What is the total number of watts i should keep my grow under in the uk?

Just wondering... with all this reading it seems that expanding your grow is a natural thing and indeed its making me think about the future before purchasing say a 250w lamp when i can get a 600w for near the same money and get a grow tent and have bigger growing space etc etc...

So all these watts are gonna add up... fans lights etc...

Dont want to arouse too much suspicion with a high wattage use showing up.

Just wondering whats a safe level to keep the watts under for a total grow in the uk... and i plan on paying for all my electricity too.

What do you guys think?...

I run a 600hps 2 5in fans, 2 7in desk fans. And at times a 400hps too, aint had no problems with electricity supplier. We are also coming into winter, the electicity supply companies expect your usage to increase at this time of year.

What area does your 600w hps cover...

So you think keeping it under 1000w total should be ok?

whitewidow2 said:

What area does your 600w hps cover...

So you think keeping it under 1000w total should be ok?

Click to expand...

1m2 for my 600. If you can keep it below 1000, go for it! The thing is too, i got no central heating in part of my house. I have started using oil filled radiators rated at 2000w each. They draw a shitload of power. I am not worried about the increase in power usage, as i said before, they expect higher usage at this time of year.

How many plants do you put under the 600 then if its 1meter square... is that not quite a small area - i thought a 400 covered a 4x4ft area (121cm each side)

Usually just 4 maybe 5. But i can get 9 in 11 litre square pots under it if need be. You may be right about the area covered by a 400, but the way i see it is, you can never have too much light. With a 600 in 1m2 thats like 10000 lum per ft2.

Sounds good to me... im thinking of scrapping the cupboard idea for a decent sized grow tent and a 600w hps with a digital ballast and an air cooled hood.

You wont regret it mate. Out of all the hps lights the 600w is the most efficient. And air cooling hoods are the way to go. Lumatec digital ballasts, have a switch on them, which gives your light a valuable boost.