Power bill increase and Cops
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Lacy
New Member
I was just wondering the same question. I want to set up a grow room - 1000 watt but hubby says that is too much. I didn't think so. I want a half decent size room nit something I have to crouch in.
We have lights outside that take 2 - 150 watt bulbs. Who's to say you don't have them surrounding our premises? Or What if you wanted a grow room to grow regualr flowers?
Maybe I'm being greedy. 600 watt?
We have lights outside that take 2 - 150 watt bulbs. Who's to say you don't have them surrounding our premises? Or What if you wanted a grow room to grow regualr flowers?
Maybe I'm being greedy. 600 watt?
Ranken
Well-Known Member
Lacy
1000 watts isnt much i dont know where you live i live in the mid atlantic states and it is starting to get cold so 600 to a 1000 watt increase would be unnoticiable they are looking for much bigger increases in electric consumption especialy when its sudden increase so i would not worry, soooooooooo grow in peace. also the more compact your room is the better(just remember to set up a small fan) at least for me i live in a small apartment so my closet space is rather limited and i am going for the "sea of green" effect i have found 6 florecent grow lights from wal-mart do just fine for what i am doing they suck about 17 watts per lamp and cost about $10-12 per lamp. that said if i had more space i would use different lamps but the pic that you see next to my name are all grown this way in my bedroom closet and they do just fine, but remember my garden is rather small 6-8 little darlings. besides if they had to investigate every slight increase in electric in the community it would take them 10 years to go through them all so not enough man power or reason to justify the expense to do that, don't you think? They are looking for hugh increases like 6000 to 10,000 wattage and sudden increases. and even god forbid they do knock on your door its not enough of a probable cause to search the premises so in a polite way tell them to get "FUCKED" just remember to be polite about it
1000 watts isnt much i dont know where you live i live in the mid atlantic states and it is starting to get cold so 600 to a 1000 watt increase would be unnoticiable they are looking for much bigger increases in electric consumption especialy when its sudden increase so i would not worry, soooooooooo grow in peace. also the more compact your room is the better(just remember to set up a small fan) at least for me i live in a small apartment so my closet space is rather limited and i am going for the "sea of green" effect i have found 6 florecent grow lights from wal-mart do just fine for what i am doing they suck about 17 watts per lamp and cost about $10-12 per lamp. that said if i had more space i would use different lamps but the pic that you see next to my name are all grown this way in my bedroom closet and they do just fine, but remember my garden is rather small 6-8 little darlings. besides if they had to investigate every slight increase in electric in the community it would take them 10 years to go through them all so not enough man power or reason to justify the expense to do that, don't you think? They are looking for hugh increases like 6000 to 10,000 wattage and sudden increases. and even god forbid they do knock on your door its not enough of a probable cause to search the premises so in a polite way tell them to get "FUCKED" just remember to be polite about it
p59davisuk
Active Member
using air con in summer and oil heaters winter cost a fortune if you know what i mean
Lacy
New Member
Good to know!
Lacy
New Member
Gosh! Thanks for the info. I'm not worried about 1000 watts. Its hubby that freakin'.
I'm probably gonna get one anyway.
I have always used the double flourescents. I just used lots of them all around the plants and they worked great. The only thing is you have to move them all the time as the plants grow.
I'm still debating as what to do. Space isn't an issue at all. We have lots of space. Its like 'pick a spot'.
I'm probably gonna get one anyway.
I have always used the double flourescents. I just used lots of them all around the plants and they worked great. The only thing is you have to move them all the time as the plants grow.
I'm still debating as what to do. Space isn't an issue at all. We have lots of space. Its like 'pick a spot'.
