Switch from CFL's To HID's

I am currently just growing with 2 100 watt cfl's in a lil box and I found a bigger space to grow so I wanted to upgrade to a MH or HPS lamp but where
I live its just an apartment and we get "paid" electricity... My landlord pays for it. He knows I grow too so its really cool. But the reason stopping me from the switch to the "better" lamp is I dont want it to jack up the electric bill huge amounts. I was wondering how much it made your bill go up... we'll say a 250 watter or a 400 watter. If any of you are from Maine it'll help even more. Thanks

Well as you are using 2 100Watt CFls I highly doubt that they are 100 Real watts (more likely they output the same light as a regular 100 watt light bulb and only use 20-40 watts. Look at the bulb and it should tell you the actual wattage. But lets do a for instance. 2, 25 Watt Cfl = 50 watts. However 1 250 Watt MH or HPS + Cooling ( yes you need much more heat disipation with HPS or MH then you do Cfls. SO your answer is YES after all things considered it Probably WILL jack up your electric bill (or rather the landlords) there is also the red light at the electric company that goes on when you all of a sudden begin using lots more electric. However the other thing is that you landlord is chill about the SOG, so perhaps you could cut a deal to just pay the extra on the bill for his continued silence.

Except the fact that they are REAL 100 watt cfls I'll agree with all that I was just wondering how much you think a HID light would cost me compared to the 2 cfls /month

Whered ya get those (I want some), 40 Watt is like the highest I have ever seen for consumer distribution of course when you talk Compact Floros Im thinkin the ones that you buy at Home Depot , Walmart or Lowes. those only go up to 40 Real watts for the standard screw socket but outpput the light of I believe 150 watts. Wattage is wattage, a 200 watt light draws 200 watts, a 250 draws 250. Now amperages and Power supplies to run the lights (have always seen Balasts needing to be used for MH and HPS lamps) they may also draw wattage?

But if all things are equal, my basic knowledge of electric would say that you would only draw 50 watts more with a 250 HPS or MH then the 2, 100 watt Cfls (if they are truely 100 watts each). That would be like adding another lamp with a 50 watt bulb at constant draw. That is if the HPS or MH Balast is only the 250 watts from the lamp and not extra for itself.

I found them on a website.. what one I'm not sure anymore, I bought them quite some time ago. And your saying that the light wouldnt cost any more exept for the fact that they need a ballast which also draws energy??

I am saying I am not sure if the balasts draw wattage. It may be that the light and the balast together equal 250 or the light draws 250 and the balast draws (THIS is the I dont know part. However ther are many places you can do research and get your answers. But it is more fun to ask here. Perhaps you could ask in the Indoor grow room about the balasts and the lights.

I am using a 400 watt MH light and my energy bill went up $23 for one month. That not going to send off any alarms at the electric company. Thats running my light 16/8 Im in NY area Hope this helps

Thats is about right 250 would not make a difference 400 would cause an increase but not enough to send up warnings

Nice dancing there cypher. I have a 400 watt also. Bill went up less then $25. 250 would make a difference just a smaller one less then $15.

Hey Mr. G thanks, the person is doing 1 but asking. Some people get cocky and go well one, now lets do 4 400 WAtt HPS now the electric company might ask.