how many watts???
- Thread starter haze4545
- Start date
Whitt2k1
Member
I just got 2 1000w lights
I switched every 100w bulb in my house for 14 w cfls,
1400w incadescent
-196 w cfls
__________________________
1204 watts saved also raised my thermometer 2 degrees so my ac runs less Im hoping I can conserve and make up the difference but I would also like to know what other solutions are being employed and wonder what amount of usage triggers your electric company to alert the authority's.
I switched every 100w bulb in my house for 14 w cfls,
1400w incadescent
-196 w cfls
__________________________
1204 watts saved also raised my thermometer 2 degrees so my ac runs less Im hoping I can conserve and make up the difference but I would also like to know what other solutions are being employed and wonder what amount of usage triggers your electric company to alert the authority's.
Kodank Moment
Well-Known Member
There never gonna catch one unless they come into your house. Most companies don't monitor each house. Costs way to much. What they do is look for inconsistencies in your monthly bills. Say one month is $85 and the next it's $400....they MIGHT get suspicious. But in all honesty just swap out your old regular bulbs for cfls and you'll be fine.
desertrat
Well-Known Member
no one has ever shown me a case where the electric company notified authorities about electrical use. it is not illegal to use more electricity than your neighbor, and many hobbies and lifestyle choices have major impacts on usage. the authorities might subpoena electrical records if they already suspected a grow op, but even then your usage is your business. stop worrying about electricity and instead save your worry for neighbors and ex's of any kind.
i totally agree with you, just keep quiet and dont have smelly odors and pay for all that juice on time . i no longer care about how much i use .
swelchjohn
New Member
Yes, be eased. The utilities company couldn't give a FUCK how high your bill is so long as you always pay on time. As said a few posts up, you only need to worry if authorities catch wind.
The electric companies "sell" electricity folks, it's their commodity, they want to sell as much as they can, it makes people happy, there called investors. But your really comparing apples to oranges. Swapping all those lights is beneficial and saves, but generally those type lights are not on very much. I would worry more about the electronic signature than the consumption. 2K or 4K watts switching on and off every 12 hours leaves a pretty reliable indicator.
But that's only if law enforcement has access to it, and if they do I'd say you were screwed long before they got access to that information. If the signature makes you nervous you could use two flower rooms and use a switch that runs both light off the same ballast. Pretty continuous flow of current with little if any signature.
In the case above, 2k could be split and run continuously, probably with other crap pulling 1.4k 24/7 instead of something like 2.4 12/12.
I simply wouldn't worry much about consumption. Other than the electronic signature mentioned above, think of all the crap people buy now that consumes electric. My friggin hot-tub uses like $60 a month alone.
Just write 'em a check and don't worry about it.
But that's only if law enforcement has access to it, and if they do I'd say you were screwed long before they got access to that information. If the signature makes you nervous you could use two flower rooms and use a switch that runs both light off the same ballast. Pretty continuous flow of current with little if any signature.
In the case above, 2k could be split and run continuously, probably with other crap pulling 1.4k 24/7 instead of something like 2.4 12/12.
I simply wouldn't worry much about consumption. Other than the electronic signature mentioned above, think of all the crap people buy now that consumes electric. My friggin hot-tub uses like $60 a month alone.
Just write 'em a check and don't worry about it.
monkeybones
Well-Known Member
The more electricity you use the more they make. As far as they know you've installed a large saltwater fish aquarium or something.
Consider this, most high end gaming computers these days require 1000 watts or more of electricity to run top notch SLI graphics cards.
You're not going to draw any attention to yourself unless you have a 10 thousand watt mountain of electricity turning on and off at the same times every day.
Consider this, most high end gaming computers these days require 1000 watts or more of electricity to run top notch SLI graphics cards.
You're not going to draw any attention to yourself unless you have a 10 thousand watt mountain of electricity turning on and off at the same times every day.
like really though when can you draw the line as to how much hydro you can buy , ive heard 1000watts per bed room is a good guide line and im sure lots of us have herd that rule . i live in a 3bed room semi . so most would say 5000watts is too much , but is it really ? or even 6000 or 8000 watts
researchkitty
Well-Known Member
Just cycle rooms over different flower times. That way you have a constant draw of power instead of always 12 on then 12 off for 20 lights. The only actual documented news article I've ever read myself regarding electric companies busting a customer when they were just normal legitimate bill paying cusotmers is when some fellow had something like 280 lights in his house. This was a few months ago. You should be fine. I've had power bills in the $1600/month range before and never had issue.