DoubleAtotheRON
Well-Known Member
If you saw how much "failed" product we see on the legal market...... you're doing the right thing. Our last CowBoy Cup had 30 entrants... only 1 passed labs. Granted it was in the "Outdoor" section, but still.
Running costs or lights
- Thread starter Newgrow31
- Start date
amneziaHaze
Well-Known Member
Why did it fail? Cemicals or ?
speedwell68
Well-Known Member
We do have £1 stores in the UK. But your way isn't cost effective TBH, not at UK prices. Which is why in my small tent I use floodlights, for about £10 I can get a 100w COB or SMD floodlight ready to go, great for vegging or Autos. My TS1000 clones cost me £300 all in, from Mars Hydro they would have been £600.Oh.. gotcha.
You can still get 14w bulbs from the dollar store here in the US i'm sure, in case anyone was wondering. Or should I say the $1.25 store now, haha. Not sure if they still have daylight ones in stock, haven't looked in awhile. OK I looked.. https://www.dollartree.com/soft-white-100-watt-equivalent-medium-base-led-lightbulbs/297620
Do they have a £1 store in the UK or something like that?
It used to be $40 for a 40 pack when I would get them, but now its $50... I only see soft whites too.. hmm.
Either way, 40x14=560w. For $50!
Add a bag of base sockets from walmart.. 50 pack for like $36, and use sp3 12-16ft extension cords as the wires. I get mine for about 3 dollars a cord on sale, depending on how many I need. Its way cheaper than buying a roll! Also, comes with its own plugs, lol. You guys in UK have fused cords right?
You can get cheaper LED great value bulbs from walmart here in the US too, but they cost more than the dollar store. They for sure have daylight bulbs, and 4 packs in stock usually. Sometimes cheaper deals online.
As you can see, for around $100 -/+ in the US, you can build an actual 5-650 watt LED fixture.
That leaves 3-400 in the bank to pay on the electric bill, compared to those 480w bar lights that cost what, 4-500?
Wiring is fun!
The best price I can find on light bulbs is £1 each for 5w bulbs, I can't find 14w bulbs at all, I can get 10w bulbs but they are £2 each. So to make 600w I'd need 120 of them, then I'd need fittings, the cheapest I can find a surface mount fitting for is £5.76. So that would be nearly £800 to do it your way. That is before you factor in cabling and my time. Your cheap light would cost me £1000.
I am down with the concept of budget lights over branded lights. For Mars Hydro, HLG and whoever else you are paying a good percentage for the name, IMHO.
speedwell68
Well-Known Member
You understand that smoking any organic matter produces carcinogens, be that tobacco or weed.
I doubt a commercial grow-op is going to risk their credentials by wrecking their plants.
WE've all heard it "Throw some seed in dirt."
I'm not saying you are wrong but you don't factor labor. Or rent for the space.
I had a magnetic ballast go up in flames. No fault of my own. Lucikly the house didn't fry. The deductible on the fire policy would be more than if I bought product off the street/dispensary for the rest of my days.
amneziaHaze
Well-Known Member
you talk like a commercial grower. "fear the worst case" and just buy.
Star Dog
Well-Known Member
If money is a problem the last thing you need is a bar light in a uk winter.
It costs me more to run led, the UK climate is absolutely pish for growing in, its mostly cold and always humid af, i don't think I've seen under 90% this year, maybe one day 89% lol.
hps with a limited budget is the best option ime growing with limited funds.
The folks in warmer climates are ones that really benefit from led, lucky bastards
It costs me more to run led, the UK climate is absolutely pish for growing in, its mostly cold and always humid af, i don't think I've seen under 90% this year, maybe one day 89% lol.
hps with a limited budget is the best option ime growing with limited funds.
The folks in warmer climates are ones that really benefit from led, lucky bastards
MickFoster
Well-Known Member
WTF are you talking about?
ProPheT 216
Well-Known Member
What could you change to reduce your cost? Dwc? Dwc and jacks make my grows pretty cost effective
bk78
Well-Known Member
Power is my biggest consumption now. Nutrients and water are peanuts in comparison
When both rooms are running full tilt it’s about $225-$250 extra per month on power alone on my bill.
So let’s say $1250 in power alone per run, nutrients let’s say $100 max, coco $75, odds and ends $100
$1500 per run - 4-5 pounds per run - pounds going for $300-$400
And my price per kWh is rising by the week here too.
ProPheT 216
Well-Known Member
I'm getting between 40 and 60 ounces outta my tents and closets every 10 weeks. I'm at about 500-600 on energy over that time, nutrients and water are just a drop in the bucket like you said. My cost would go up if I had the space. Shit still pays 4 it's self 4 me tho
Drop That Sound
Well-Known Member
What about this?
Says buy one get one, for three pounds. So, £1.5 per 14.5 watt bulb. That's as cheap as here in the US.. Am I reading that wrong?
DrDukePHD
Well-Known Member
Yea I only vape.
Drop That Sound
Well-Known Member
I'm also finding these for cheap:
www.lampspares.co.uk
Bet you could find them in bulk?
What does VAT mean?
BC | B22 | Bayonet Cap Black Unswitched Lampholder 1/2" Screw Metal Skirt
Buy the BC Black Unswitched Lampholder 1/2" Screw Metal Skirt from lampspares.co.uk and many more lampholder accessories to help build or repair your lamps at the best price.
www.lampspares.co.uk
Bet you could find them in bulk?
What does VAT mean?
Attachments
Boatguy
Well-Known Member
You do understand that that bulb does not equal 100w right?
You would be far better off with a mars/spyder or any other bottom of the line led fixture than to stack those to grow
Creature1969
Well-Known Member
Value added tax. That's how they pay for their free healthcare.
Drop That Sound
Well-Known Member
Ya I understand that is just equivalent wattage, and really means nothing. Do you understand how bright they become when you remove the globes? The diffuser globes really restrict the output.
I'll put a homemade screw in bulb fixture up against any commercial fixture on the market, wattage for wattage. I'll still pull the same weight, but probably more, because the way I grow.
I got 1000's of watts worth of brand new bulbs, like 4-5 different brands, and could make any size light I want.
Who wants to bet?
Boatguy
Well-Known Member
Those bulbs are more efficient than an incandescent bulb, but so is hps.Ya I understand that is just equivalent wattage, and really means nothing. Do you understand how bright they become when you remove the globes? The diffuser globes really restrict the output.
I'll put a homemade screw in bulb fixture up against any commercial fixture on the market, wattage for wattage. I'll still pull the same weight, but probably more, because the way I grow.
I got 1000's of watts worth of brand new bulbs, like 4-5 different brands, and could make any size light I want.
Who wants to bet?
Drop That Sound
Well-Known Member
544 watts, cool white, and dimmable, for just over 114. I'm sure I could keep finding better deals too, I just don't feel like looking hard enough.. lol
Drop That Sound
Well-Known Member
I dunno, I don't really care about LED efficiency all that much. Actual watts is all I really look for, and the total amount of kwh used for the entire setup.
I'm more interested in geothermal, and offsetting heating and cooling costs. That, and saving tons of cash so I can put my money towards keeping my grows a constant 50+ degrees all year long. EDIT: As in, only having to heat or cool a 50 degree room.
Scaling up with screw in bulbs can save boat loads of money, haha