Maximum Lighting

[Nath]

Whats the max power in Watts that one could run without being too suss with the electricity company? I know of one person running a setup with 6x 600w's at the moment, and Im thinking of setting up 4.

 

Its all for personal medicinal use, as I just want to have one grow per year, then I dont have to attend to the crop everyday and I can go away and out at night without worrying. Also, where would 'the line' be drawn between commercial and personal... I have a valid genuine medical reason to smoke it, as the other meds Im suppose to be taking are just making me drowsy all day long.

[Luke Skywalker]

Provided you pay your bill, and don't let it fall behind or allow others to realise what you're doing, there is really no limit at all.

 

The line between commercial and personal is usually related to plant numbers or sheer weight. There is a distinct disadvantage in most states towards those who grow many small plants and turn over quicker, but still, if you just grow two or three big plants and then harvest them, you'll have several pounds of weed that can get you seriously busted.

 

Depending on where you are, most states have about 20-50 plant limits before you're considered "commercial" but it is individual to each state. Your better off with a few plants in a small room. 600w lamps use less energy per watt, but you can certainly expect your bills to increase with 4 of them running. You will be able to offset a little of the cost by changing your power using habits in other parts of the house, using efficient cf bulbs, turning off things like computers when not in use, perhaps even getting a solar hot water system if you wanted to go that far. Still, the main point is that provided you don't stop paying your bill, the power company has no need to think that anything is wrong. For all they know, or care, you've just got a new aircon and use it extensively. (which you'll probably need anyway with 4x600w. )

 

Aaaanyway, short answer, don't worry too much. Just don't have more than say 20 or 30 plants at any given time, that's including all mothers and growing plants, and keep your system totally quiet to the neighbourhood. Don't be seen bringing large hydroponic lights or big bags of perlite into the front door, nes pas? The only time that power use would be checked is usually after they already know you grow through other means, and they use the power records for evidence. In which case, you weren't done in by the leccy bill, but through other means. Even then I don't think you could use electricity consumption as basis for a warrant, or even as evidence of a crime, so yeah, I think it's all pretty sweet mate.

 

If you were really concerned about having large amounts of harvested material, but still wanted to grow decent plants, you could stagger your grow so that you have young clones, vegging plants, preflowering and flowering plants at any given time, with only one being harvested and stored every couple of months, or every month or so. That way you would only have a few plants and a small amount of weed on you at any given time, but would still be turning over and growing a decent amount for yourself at the same time.

 

Hope that helps somewhat, good luck mate.

[Tom]

Whats the max power in Watts that one could run without being too suss with the electricity company?

As long as you don't make them think you are overloading your circuits and pay your bills on time then why should the power company care? They are a business that is trying to encourage everyone to use more all the time (except in WA ).

 

[Luke Skywalker]

, yeah, western power is a different story.

[jackfrost]

ive known of people who use 8K of light 4 years and have allways paid the power bill with no problems.

 

Jack

[Nath]

awesome, i think four is the go then. I was planning to have four lights in a room with nine plants. Then have my vegging mothers in another room, say about 5-10 strains all up.

[everest]

your a legend mate 4* 600's thats what dreams are made of ::