400W grow light costs/workaround

So I was thinking that if a 400WMH/HPS light will up my bill by about 40$, well my computer is 500W and I run that all day so essentially, if I stop using my computer while the light is on will it compensate cost wise for the grow light? Edit: now that i think about i run 2 comps all day. mine is 500w and my gfs is 400w + the monitors. so i should easily be able to compensate for the light costs if i use just the computers less........... right?

If your electricity cost is $.10/kwH then it will raise your bill by $.72 a day if it's on for 18 hours. Total cost of about $22.00/month. Divide the wattage of your bulb by 1000, multiply times the number of hours of use, then multiply by your rate (cost) of electricity per kwH. That should give you the key to figure out what you need

LonelySmoker said:

If your electricity cost is $.10/kwH then it will raise your bill by $.72 a day if it's on for 18 hours. Total cost of about $22.00/month. Divide the wattage of your bulb by 1000, multiply times the number of hours of use, then multiply by your rate (cost) of electricity per kwH. That should give you the key to figure out what you need

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Yup.

I use a 400 watt hps and some t5's for veg besides that I have tvs, computers, and other normal everyday things running, the whole power bill a month is only about 95 bucks a month for me.
Happy growing.

Basically what I did. I normally would have my 42" flat screen and 800w pc running at the same time. If I turn one off, I can run my 400w, fan and carbon and my electric bill is the same or a little cheaper.

Your computer is not using anywhere near 500w rms all day. That's the max your power supply can output. Your CPU is probably burning 1/3 that if not less, throughout the course of the day.

Also, if $30 extra a month is even notable, you're in for disaster

meezy4tw said:

Yup.

I use a 400 watt hps and some t5's for veg besides that I have tvs, computers, and other normal everyday things running, the whole power bill a month is only about 95 bucks a month for me.
Happy growing.

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How the hell do you manage that? I live in Cali and ours is still ridiculous <.<

Eviljay said:

Also, if $30 extra a month is even notable, you're in for disaster

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Not really notable, just considering giving up some luxuries in order to keep the costs to a minimum.

Well our last bill was 172$. Of course we have our comps running all day, on mine i game all day, mostly on oblivion, fallout , gothic 3 , gta, minecraft and such. On my gfs comp it is minecraft and emulators........ when we first got here our bill was only 102$ and that was with 2 tv`s, 3 computers/ the person that owns the house has one and lives here/ then we have 3 heating lamps for my reptiles, and a fan that runs all day in our room. plus the swamp cooler most days. so i dont know why it jumped to 170$. imma only be running 2 lights max. 1 for flowering and 1 for veg. So i think imma pack up my computer. At least until I get into my own house. I just don't want to spike the bill for our land lord. and To answer your question yes she knows I am growing.

Edit: Also our bill doesn't say how much KW/PH costs. Just gives the amount of $ that we owe and that is it.

Well that kinda sucks that you can't figure your rate. All I can say is, the light will use more power than your computer.

Where the electricity is cheaper (not in Cali lol) my grow cost about $100/month to run. You will probably be looking at a similar increase for your grow because of the cost of power out there is much more significant. You will have a light or 2 going, plus fans, etc..

Hope that gives you a realistic expectation..If you start feeling in a pinch, shut your things off while your not using them and play less computer games lol. You will surely be spending more time with your grow so it shouldn't be much of a big deal to do. Best of luck bro. Take it easy.

Oh yes I have been all over this plant like white on rice lmao xD. I am SO excited to watch this plant flourish

But GOOD NEWS!!! My land lord just told me she is going to move to New Mexico so she just told us she is going to get us (us being me and my GF and our room mate) 10 acre property, put a mobile home on there (not a house but I'm not complaining) But that sounds alright, the 100$ a month bill. The computer I have no problem packing up for a while.

Ill have 2 lights for 3-6 plants. 3 veg and 3 flowering Plus smell control, fans, ect. ect

That's awesome man. Outdoor grow ?

But yeah, I'd say $100/mo is a safe estimate. Give or take..

No it will be indoor, I like spending a LOT of time with my plants.

Sweet that will work, My landlord says rent is going to be like 500 for all 3 of us. Which is awesome because the total monthly bill is going to be a little under $900 or so. I am happy with that.

Edit 2: I am also thinking of using CFL lights instead of MH/HPS. Thoughts?