Lacy
1000 watts isnt much i dont know where you live i live in the mid atlantic states and it is starting to get cold so 600 to a 1000 watt increase would be unnoticiable they are looking for much bigger increases in electric consumption especialy when its sudden increase so i would not worry, soooooooooo grow in peace. also the more compact your room is the better(just remember to set up a small fan) at least for me i live in a small apartment so my closet space is rather limited and i am going for the "sea of green" effect i have found 6 florecent grow lights from wal-mart do just fine for what i am doing they suck about 17 watts per lamp and cost about $10-12 per lamp. that said if i had more space i would use different lamps but the pic that you see next to my name are all grown this way in my bedroom closet and they do just fine, but remember my garden is rather small 6-8 little darlings. besides if they had to investigate every slight increase in electric in the community it would take them 10 years to go through them all so not enough man power or reason to justify the expense to do that, don't you think? They are looking for hugh increases like 6000 to 10,000 wattage and sudden increases. and even god forbid they do knock on your door its not enough of a probable cause to search the premises so in a polite way tell them to get "FUCKED" just remember to be polite about it
Ranken
Well-Known Member
good info to know
just give hubby a diazapam or 2 and he will chill out, give him 3 or 4 and he wont care what your growing 
kittysecrets4u
none
I have a major grow operation consisting of 6 1000 watt bulbs and no knocks at the door in 5 years. My best advice is to keep your mouth shut about growing to friends and family....only to those you can trust with your life. Pay your electricity bill! Other than that happy growing!
I might be lucky living in a farming community - I also have a business on the same property, so my grow activities are well concealed. I have two other buildings that use electric, so my bill is 200-500 a month depending on time of year. I suspect you would have to draw attention to yourself in some other way to cause a warrant before they will notice the power consumption.
GrizzSpitter
Well-Known Member
Dude, unless all the sudden you added 10,000w the cops aren't going to notice. Especially in a farming community, they're probably more interested in profiling minorities than going through your power bill. Besides, power consumption on it's own usually isn't enough to justify a warrant, it's something they'll dig up when they have other dirt on you and are gathering info for a warrant.
nowstopwhining
Too many brownies
I live in a small three bedroom two bathroom. Electric water heater, 600 watt hps, and central A/C running full blast all the time since I live in Fl.
My bill is 185.00 a month. It was about 168.00 a month before.
My bill is 185.00 a month. It was about 168.00 a month before.
kittysecrets4u
none
It is my opinion that a rise of 500 watts on average per month you MAY get a knock at the door but that seems to be pretty small to alert the attention of the EC or the detectives.
livinlegend
Active Member
this is just spreading paranoia. 500w will NOT get you a knock on the door, stop being idiots.
Chrisuperfly
Well-Known Member
500w isnt going to provoke a knock on the door. Unless you have been pinched in the past. 500w is nothing 1000w isnt much either.
A 50in Plasma HD T.V. burns 370-500w of power
A desktop computer burns 250-~1000w of power depending on the set-up
A Home Theater System will burn 250w to ~3000w and that isnt even high end.
a 500w light isnt going to bring the cops, a 1000w light isnt going to bring the cops. People get caught when they get stupid. That includes bragging to the wrong people, telling too many people, just plain being stupid.
A 50in Plasma HD T.V. burns 370-500w of power
A desktop computer burns 250-~1000w of power depending on the set-up
A Home Theater System will burn 250w to ~3000w and that isnt even high end.
a 500w light isnt going to bring the cops, a 1000w light isnt going to bring the cops. People get caught when they get stupid. That includes bragging to the wrong people, telling too many people, just plain being stupid.
nowstopwhining
Too many brownies
exactly...thank you, this thread has gone on far to long with far to many ignorant replies(ignorant meaning Lacking education or knowledge.)
My new computer has a 1kw power supply, and I got a new plasma a few months ago.
so why the hell should I or anyone else worry about a 600w hps, or even 2 1000w hps's.
As long as you have the money to pay for the bills and pay them on time you will be fine.
livinlegend
Active Member
Although I will add if you are in a 1 bed/1 bath single apartment and you're pushing 3000W of lighting alone (+your other stuff) that is too much and might draw suspicion, especially based on prior records of energy consumption of the apartment. Use your common sense.
johnnycash
Active Member
This issue does worry me. I live in a 2 bedroom house. Maybe 1100 sqft. I want to run 4 1000 watt lights plus all of the other equipment. Am I at risk?
FilthyFletch
Mr I Can Do That For Half
you are maxing it at that point I personally think.If you switch all your home bulbs to low watt cfls and make sure to svae energy at any chnace you should be ok do not be late on your electric bill