of electricity saved, and this will give you the value of the savings. Continuing with the example above, let us say that your electric rate is 10 cents per kWh. The value of the energy savings would then be 0.4 cents ($ 0.004). The value of the savings will increase the higher the watt rating of the bulb, the greater the number of bulbs controlled by a single switch, and the higher the rate per kWh.
The most cost-effective length of time that a light (or array of lights) can be turned off before the value of the savings exceeds the cost of having to replace bulbs (due to their shortened operating life) will depend on the type and model of bulb and ballast. The cost of replacing a bulb (or ballast) depends on the cost of the bulb and the cost of labor to do it.
Lighting manufacturers should be able to supply information on the duty cycle of their products. In general, the more energy-efficient a bulb/light is, the longer you can keep a light on before it is cost effective to turn it off.
The cost effectiveness of when to turn off lights depends on the type of lights and the price of electricity. The type of light is important for several reasons. All types of lights have a nominal or rated operating life, which is the total number of hours that they will provide a specified level or amount of light. However, the operating life of all types of light bulbs is affected by how many times they are turned on and off. The more often they are switched on and off, the lower their operating life. The exact number of hours that switching lights on and off reduces the total operating life depends on the type of light and how many times it is switched on and off.
Incandescent Lighting
Incandescent lights (or bulbs) should be turned off whenever they are not needed. Nearly all types of incandescent light bulbs are fairly inexpensive to produce and are relatively inefficient. Only about 10%15% of the electricity that incandescent lights consume results in lightthe rest is turned into heat. Turning the light(s) off will keep a room cooler, an extra benefit in the summer. Therefore, the value of the energy saved by not having the lights on will be far greater than the cost of having to replace the bulb.
Fluorescent Lighting
The cost effectiveness of turning fluorescent lights off to conserve energy is a bit more complicated. For most areas of the United States, a general rule-of-thumb for when to turn off a fluorescent light is if you leave a room for more than 15 minutes, it is probably more cost effective to turn the light off. Or in other words, if you leave the room for only up to 15 minutes, it will generally be more cost effective to leave the light(s) on. In areas where electric rates are high and/or during peak demand periods, this period may be as low as 5 minutes. Fluorescent lights are more expensive to buy, and their operating life is more affected by the number of times they are switched on and off, relative to incandescent lights. Therefore, it is a cost trade-off between saving energy and money by turning a light off "frequently" and having to replace the bulbs "more" frequently. This is because the reduction in usable lamp life due to frequent on/off switching will probably be greater than the benefit of extending the useful life of the bulb from reduced use. By frequent we mean turning the light off and on many times during the day.
It is a popularly held belief that fluorescent lights use a "lot" of energy to get started, and thus it is better not to turn them off for "short" periods. There is an increase in power demand when a light is switched on, and the exact amount of this increase depends on the type of ballast and lamp. The ballast provides an initial high voltage for starting the lamp and regulates the lamp current during operation. There are three basic types of ballasts: magnetic (of which there are energy-efficient and not so energy-efficient types), cathode-disconnect, and electronic. All types can operate two or more lamps simultaneously. There are three main methods that are used in a lamp's ballast to start the lamp: preheat, rapid-start, and instant-start.
In any case, the relatively higher "inrush" current required lasts for half a cycle, or 1/120th of a second. The amount of electricity consumed to supply the inrush current is equal to a few seconds or less of normal light operation. Turning off fluorescent lights for more than 5 seconds will save more energy than will be consumed in turning them back on again. Therefore, the real issue is the value of the electricity saved by turning the light off relative to the cost of relamping a fixture. This in turn determines the shortest cost-effective period for turning off a fluorescent light.
The value of the energy saved by turning a fluorescent light (or array of lights) off depends on several factors. The price an electric utility charges its customers depends on the customer "classes," which are typically residential, commercial, and industrial. There can be different rate schedules within each class. Some utilities may charge different rates for electricity consumption during different times of the day. It generally costs more for utilities to generate power during certain periods of high demand or consumption, called peaks. Some utilities can charge commercial and industrial customers more per kilowatt-hour (kWh) during peak periods than for consumption off-peak. Some utilities may also charge a base rate for a certain level of consumption and higher rates for increasing blocks of consumption. Often a utility adds miscellaneous service charges, a base charge, and/or taxes per billing period that could be averaged per kWh consumed, if these are not already factored into the rate.
Energy Savings
To calculate the exact value of energy savings by turning a light off, you need to first determine how much energy the light(s) consume when on. Every bulb has a Watt rating printed on it. For example, if the rating is 40 watts, and the bulb is on for one hour, it will consume 0.04 kWh, or if it is off for one hour, you will be saving 0.04 kWh. (Note that many fluorescent fixtures have two or more bulbs. Also, one switch may control several fixturesan "array." Add the savings for each fixture to determine the total energy savings.)
Then you need to find out what you are paying for electricity per kWh (in general and during peak periods). You will need to look over your electricity bills and see what the utility charges per kWh. Multiply the rate per kWh by the amount of electricity saved, and this will give you the value of the savings. Continuing with the example above, let us say that your electric rate is 10 cents per kWh. The value of the energy savings would then be 0.4 cents ($ 0.004). The value of the savings will increase the higher the watt rating of the bulb, the greater the number of bulbs controlled by a single switch, and the higher the rate per kWh.
The most cost-effective length of time that a light (or array of lights) can be turned off before the value of the savings exceeds the cost of having to replace bulbs (due to their shortened operating life) will depend on the type and model of bulb and ballast. The cost of replacing a bulb (or ballast) depends on the cost of the bulb and the cost of labor to do it.
Lighting manufacturers should be able to supply information on the duty cycle of their products. In general, the more energy-efficient a bulb/light is, the longer you can keep a light on before it is cost effective to turn it off.
GreenMONSTAH
Well-Known Member
My power bill was insane from only a couple bulbs got this from the electric company if you cant see that percentage its 144% MORE then neighbors yikes!...
budXL
Active Member
how many bulbs are you running ?
GreenMONSTAH
Well-Known Member
2 1000w's and a 400w all on core & coil ballasts'.. id say half the cost is lighting the other half is in fans, air purifiers, and air conditioners and whatnot.
budXL
Active Member
had a talk with a man who works for my local power company, told him i was a welder who uses lots of power but dont care if bill is large... he said as long as you pay the worst that could happen is they send someone out to check your meter, they call you and tell you that you are using more power than most but he says they dont care at all as long as you pay. His exact words are, "we are a company like everyone else trying to make money, why would we get mad if you have to pay us more..."
I am running 4 1000s and an led room for veg and lots of pumps and gadgets lol
we will see how high my bill gets this summer, was worried, not so much anymore....
I am running 4 1000s and an led room for veg and lots of pumps and gadgets lol
we will see how high my bill gets this summer, was worried, not so much anymore....
GreenMONSTAH
Well-Known Member
Im sayin i dont really get to worried anymore even though it will be my first summer with these lights hopefully i wont need two A/C units.A house in my city got caught with a serious grow op and the only reason they got caught was from the smell so that eases my concerns too
FriendlyTokez
Active Member
hey im new here but as far as i know LED lighting is the most fuel efficient. some ppl design their own LED lights, if you've been growing a while its easy to tell which type of light waves work the best. i know that blue light is not that great for people in general so that should be kept to a minimum. smell and heat traces are the two things that can get u. like if you are doing a closet grow dont use 1000w!
TaylorSunlightSolutions
Member
Hey guys, I work for http://www.SunLightSolutionsInc.com . LED Grow Lights are the preferred lights of people that want to save money on electricity. I won't preach about what's the best lighting (everyone has their own choice) but I can talk to my bosses that own the company into giving only Forum members here a major discount for LEDs if they need it. So Mods or whoever wants to set this up msg me. If not that's fine too.
oppeolighting
Member
This is Herry from Oppeo Lighting, one professional supplier of induction lamp and LED lighting. Both of these lights have their own advantage for different application, induction lamp mainly used for industrial and commercial, LED will be better used for residential or commercial which need small wattage. Welcome to visit www.oppeo.com or email oppeolighting@gmail.com
In a word, induction lamp and LED are really the 4th generation lighting source in 21st century. It is good substitute of florescent lights, incandescent lights, high pressure lamp, metal halide lamp and energy saving light.
dirtdigger80
Member
I'm all for saving power, but if LEDs were the way to go everyone would be doing it. The technology just isn't there yet. we're going to be stuck with high-pressure sodium for a while. Hell maybe in the future recent growth fucking lasers.
Anthony4201987
Member
my 600 watt hps has only bought my bill up 100 bucks more than wat it normally is. hell its worth it 3months of high bills and be high for free or spend ur money which prob at the end of the year is double the amount of ur light bill total anyway if ur a real stoner anyway i know i am
medicolas
Active Member
I'm not an LEDer, but from what I understand the technology IS here. From most off what I have been able to find it looks like the current LED's will work fine if paired with a bulb to give radiation to the mix. as I said... I am not interested in LED's but I think it's viable now!
medicolas
Active Member
I like my Digilux with my Lumateks.
brainwashed
Member
Power companies are not going to turn you in for a power spike! Whoever thinks that does not know why companies exist.....TO MAKE MONEY! They will NOT turn in a client that is paying them $800 a month, that would be dumb! So do not worry about your power bill being to high, just make sure its paid!